When : Thursday December 26th 2024, 3pm
Where : SCL Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161
A home game on Boxing Day again and it’s a visit from relegation battling Northampton Town with which to contend. This fixture is rarely anything other than a dour, tedious reminder of just why clubs don’t want to be in the two basement divisions as goals and excitement tend be very scarce and quite often what you expect to be a comfortable home game turns out to be the proverbial disappointing splat as you realise that Charity FC have turned up late for Christmas with a whole sack full of gifts to be unwrapped.
Reading have now gone 4 hours of football without scoring so let’s face the fact that this game could well be prime charity territory. Meanwhile Northampton have only won 1 of their last 8 league games and seem to be uncontrollably collapsing with their latest return being a 5-0 stuffing at home from Charlton. However they have managed a point at both Brum and Stockport and taken all 3 points at Huddersfield so they do have some capability about them, even if it is seemingly a little "off par" at the moment.
After the last couple of seasons that has seen midfielder Sam Hoskins deliver around 40 league goals things have gone a little quiet which is a big part of the Cobblers' problem, together with a very large turn over in playing staff in the summer and the subsequent resignation of their manager, Jon Brady, after a relatively successful 3 years at the helm. Ian Sampson has taken over caretaker duties but after picking up 3 points in his first game the club have lost 3 games on the bounce in all competitions without scoring and conceding eleven.
Other Northampton midfielders have been filling in the Hoskins void of leading goalscorers; Cameron McGeehan (6) and former Reading starlet Tariq Fosu-Henry (3). Also on their payroll is Nesta Guinness-Walker who I’m sure will have a point to prove if you let him.
Reading are without Elliott until March and WiFi until February. Abrefa and Yiadom are back on the training pitches but probably still need another week or two before being involved. Mbengue should be available again after concussion.
Referee
Scott Simpson
Previously
23 Nov 24 > Peterborough United 1-2 Reading
Historically
This is the 46th season shared with the Cobblers with league games going back to 1921. Since then Reading have won 31 and drawn 10 home games but Reading have only beaten Northampton once at home in the last 5 attempts they've played in all competitions. Goals tend to be scare too with both sides having managed just 2 goals each across those 5 games.
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel to the Mad Stad
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Red button/NOW app
- 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)
….it was more reference to the games pre-amble on social media and BBC Berks.
