When : Saturday 5th December, 12.30pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161
Another irritating kick off time for another game on Sky and hope that Reading can get a bit better at getting rewards when they play on the telly (now 3 wins and 3 draws from the last 17 on Sky). Of course this will be slightly different from recent games as some of the mug punters will at last be allowed back into a ground, albeit carefully spaced out to discourage any of that dreadful behaviour that authorities don’t want to see in the current climate like singing, chanting or making supportive noises let alone anything horrible like dissing an opponent who might do something a bit naughty.
Forest are doing badly. A bit of surprise after what they offered up last year but that’s football. Chris Hughton has taken up control and since then their record has improved with 3 wins and 4 draws from 11 games but the club is currently on a run of 1 draw in 4 games. Forest have also lost their last 3 away games without scoring so we can all guess what that sort of record will lead to on an early Saturday afternoon on the telly with the fans back in.
Former Charlton threat, Lyle Taylor is the danger man here, 4 goals in 8(6) appearances isn’t too bad in what currently appears to be a struggling team. In addition Jack Colback can be a nuisance if he’s not carefully watched and then there’s Lewis Grabban and Joe Lolley who always seem to do well against Reading.
That said Mr Grabban is amongst a number of Forest players who have or are recovering from injury with Joe Worrall, Tyler Blackett, Samba Sow, Michael Dawson, Gaetan Bong and Luke Freeman all on the verge of getting on the pitch again.
Reading still have Puscas, Araruna, Yiadom and Swift out and a doubt over Meite.
Referee
Gavin Ward
Previously
03 Oct 2020 > Reading 1-0 Watford
04 Feb 2020 > Cardiff City 3-3 Reading (FA Cup)
22 Apr 2019 > Reading 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
12 Mar 2018 > Reading 0-3 Leeds United
01 Sep 2018 > Reading 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
25 Aug 2015 > Portsmouth 1-2 Reading (League Cup)
20 Dec 2014 > Reading 0-1 Watford
25 Oct 2014 > Reading 3-0 Blackpool
17 Apr 2012 > Reading 1-0 Nottingham Forest
01 Feb 2011 > Cardiff City 2-2 Reading
16 Mar 2010 > Reading 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
11 Aug 2009 > Reading 5-1 Burton Albion (League Cup)
Historically
Forest have made 22 previous visits to Reading for a league game with all but 4 being at Division 2 level. They have won on 6 of those visits and when Reading lose at home to Forest in the league they fail to score.
Reading have managed 10 wins from those 21 visits and have won 4 and drawn 1 of the last 5 encounters at the Mad Stad so there is something to live up to.
How to follow the game
- SKY again
- Be one of the lucky 2000
- 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 (audio only)
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)