When : Wednesday 13th February, 8pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161
Next up is Blackburn.
Blackburn are not doing at all badly, thankyou very much. Stuck on the fringes of the play off places they're a well organised outfit though their form seems so be very prone to wild mood wings veering from losing to winning streaks and back again.
Currently they've started losing (which actually probably isn't that good for Reading) after following up last weeks 5-2 stuffing at Brentford with a 1-0 loss at home to Bristol City however before that it was 4 successive league wins (v Hull, Ipswich, Millwall and WBA) but before that is was 3 successive defeats (v Sheff U, Leeds & Norwich). Their current away form though isn't great with 1 win and 2 draws to show for the last 9 on the road.
Good news for Reading is it seems that at last the defensive side is starting to gel reasonably successfully, trouble is the club is struggling really badly at the other end of the pitch to get anything remotely clear cut, let alone getting the ball into that net thing but at least if that miracle ever does happen there's a chance the club might successfully hold out to collect 3 points.
Injury news for Blackburn is that they have doubts over Lenihan and Evans but sadly looks like Dack, Graham and Mulgrew will be ready to go. Dominic Samuel didn't feature against Bristol City so perhaps that's one possible bullet that might be dodged on Wednesday.
As far as we know there's no new injuries for Reading after Sheffield Wednesday and Ejaria will presumably be back after illness. It may be feasible that Oliveira gets a game but I'm not really expecting it so if he is involved that's a bonus.
This could be a game that really sets up Reading's remaining season. A win for Reading and no win for Rotherham at Hull (they play on the Tuesday night) with push Reading into the safety zone although how long that would given that Reading next have to go to Sheffield United is anyone's guess. Even a point would take the club out of the bottom 3 if Rotherham lose at Hull. Just don't want to think about any other outcomes!
I expect the crowd attendance for both teams will be down as the old "red button" is going to provide coverage so when you weigh that up against Reading's depressing form and the likely freezing cold and/or possibly wet conditions there's likely to be only one decision for many.
Referee
It's Steve Martin again.
Previously....
22 Dec 2018 > Reading 0-1 Middlesbrough
14 Apr 2018 > Reading 2-2 Sunderland
27 Feb 2018 > Nottm Forest 1-1 Reading
11 Dec 2017 > Reading 2-2 Cardiff City
23 Sep 2017 > Reading 1-1 Hull City
26 Aug 2017 -> Birmingham City 0-2 Reading
24 Jan 2017 > Reading 1-0 Fulham
15 Oct 2016 > Queen's Park Rangers 1-1 Reading
15 Mar 2016 > Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Reading
23 Jan 2016 > Reading 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday
19 Sep 2015 > Bristol City 0-2 Reading
25 Mar 2014 > Reading 1-3 Barnsley
Historically
Reading hadn't played a league game against Blackburn until a 1-1 draw on Saturday 1st December 1979. Since then there's been a further 8 visits from the Rovers and it's all been fairly even with 3 wins to Reading and 2 to Blackburn. Apart from one game, things have tended to be very close affairs with a goal deciding it or more than likely no goals happening whatsoever - so yet another 0-0 probably wouldn't be surprise to anyone.
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel to the Mad Stad
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use an iFollow subscription (by the way has anyone managed to get the actual game commentary working on an iPhone/android as yet)
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
- Sky red button