Team news

Fielding okay for Rams Derby expect Frank Fielding to continue in goal for the visit of Reading despite suffering a head injury against Millwall at the weekend.

Fielding needed four stitches in a wound on the side of his head following the goalless draw at The Den. The England Under-21 goalkeeper suffered the gash as he went to collect a cross in stoppage time.

Manager Nigel Clough said: "Frank has got a little cut on the side of his head but he's okay." Clough will check on the fitness of John Brayford after a thigh problem forced the defender to miss the trip to Millwall. The Rams will err on the side of caution after a thigh injury put Brayford out for nine matches earlier this season, so midfielder Paul Green could continue to fill in at right-back.

Leading scorer Theo Robinson might be involved after missing the last three games with a calf injury while fellow striker Steven Davies is pushing for a place in the squad following his skull fracture in mid-October.

Davies has featured in the last three reserve-team matches and has been given the all-clear to play without his protective mask.

Reading manager Brian McDermott will have to cope with injuries to a number of first-team regulars.

The Royals will be without captain Jobi McAnuff at Pride Park. Winger McAnuff requires a minor groin operation and is set to be sidelined for a number of weeks, with Joseph Mills likely to continue on the left of midfield.

Full-backs Andy Griffin and Shaun Cummings suffered injures in training last week and neither took part in the 2-0 weekend win over Coventry at the Madejski Stadium.

Matthew Connolly and Ian Harte are therefore set to fill in on either side of defence against the Rams.

Jimmy Kebe and Mikele Leigertwood made their returns from respective knee and thigh knocks against the Sky Blues on Saturday and, although neither completed 90 minutes, they are both expected to feature on Tuesday night.

Derby vs Reading

Last modified 21:57 14/02/12

Goal Hunt ends for Noel Noel Hunt ended his goal drought as a 1-0 win at Derby propelled Reading into the npower Championship play-off places.

Hunt provided a rare highlight in a dull encounter at Pride Park when he headed the only goal of the game just after the hour mark.

It was the first time the Irishman had found the back of the net in 10 matches since scoring a last-gasp winner for the Royals at Ipswich on November 26.

It gave Reading a third straight league win and the three points lifted Brian McDermott's side one place to sixth in the table.

Derby saw their three-game winning run at home in the Championship ended but a bright note from the night for them was the return to action of Steven Davies following four months out with a fractured skull.

Davies was included in the matchday squad for the first time since suffering the injury during the Rams' 1-1 home draw with Southampton on October 15 and the striker made his long-awaited comeback as a half-time substitute.

Derby manager Nigel Clough stuck with the same players that started the goalless draw at Millwall on Saturday, with midfielder Paul Green continuing at right-back in place of the injured John Brayford.

On-loan striker Ryan Noble was not involved and he will return to Sunderland when his loan expires tomorrow.

Reading made one change with Hal Robson-Kanu replacing Joseph Mills, who was amongst the substitutes.

Former Derby forward Tomasz Cywka was not included due to an agreement between the clubs when the Pole made his move to the Madejski Stadium last month.

It was a dire affair that must have struggled to maintain the interest of even the most devout Ram or Royal.

Neither goalkeeper saw the ball until midway through the first half, and even then Adam Federici's save from Callum Ball's tame header was as routine as they come.

Federici caught a long-range effort from Nathan Tyson soon afterwards.

At the other end, Frank Fielding made a similar stop from Hunt's 20-yard shot.

If Clough introduced Davies for the start of the second half in a bid to liven things up - midfielder Craig Bryson was the man to make way - it did not work.

Hunt missed with two efforts from just outside the box shortly after the interval.

The game's defining moment came in the 61st minute. Derby forward Jamie Ward felt he had been fouled on the edge of the Reading box but the referee waved play on and the Royals broke swiftly.

Jimmy Kebe led the charge down the right and his cross was headed home by Hunt from six yards out.

The visitors seemed to settle for that.

Derby continued to toil but were unable to fashion any sort of scoring opportunity.