When : Tuesday 2nd November 2020, 7.45pm
Where : The Den, London, SE16 3LN
Capacity : 20,146

Next Reading face a trip to South East London (never a particularly useful place to go in midweek despite the relatively short distance) for the annual struggle with Millwall. The miserable return that Reading have seen from the last three games is likely to be strengthened given Reading’s utterly appalling away league record in midweek fixtures which currently stands at 4 wins from 45 attempts over the last 7 years (and trickier still when you realise that all 4 of those wins were at teams beginning with the letter B; Birmingham, Burton, Bristol and Blackburn - I’ll therefore be calling the Lions Billwall on the night to try and help encourage some sort of positive return).

The South East Londoners have a squad with five ex-Reading players on their roster (four permanent and one on loan from Stoke). However it is likely that only Jake Cooper will start on the night as Alex Pearce and Benik Afobe are generally only substitutes at best, George Evans is injured (broken hand) and Bod appears to be currently out of favour.

Not only is Millwall’s current form (4 wins from the last 6) a problem but George Saville and Jed Wallace are usually massive thorns to Reading too. Jed creates a decent amount and scores fairly regularly (5 goals so far and is therefore currently Millwall’s leading scorer). Add to that Millwall’s decent presence from set pieces and Reading will really find their work cut out - luckily, as the game is available to watch via the red button, it is available to turn off when you’ve finally had enough of the same old story.

Injuries. As is currently standard for Reading it’s easier to name the completely fit player - which, this time, is expected to be George Puscas (those shrewd managerial substitutions at last starting to pay off then). Millwall, of course, have next to no injury problems (winger Mason Bennett is rumoured to be back early from his time out though may not quite have the fitness yet) leaving only the aforementioned George Evans as their injury concern.

Referee

Gavin “only 1 Reading away league game in 12 years” Ward

Previously

02 Mar 2021 > Reading 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
05 Dec 2020 > Reading 2-0 Nottingham Forest
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

This will be the 101st league game against Millwall and the 51st time Reading will have trekked across to South East London. Currently it is definitely a case of the home team ruling as Millwall have won more than half of those league games (27) to Reading's tally of just 10. There is also a tendency to concede goals like they're going out of fashion at Millwall with Reading's 39 strikes being well and truly trounced by more than double the amount (79) from Millwall. So just what you want given the current problems at Reading.

Finally recent form at the Den has seen just 2 points return to Berkshire from the last 5 visits.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and go


2. Red button


3. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes


4. Ring/text a mate for updates


5. Use a RoyalsTV subscription


6. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

Have to be changes. I know there's not a lot available, but performances from some are unacceptable.

We're one injury away from having to use players from the bench regardless of them not being good enough, so they need to tried. Hell, some of them have got prior appearances.

Something needs to change in defence and we actually have a senior defender spare. Something has to change in midfield, even if it's just shape.

Making Laurent concentrate has to be a priority, as should be moving TDB back to where he consistently plays well, the middle. Moving Laurent back into defence should do that, and we saw it had the added benefit of us being able to play out much quicker and better.

..................Southwood
Holmes, Laurent, Dann/Moore, Rahman
...............Drinkwater/Moore
Yiadom.......TDB.......Swift.......Ejaria
.........................Puscas

Hopefully Drinkwater pulls his finger out with the rest of the team doing better, either that or give him a rocket by dropping him for Moore. This is closest to the feel of the team we were last winning with.


Don't think Moore or Dann should get close to the first XI if everyone is fit. Holmes has defender better than either this season.

We did certainly seem better with laurent at the back. Be a big call switching him back there, presumably for Moore.

There really is very little we can do. As its Millwall, I'd bring in Holmes and maybe play 3 at the back. DD has been absolutely rotten the last two games I've watched, so he'd prob be the one to miss out.

Millwall also a pretty negative team I hear, so its keep it 0-0 as long as possible and hope for a bit of Swift magic as per usual. But far from confident.

I still think just Holmes gives us a lot of options.

In at CB, in at RB, Moore to DM, Holmes to DM, 3 at the back with wing backs.

That Paunovic has tried none of it is unforgiveable to me. Its not like things could have gone much worse the last couple of games. Our GA and GD is already shot to buggery.

I still think just Holmes gives us a lot of options.

In at CB, in at RB, Moore to DM, Holmes to DM, 3 at the back with wing backs.

That Paunovic has tried none of it is unforgiveable to me. Its not like things could have gone much worse the last couple of games. Our GA and GD is already shot to buggery.

I don't think any of those options really changes things up a lot though. Its tweaking round the edges. Moore would be, and has been, pretty dire at DM. Nothing I've seen suggests Holmes could do it. You could put him RB and Yiadom further forward, or play 3 at the back, but Yiadom has been getting forward anyway, don't think it really makes much difference. It may tighten things up a little at the back, but most of the goals we concede are shit basic errors or set pieces anyway.

Drop drinkwater he’s been shit.

I still think just Holmes gives us a lot of options.

In at CB, in at RB, Moore to DM, Holmes to DM, 3 at the back with wing backs.

That Paunovic has tried none of it is unforgiveable to me. Its not like things could have gone much worse the last couple of games. Our GA and GD is already shot to buggery.

I don't think any of those options really changes things up a lot though. Its tweaking round the edges. Moore would be, and has been, pretty dire at DM. Nothing I've seen suggests Holmes could do it. You could put him RB and Yiadom further forward, or play 3 at the back, but Yiadom has been getting forward anyway, don't think it really makes much difference. It may tighten things up a little at the back, but most of the goals we concede are shit basic errors or set pieces anyway.
Not a fan of CBs at DM myself, but loads of people on here have creamed themselves over Moore playing DM. And Pauno has used him and McIntyre there, maybe Holmes as well.

