News and Views
Fans Expect Worst Against Manchester United
29 November 2012
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading fans are predicting a big defeat for Reading as they host top of the table Manchester United at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday. Reading, second from bottom of the table, are on the back of two straight defeats against relegation rivals Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa. United's last two games have seen victory over QPR and West Ham to take them to the top of the table. Some Reading fans see The Royals taking a first half lead before, as so often this season, collapsing to defeat in the second half. On the other end of the scale fans think this game could see Reading take it close to their record defeat against Preston North End when we lost 0-18 back in 1894. Even the bravest realistic prediction is that Reading are defeated on a damage limitation exercise.
According to the official site Reading are aiming to "tear out the history books and right their very own chapter" (sic). We have absolutely no idea what that means but we assume it's a reference to Reading failing to ever beat Manchester United in the league. If Saturday is the day that Reading rewrite history with a victory it will be shock to all, but Reading would still remain in the bottom three. A win would be Reading's second ever against United and our second for the entire league season so far as we move towards the end of the year. On the plus side, since 2006, we've recorded three draws and three defeats against United. That's not a bad record against one of England's best sides. That record closely matches our average for this season as a whole. So perhaps, applying the law of averages we can hope for a draw or a narrow defeat. With Reading such big underdogs perhaps it will work in our favour and we'll pull out a surprise perfomance to give the visitors a shock. Maybe. Then again...
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