When : Tuesday February 13 2024, 7.45pm
Where : Highbury Stadium, Park Avenue, Fleetwood, FY7 6TX
Capacity : 5,327
Another new manager to face here: one time Royals legend Charlie Adam who is starting out in his first job at Fleetwood Town as Reading look to do something they've not done in what seems like decades, and win 2 consecutive away league games. Last week's win at Stevenage hurt some so much that residents of the town have apparently been ringing Stansted to ask if they have a plane missing as they can still hear what they assume to be whining from some jet engines coming from the Lamex.
Reading's away midweek record now reads 5 wins from 55 attempts since April 2014 with all 5 wins coming against teams who either begin with 'B' or whose official nickname begins with 'B'. Winning at Fleetwood will finally destroy that as they are the Fisherman or the Cod Army from Fleetwood so not a 'B' in sight!
Fleetwood are currently 23rd in the table 6 points adrift of safety with zero games in hand on those above them. Adam was appointed after a run of just 2 draws from 8 league games saw the end of previous manager Lee Johnson. Since then Adam has improved things having managed 2 wins from the last 8 league games and that could have been a 3rd straight win last Saturday had midfielder Bosun Lawal not been sent off in the first half at Lincoln, with the Cod Army leading 1-0, so it would suggest that Charlie Adam is starting to make a difference at the club. The two goals conceded at Lincoln were the first conceded by the club in 240 minutes so the defensive side of the game has greatly improved and Reading could therefore find Fleetwood very difficult to break down.
Forwards Promise Omochere, Jayden Stockley and Jack Marriott are where the threat lies though Josh Vela should be watched carefully after his late late winner at the Madejski in October. Thankfully, following his dismissal at Lincoln, Lawal will be suspended so he won't be able to score against Reading again!
Think we're still in the realms of just Holmes being injured with Camara I think being the only other casualty as I haven't seen his name on a team sheet for Academy or seniors for weeks. Would expect some team changes though, given the run of so many games in February (7 games in 21 days) of which this one is the fourth.
There is a full programme of third tier fixtures on this Tuesday and both Burton (home v Carlisle) and Cambridge (away at Pompey) are just a point above Reading while only Charlton (home to Lincoln) and Shrewsbury (home to Barnsley) can realistically catch the Royals.
Referee
Simon Mather
Previously
05-Aug-23 > Reading 0-1 Peterborough United
Historically
No previous visits to Fleetwood at all for anything - pretty much what most people would hope for from a life then!
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use a RoyalTV subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)