When : Saturday 23rd November 2019, 3pm
Where : Griffin Park, London, TW8 0NT
Capacity : 12,763
Away Stand : Brook Road Stand
What might I see in the area : Pubs
And now it starts. Now the real tests start rolling in and we see what Mark Bowen is actually capable doing with this squad in these games against some very useful opposition.
Brentford have won 4 of their last 5 in this division so are not a hopeless entity. True they lost their last home game but they will be anxious to put that right which may not be exactly what we want to have to face just at the moment. They also have a tendency to score goals having netted 12 in the last 5 with three goals in each of the last four games they’ve won. The one to watch - or rather stop getting anywhere near the goal - is Ollie Watkins who has notched 10 league goals in 16 games. Keep him quiet and Brentford struggle a little as the next highest scorer is Bryan Mbeumo on 4.
Brentford will be missing defensive regular Julian Jeanvier who is starting a ban following his dismissal at Wigan last time out. Winger Joel Valencia will also be missing after dislocating his shoulder in the same game
Reading will hopefully remain much better off on the injury front with only Charlie Adam (hamstring) currently sidelined but there have been a few away on international duty that the club hope won’t be showing any adverse effects when they return.
Finally, make the most of it as it’s the last league visit to Griffin Park before Brentford move to a brand spanking new plastic thunderdome of their very own. And they’ll also get to share with London Irish, so even better news for Reading.
Referee
OMA’s favourite this week. David Coote.
Previously
01 Dec 2019 > Reading 2-2 Stoke City
30 Mar 2018 > Reading 1-0 Queen's Park Rangers
10 Feb 2017 > Middlesbrough 2-1 Reading
25 Nov 2017 > Reading 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
21 Oct 2017 > Sheffield United 2-1 Reading
05 Nov 2016 > Wigan Athletic 0-3 Reading
17 Sep 2016 > Barnsley 1-2 Reading
12 Jan 2016 > Derby County 1-1 Reading
22 Aug 2015 > Reading 0-0 MK Dons
16 Feb 2014 > Queen's Park Rangers 1-3 Reading
07 Dec 2013 > Reading 1-2 AFC Bournemouth
03 Aug 2013 > Reading 2-1 Ipswich Town
11 Feb 2012 > Reading 2-0 Coventry City
Historically
Reading have won roughly a quarter of the league games played at Brentford (10 out of 43) while losing on 19 occasions. Brentford have won 5 of the last 9 league games played between the sides (W5, D3, L1).
Expect Reading to have to score at least twice to have a chance of winning the game as Reading have failed to keep a clean sheet at Griffin Park since the days of Steve Death and 17 Sep 1973 came along. That's a total of almost exactly 45 years and 22 games (but then Reading have only ever kept 2 clean sheets in the league at Griffin Park so perhaps that isn't really a surprise).
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel
- 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
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)