MATCHWATCH : Wolverhampton Wanderers (a) sponsored by Sammy Chung

[Sutekh]

When : Tuesday 13th March, 7.45pm
Where : Molineux, Waterloo Rd, Wolverhampton, WV1 4QR
Capacity : 31,700
Away Stand : One side of the upper tier of the Stan Cullis Stand
Which former players might I see in the area : Kenny Hibbitt, Derek Dougan, Steve bull, John Richards, Geoff Palmer, Steve Daley

This is the game that nearly everyone expects a thrashing for Reading and so would be probably happy with just a standard 1-0 defeat. At the end of the day there is no pressure on the team for this one because of this expectation. They can just relax and hopefully might be able to play a bit and thus cause a surprise (and a win would stop Wolves beating the 106 record - so there is something to play for after all)

Trouble is, though, that SKY have chosen this one for the telly so they can cream themselves over how Wolves are the greatest team that Division 2 has ever seen This news is also not good for Reading. Try to remember the last time Reading played an away league game on TV and won (or even got a point). Even more trouble might be in store as Reading's current standard of “play” is opened up to more than the usual few to watch.

Reading's current league run is 1 win (at Burton) in 14 league games scoring 13 and conceding 24 while amassing a whopping 8 points (approx. 0.57 points per game).

In Wolverhampton things are about as good as it can get for a team at this stage of the season. They are all but mathematically sure of promotion and might even still sneak into the play offs if they lost every game they’ve got left this season! However, they are in a bit of a dip of form (for them) currently and they’ve only won 3 of their last 8 league games and have only got 2 points from the last 9. Based on the last 8 games their ppg is something of which Reading can only dream, being 1.5

Reading will be without Stephen Quinn, Callum Harriott, Paul McShane, Garath McCleary and Yann Kermorgant. Mo Barrow should be fit after a minor knock and Sone Aluko should have recovered after sickness.

Referee

Andy Madley has this one



Previously

21 Nov 2017 > Bolton Wanderers 2-2 Reading
26 Sep 2017 > Millwall 2-1 Reading
19 Aug 2017 > Preston North End 1-0 Reading
04 Mar 2017 > Reading 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
17 Aug 2016 > Newcastle United 4-1 Reading
07 May 2016 > Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Reading
03 Dec 2015 > Reading 0-1 Queen's Park Rangers
29 Aug 2015 > Brentford 1-3 Reading
25 Apr 2015 > Reading 0-2 Brentford
15 Jan 2015 > Milwall 0-0 Reading
05 Apr 2014 > Charlton Athletic 0-1 Reading
25 Jan 2014 > Ipswich Town 2-0 Reading

Historically

This will be the 19th visit to Wolverhampton with the first visit in the league being back in 1926. In that time there have been 6 wins for Reading and 10 wins for Wolves. There have only been 2 draws and neither of those finished scoreless. Therefore somebody should score.

However reading have lost the last 2 league games played at Molinuex and haven’t troubles the scoreboard in either attempt. Oddly both teams have each only kept 4 clean sheets in the league games played to date. So 0-0 it is then!

How to follow the game

1. Watch Sky from 5.15pm
2. Get a ticket and travel
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 an iFollow subscription
6. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
   

[Hound]

not going to be pretty this, is it?

[Old Man Andrews]

not going to be pretty this, is it?

It will resemble a bag of smashed crabs.

[The Cap]

Amazingly, off this w/end. So up the local 'rub a dub' it is then, complete with tin hat, ready for the post match flak.

[Old Man Andrews]

When is David Coote coming back to ref? He is my favourite.

[tidus_mi2]

Thing is, despite how shit we've been, we haven't lost by more than 2 all season, so who knows.

[Hound]

Thing is, despite how shit we've been, we haven't lost by more than 2 all season, so who knows.

suspect that might change come Saturday night

[Victor Meldrew]

tidius-I don't think, of all the old players, you will be seeing Derek Dougan unless you see Billy Wright,Stan Cullis etc. in an unearthly place.

[tidus_mi2]

Thing is, despite how shit we've been, we haven't lost by more than 2 all season, so who knows.

suspect that might change come Saturday night

Very likely but Wolves also recently lost 2-0 at home to Forest out of the blue, I wouldn't count us out.

[genome]

It's such a depressing state of affairs that I'll be genuinely pleased if the scoreline is below 4

[Theroyalbox]

might be an unpopular opinion but a win here could start a late run for the play offs.

[Hound]

considering we have just conceded 6 goals in 2 games to two pretty average sides missing their best attacking player, i really don't hold out much hope for conceding less than 3 again.

[leon]

considering we have just conceded 6 goals in 2 games to two pretty average sides missing their best attacking player, i really don't hold out much hope for conceding less than 3 again.

And still he won’t be sacked.

[genome]

considering we have just conceded 6 goals in 2 games to two pretty average sides missing their best attacking player, i really don't hold out much hope for conceding less than 3 again.

And still he won’t be sacked.

Not after this one, no. It's basically a free hit.

[leon]

considering we have just conceded 6 goals in 2 games to two pretty average sides missing their best attacking player, i really don't hold out much hope for conceding less than 3 again.

And still he won’t be sacked.

Not after this one, no. It's basically a free hit.

This whole season has been a free hit.

[Hound]

considering we have just conceded 6 goals in 2 games to two pretty average sides missing their best attacking player, i really don't hold out much hope for conceding less than 3 again.

And still he won’t be sacked.

Not after this one, no. It's basically a free hit.

its a well discussed topic, but can't see him being sacked anytime before Leeds on the 10th, as there is a glut of games up until then. Then comes Norwich on 17th, followed by a 2 week break.

I'm not sure it would happen at all, but suspect following Norwich would be the best chance for someone to come in and have a bit of time to work with the players.

[Davezk]

I'm in

[Sutekh]

And still he won’t be sacked.

Not after this one, no. It's basically a free hit.

its a well discussed topic, but can't see him being sacked anytime before Leeds on the 10th, as there is a glut of games up until then. Then comes Norwich on 17th, followed by a 2 week break.

I'm not sure it would happen at all, but suspect following Norwich would be the best chance for someone to come in and have a bit of time to work with the players.

He ain’t going anywhere. Jaap will be charged with leading the club into next season. Now won’t that be something to look forward to?

[Hound]

I've so little confidence on this one, wouldn't be upset to see Barrow and Swift left out again with the intention of them being 100% for Bolton

Would probably try to cram the midfield, keep Martin or Bod up front on their own and hope Kelly can place a couple of set pieces of the head of Moore or Edwards

[Snowball]

might be an unpopular opinion but a win here could start a late run for the play offs.

Whoosh?

Jeez. You can get 100-1 just for Reading to make TWELFTH