He has to change something. Fine if it doesn't work, but passivity is part of the problem and Holmes is a decent defender, which is more than I can say for three of the current back 4 right now.

we actually looked best with laurent at CB, and he has been pretty poor in midfield all season. I'd be interested in a Laurent/Holmes/Dann back 3 but really not keen on Moore in CDM. And don't think there is much chance of that happening. McIntyre did ok there at times last season but it was generally only for 20mins at a time

Agree Laurent has been awful in midfield this season.

Drinkwater is just a repeat of last year. Laurent and Rino sat and weren't very adventurous, we looked solid. They then got pushed further and further forward and we were arse.

Drinkwater barely left our half his first few games. Now he's playing all over the place.

Look at his Heat map for Bournemouth, then look at it for Cardiff.

Completely different. Pauno has changed a working formula and oxf*rd it royally yet again. Drinkwater's most common position against Muff was RW ffs.

Agree Laurent has been awful in midfield this season.

Drinkwater is just a repeat of last year. Laurent and Rino sat and weren't very adventurous, we looked solid. They then got pushed further and further forward and we were arse.

Drinkwater barely left our half his first few games. Now he's playing all over the place.

Look at his Heat map for Bournemouth, then look at it for Cardiff.

Completely different. Pauno has changed a working formula and oxf*rd it royally yet again. Drinkwater's most common position against Muff was RW ffs.

wow really? Yeah agree with you here - it is a repeat of last season regarding the lack of discipline from the CDMs. And that's very disappointing

The Rino situation is a mystery to me, a month ago he was nearly there, not a Scooby on him since, Araruna had a run out in the U23s in the week, not even benched yesterday.

Another defeat in this one I reckon

This does look like a scrappy 1-0 home win to me.
I would ordinarily agree with Ian and play Laurent at CB but then who plays at CDM as I think Drinkwater has to be dropped?
Either way I would bring in Holmes and drop Drinkwater.

That's the thing isn’t it.

If you put Holmes RB, then Yiadom can go RW and TDB can come in to central midfield to replace one of Drinkwater or Laurent. But we can't move both out without bringing Osorio or Moore into midfield.

Would love to see a response after last night but doubt we will get anything meaningful. Don’t anticipate anything from the manager and so a draw is about the best we can hope for but even that will likely be too much unless Millwall have an absolute stinker.

Another loss and we are most certainly going to be closer to the wrong end of the table.

This will be one of those draws that apparently happen in games not involving Reading.

Looking forward to this, effectively a home game for me as it is only a 20min walk down the road. Really hoping that we can bounce back.

Will take a draw.

Agree with all of this. The fact we are bound to lose has put me off going.

Could we not put Laurent at centre half and shove Azeez in behind Puscas for the knockdowns rather than Drinky in DMC?

Araruna played two games for the u23's, in the last couple of weeks, lasted an hour in the first and ten minutes in the second

Agree with all of this. The fact we are bound to lose has put me off going.

Could we not put Laurent at centre half and shove Azeez in behind Puscas for the knockdowns rather than Drinky in DMC?

Azeez is injured.

I envisage same starting 11 as Bournemouth.
Personally, i think it is time for VP to grow some balls and drop Moore and send Holmes on. He changed the dynamic of the team when he was thrown on against Peterborough and in my view saved the game as we looked a shambles until then.
Make Dann captain and give him license to bollock players not doing their jobs. I have a feeling they would listen more to him than Moore.

But i think Pauno will more than likely drop Puscas than rock the boat and drop our highest earner.

Feel Millwall have lost their identity a bit under Rowett. Used to be up and at you, in your faces, making life difficult but they seem rather conservative now and rather negative. Only scored more than one goal in a league game 3 times this season and two of those occasions were against 10 men. Fair few ex players but none really seem to be getting a kick, Evans aside, Bod in particular has vanished off the face of the earth

As for us, will most likely be the same side with the possible exception of Holmes in somewhere but would like to see Pauno make changes if required and not just leave an underperforming XI out again. Can see this being a tight one

There's something about Dann that just looks tired and sad when he plays. Like he regrets not retiring.

Sashays between a class above and little boy lost.

I predict nothing to happen for 70mins, then Matt Smith to come on and cause carnage

Weren’t Reading at their best with a real makeshift centre of defence than one with much in the way of actual central defenders shame Tetek’s injured otherwise VP could go back to that arrangement.

3-0 Reading.

We outplayed the mighty Bournemouth in the 1st quarter. There's a good team in there and it's just waiting to beat the shit out of someone.

Yes, Josh Laurent has been far and away our best Centre Back.

Before that of course they have 2 giant centre-backs to trouble us at corners and set pieces-hopefully, especially in the light of our defending of that corner v Bournemouth, the coaches will have talked about that threat with a message to block crosses and not give away cheap free kicks.

I have a feeling that Moore is undroppable in Pauno's eyes so the one change might be to play a back three of Holmes. Dann and Moore with Yiadom and Rahman as wing-backs.
It is then either TDB or Drinkwater for the chop and ,as other posters have said, pray for Swift to do something.

Somehow we have to get back to winning ways in the 10 games to be played before the New Year otherwise , with the likely points deduction, we will be in the bottom 3 with the major worry of our best player leaving.