Whether people like it or not, Sam Allardyce was right when he said he’d be happy with a 0-0 draw here – I’d take a point in an instant if you offered it, because we quite simply need to keep this mini unbeaten run rolling. Alan Shearer has mentioned it a fair bit in his career, but if you can win your home games and draw your away games then you’ll probably do alright. This is especially poignant when you consider we’re going for top-six (top-four at a BIG push) and are probably looking at getting something like 65 points.

We’ve already got the home form on the right track – although our opposition at St. James’ hasn’t exactly been the strongest, and so it is essential that the away form stays in line. If you look at it on paper we have actually amassed four points from four away fixtures in the Premiership and another point here would keep us ticking over. Of course Reading away is a game we should be looking to win, but a draw won’t be the disaster some will make it out to be.

Portsmouth come to Galllowgate after our excursions down South and surely that’s another big, big chance at taking three points at home. Whatever the outcomes of the individual games I’m personally looking at taking four points from them combined, which should see us within sniffing distance of the top six – something I’d have taken if offered before we kicked off this campaign.

Another away loss would be worrying, especially against a side who don’t have formidable home form, but anything more than that should be welcomed with open arms.

We need to tighten up on our travels, but we’re getting a bit of depth back in the side - particularly into midfield, which has been a concern for us so far this year. I’m confident we can start pulling out some decent performances on the road.

Following on from poor displays at Derby and Man City we really need to pick up our away form to compliment our good home record and I think we will be very much up for this game against a Reading side that have been indifferent at home.

Allardyce is very keen on us getting a clean sheet and it is about time we managed one on the road, it is something like 17 games on the road without a shutout. As I said earlier I think Sam will have the players really fired up for this one and looking to turn in a performance after two poor away days but Reading will be no pushovers on their own patch.

Comparing the two squads, we come out on top quite comfortably. Reading have a few quality players and an awful lot more who are punching above their weight. Kitson is a good player and I’m hoping to see Faye and Cacapa continue to develop their partnership and nullify his threat. Coppell will have them organised at home and won’t make it easy for us. If we match them physically then we should get some reward.