When : Saturday 2nd February, 3pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161
The mess that is Reading’s season splats itself into a challenge from Aston Villa next. While general play and form within game is improving the results really aren’t not helped by the continuing problem that Reading just do not create enough. However there is something to cling to with the last home performance v Forest being the best of the season and the squad overall has improved since then – hasn’t it?
Villa aren’t exactly firing though with a record of just 2 wins (Swansea (a) and Ipswich (h)) from their last 9 league games. Additionally they’ve only kept one clean sheet in that run (in the win at Swansea) so they are obviously a little suspect defensively. However the number of teams that are on a bad run when Reading appear before them only to be able to improve that bad run is quite amazing this season.
With the transfer window still open there could be some departures still to be had though most of these will be with players who would not be playing v Villa anyway. Only Blackett and Barrow are currently subject to transfer speculation from those that would be in the squad. No changes are expected inwardly though there is a strong rumour in the media Adel Taraabt might joining…
Injuries are pretty much the same as ever. Bod should be fully recovered by the time the game comes round but Oliveira has picked up a minor abductor muscle strain which is unsurprising given his lack of match fitness after not playing for 8 months or so.
Referee
Geoff Eltringham is looking forward to this one.
Previously
29 Sep 18 > Brentford 2-2 Reading
03 Feb 18 > Reading 0-2 Millwall
22 Apr 17 > Nottingham Forest 3-2 Reading
17 Mar 17 > Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Reading
04 Feb 17 > Ipswich Town 2-2 Reading
13 Dec 16 > Leeds United 2-0 Reading
02 Apr 16 > Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Reading
12 Dec 15 > Preston North End 1-0 Reading
07 Apr 15 > Blackpool 1-1 Reading
23 Nov 13 > Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Reading
14 Feb 12 > Derby County 0-1 Reading
Historically
Historically Reading's home league record against Villa pretty awful with just 2 wins and 5 defeats to show from the 7 games played so far and a scoring aggregate of 10 for and 14 against.
All of the last 4 league home games against Villa have ended 2-1 to one or the other team and in all of the last 6 home league games the side which scored twice won the game.
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)