When : Saturday 10th December 2022, 2pm
Where : SCL Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161
Back to normal things at last.
This return to normality for teams after a month away in various mini pre-seasons and training camps sees Reading having to take on a really rather good Coventry City at the SCL.
This one is going to be a very difficult game against what is essentially the form team of the division who have recorded 7 wins and 1 draw from their last 9 games. It gets worse for Reading as Coventry do seem to be rather useful at preventing the kickable plastic round thing from passing between the two sticky up white pole things during a game. Currently ex-Royal Mark Robins’ men are on a run of 0 goals conceded anywhere in 370 minutes of football (just over 4 games) and also a run of 0 goals conceded in 525 minutes of football played away from home (nearly 6 games). No problem for Reading’s standard free flowing and creative attack then.
The threat in this game is basically the Sky Blues’ big Swedish international striker Viktor Gyökeres (think it’s pronounced ju-keer-esh) who has bagged 9 goals in 19 league games (4 in the last 3) and is one of the league’s joint top 8 leading scorers. He thrives on powerful runs into the box and is very capable of turning defenders inside out in the process. Denial of any sort of service to him has to therefore be one of the key targets for Reading during the game. Centre back Jonathan Panzo (on loan from Forest) has been very impressive so far while the Dutch/Brazilian midfielder Gustavo Hamer is another one who also needs to be watched closely.
Thankfully Coventry will at least be forced into making one defensive change for the game as centre back Kyle McFadzean is suspended following his 5th booking of the season v QPR last month. On the injury front Coventry are hoping to see the return of Fankaty Dabo and Martyn Waghorn though Matt Godden is expected to not quite be ready.
Reading will be almost at full strength after the lay off with everyone fit except Scott Dann, Liam Moore (neither expected to be ready until January) and Naby Sarr may need another week or so.
Incidentally, it looks like a big crowd is expected, just looking online at the ticket site and there appears to only be a few single seats left in each area.
Finally, note the amended kick off time of 2pm to allow supporters travelling distance to be home in good time for the England game.
Referee
Matthew “a total jinx to Reading” Donohue
Previously
14 Sep 22 > Reading 0-3 Sunderland
30 Apr 22 > Reading 0-1 West Bromwich Albion
16 Feb 22 > Peterborough United 0-0 Reading
07 Aug 21 > Stoke City 3-2 Reading
26 Dec 20 > Reading 2-1 Luton Town
12 Feb 20 > Reading 1-2 West Bromwich Albion
11 Dec 19 > Barnsley 1-1 Reading
21 Sep 19 > Reading 1-2 Blackburn Rovers
10 Aug 19 > Hull City 1-0 Reading
Historically
The clubs have shared 26 seasons so far with Reading by far the most dominant for league games held in Reading. Of the 26 games played so far Coventry have won on 4 occasions, all at the Mad Stad (three times by 2 goals to 1 and once by 3 goals to 2 - oddly Reading opened the scoring in every one of those games) while Reading have managed 17 wins.
Overall there have been 56 goals from Reading and 26 from Coventry, the last 7 home games have returned 5 Reading victories, 1 draw and 1 defeat (for 15 against 4).
How to follow the game
- Get ticket. Go.
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Use a RoyalsTV subscription
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)