Team news

Wickham back for Town Ipswich manager Roy Keane will have teenage striker Connor Wickham back in his squad for the visit of in-form Reading.

Wickham - who turned 17 this week - missed the goalless draw with Swansea last weekend as he was scoring for the England Under-17 squad but will be back with Town after another international game on Thursday night.

Keane saw his side put in an improved display at the Liberty Stadium as the club recorded a club-record-equalling 18th draw of the season and may name an unchanged XI.

On-loan full-back Liam Rosenior is available to face parent club Reading but may be on the bench again, while goalkeeper Richard Wright could also be among the replacements.

Wright has been out of action since injuring his knee in November but stepped up his comeback with an appearance for the reserves in midweek.

Keane remains without winger Luciano Civelli who is out until September as he battles to save his career from a serious knee injury.

Reading manager Brian McDermott will check on the availability of midfielder Jay Tabb before naming his squad.

Tabb missed the 1-1 draw with West Brom last weekend after injuring his ankle in the win at Leicester but could be back in contention against Roy Keane's side.

He will replace Brynjar Gunnarsson in midfield if fit enough as the Royals look for their 10th win in the last 13 league games.

Czech Republic midfielder Marek Matejovsky may also be back in the 16 after a stomach injury but Kalifa Cisse is still out with a thigh problem.

Captain Ivar Ingimarsson will play no further part this season thanks to a hamstring injury so on-loan Blackburn man Zurab Khizanishvili will continue to deputise at centre-half.

Noel Hunt and Chris Armstrong remain long-term absentees with their knee injuries.

Ipswich vs Reading

Last modified 15:59 20/04/10

Mills red hits Royals The first-half dismissal of Matthew Mills proved costly for in-form Reading as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Ipswich.

Mills was given a straight red card by referee Keith Stroud in the 30th minute for a two-footed challenge on David Norris.

And Ipswich wasted little time in taking advantage as headers from Gareth McAuley and Jon Walters put them two goals up at the break.

Reading, who were unbeaten in seven league games prior to this fixture, battled hard after the break and grabbed a late consolation through Gylfi Sigurdsson's 90th-minute free-kick.

But the hosts held on to move within a point of their opponents in the Coca-Cola Championship table.

Roy Keane made one change to his Ipswich line-up, with David Healy starting in place of Shane O'Connor.

Teenage forward Connor Wickham, who turned 17 this week, was among the substitutes following his return from international duty with the England Under-17 squad.

Reading - who were unchanged - received a double boost prior to the game, with Brian McDermott being named as the Coca-Cola Championship manager of the month for March and midfielder Sigurdsson picking up the player of the month award.

Brian Howard saw a shot deflect wide for the visitors early on, while Ipswich's David Healy forced Adam Federici into action from an acute angle.

Town midfielder Norris was then booked for simulation after going down in the box under a challenge from Zurab Khizanishvili, before Healy threatened again with an overhead kick that forced Federici into further action.

Reading responded with Jobi McAnuff testing Brian Murphy from 25 yards.

But the Royals suffered a setback on the half hour as Mills was dismissed following a strong tackle on Norris.

Alex Pearce was introduced in place of Brynjar Gunnarsson as McDermott looked to reorganise.

However, Ipswich were quick to capitalise on their numerical advantage and took control with two goals in four minutes at the end of the first half.

McAuley opened the scoring with a header from Grant Leadbitter's corner, after the latter had seen a 30-yard strike tipped away superbly by Federici.

And Reading's misery was compounded on the stroke of half-time as Daryl Murphy nodded David Wright's cross back into the six-yard box, where Walters was on hand to apply the finish.

Wickham was introduced at the start of the second half, with Healy the man to make way.

Reading refused to throw in the towel after the interval, although Jimmy Kebe, Shane Long and Brian Howard all failed to test Brian Murphy when presented with chances.

Daryl Murphy sent a curling shot narrowly over and Wright tested Federici from 12 yards as Ipswich looked to put the result beyond doubt.

Wickham, Leadbitter and Jack Colback also brought saves from the Royals goalkeeper as the game drifted towards its conclusion.