When : Friday 30 October 2020, 7.45pm
Where : St Andrews, Birmingham, B9 4RL
Capacity : 30,016
Not going to get carried away. Not going to say anything to tempt fate. Just going to carry on as if it was the standard season of struggle with expectation of having to play 20 odd games to get 22 points.
And so the season of struggle moves on to Coventry, well Birmingham actually as Coventry have long left their shiny new stadium in Coventry due to various financial problems and ongoing arguments with owners etc. Coventry are Now back in the second tier after 8 years away in the lower divisions and have found it a difficult start with just 1 win and 2 draws to show from 8 games - but that 1 win was at home to another side in blue and white hoops. However their current league position may be a bit skewed as they have played, Bristol, Bournemouth, Swansea and Middlesbrough in those 8 games.
Matt Godden leads the way for Coventry with 3 goals which is half of their overall league haul so far (Kyle McFadzean, Jordan Shipley and Callum O’Hare bagged the others). Star player there though is former Chelsea youngster and right back Fankaty Dabo.
After a couple of suspensions and recent injury recoveries Coventry are expected to be at full strength while Reading will continue to miss Araruna, Baldock, Swift and Yiadom. Ejaria is also after missing the Blackburn game while Holmes and Southwood may also be missing.
Overall I don’t know what to expect from Coventry, one thing I do know though is that Reading must keep the players well grounded as turning up and expecting to win just won’t cut it at any level let alone in the Championship. The club will need to dig in and work hard for some reward as how many times have Reading had a great win and then followed it up with a right load of old pants at some perceived lesser opposition?
Referee
David Webb
Previously
26 Sep 2020 > Cardiff City 1-2 Reading
20 Oct 2018 > Reading 3-1 Millwall
29 Nov 2014 > Norwich City 1-2 Reading
24 Aug 2013 > Blackpool 1-0 Reading
01 Nov 2011 > Nottingham Forest 1-0 Reading
05 Dec 2009 > Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Reading
Historically
24 seasons shared with Coventry since first crossing swords in the league back on Christmas Day in 1931.
The 24 league visits to play away against the Sky Blues has seen 4 wins, 9 draws and 11 defeats so not entirely ideal so far
How to follow the game
- live on Sky
- 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)