Reading vs. Aston Villa: Lineups and open match thread

This is where things get real, as you're likely to know. If Villa isn't able to win these next few games, well, we're proper fornicated. Reading isn't a terrible team by any stretch, but Villa's run out of room for error. Good god, we need to win, and I don't really want to consider a reality in which we don't.

For comparison. Spurs are taking on Liverpool with a real shot of closing in on second. That's where we could have been with some better management over the past few years. Why am I bringing this up? Well, largely because it's a thing I've been thinking about over the past few weeks, but also because I am clinically depressed. But hey, you know, go Villa!

In your weekly relegation battle recap, QPR take on Sunderland on Saturday while Wigan have a rough go at Everton on Sunday. On the optimistic side of things, Southampton travel to take on Norwich.

Please god win. UTV.

Reading Starting XI: Stuart Taylor, Alex Pearce, Adrian Mariappa, Stephen Kelly, Ian Harte, Mikele Leigertwood, Hal Robson-Kanu, Jobi McAnuff, Hope Akpan, Noel Hunt, Adam Le Fondre.

Reading Bench: Nicky Shorey, Jem Karacan, Garath McCleary, Sean Morrison, Danny Guthrie, Nick Blackman, Jonathan Henly

Aston Villa Starting XI: Brad Guzan, Matthew Lowton, Ron Vlaar, Ciaran Clark Nathan Baker, Ashley Westwood, Barry Bannan, Yacouba Sylla, Gabby Agbonlahor, Andreas Weimann, Christian Benteke

Villa Bench: Shay Given, Charles N'Zogbia, Brett Holman, Simon Dawkins, Samir Carruthers, Jordan Bowery, Joe Bennett