MATCHWATCH : Aston Villa (a) sponsored by a night out in the Midlands

[Sutekh]

When :, Tuesday, 3rd April 2018, 7.45pm
Where : Trinity Road Birmingham B6 6HE
Capacity : 42,785
Away Stand : Doug Ellis Stand, towards the North end of the stadium.
What might I see in the area : Birmingham

First away game then for the new management team. Expectation isn't high at all so there's not much for the team to live up to other than to try their best and you never know something might break in their direction.

Reading still trying to buck the appalling trend for Tuesday night away league games which has seen just 2 wins in 25 attempts but they were both in the Midlands and one of those was "over the road" at Villa's friendly neighbours, Birmingham

Reading's injuries abound still though Kelly might be back after illness. Kermorgant suspended and Elphick ineligible not that he’d be fit anyway. Villa are more or less at full strength though Jonathan Kodija may not be risked after only just returning to training. On the upside at least Villa don't play their first Easter fixture until 5.30pm on Saturday so maybe will collect a few selection problems.

Hey, but at least the club are on a run now. 1 win in a row. Doesn’t really get much better than that.

Referee

Trying to keep tabs on the score will be Bond, Darren Bond



Previously

20 Jan 17 > Reading 0-1 Brentford
30 Nov 17 > Reading 3-0 Barnsley
11 Feb 17 > Reading 0-0 Barnsley
13 Aug 16 > Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 Reading
14 Mar 15 > Watford 4-1 Reading
30 Aug 14 > Middlesbrough 0-1 Reading

Historically

Reading won on their league visit last year to garner their very first pointage at Villa Park following 5 previous total failures. And it has been bad with the 5 games previous to that earning Reading nothing but a relegation to division 4 in 1971.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel
2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
3. Ring/text a mate for updates
4. Use an iFollow subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[royalp-we]

Thanks Sutekh, great write up as always.

As you say, not expecting much. I think Clement will need to rotate and I see Evans coming in, possibly Pelle and maybe Smith up top. Smith will be an unknown quantity for Villa (much like Mendes was last season) and if he does start hopefully Aluko and Barrow can get some service to the lad.

[JoeyJoeJoeJnrShabadoo]

thanks

[Hound]

Thanks Sutekh

I suspect we’ll try to play the way we did vs QPR. Very compact and try to hit them on the break - be delighted with a 0-0

Thought Martin offered nothing against Villa, and would happily see Smith come in for the better work rate assuming Dadi is still not fit

Evans or Bacuna for Joey is a possibility - though would fear that Bacuna would do something feeble and get sent off if he plays there. Can’t see him getting a great reception

Be good to have Kelly back in, but only if definitely 100%

[NewCorkSeth]

Can we please start referring to Liam Kelly as future England star Liam Kelly? I hope he's fit for the next game too. He was finding fair form. World cup form.

[Awayawayaway]

Take a draw there.

Assuming we'll take a few as it's only an hour and a half in the train?

Naa thought not. You lot are probably too busy noncing it up on here.

[Hound]

Watching a bit of the Villa game - they don’t look in great form. Would want to try to get Aluko and Barrow up against their painfully slow back 4

Would also think any chance of auto promotion is now gone for them, whilst the play offs look a certainty

Small straws to clutch at - but If we defend well again we’ve a chance

[Zip]

Villa are not in great form and have blown automatic promotion. We might just nick a point

[leon]

thanks

[CountryRoyal]

Fun fact: 5 of the top 7 championship earners play for Villa with the lowest earning 42k a week.

[tidus_mi2]

Fun fact: 5 of the top 7 championship earners play for Villa with the lowest earning 42k a week.

Jesus, is this accurate? Our highest earner is probably around half that.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Yeah but, yeah but, Villa are a Premiership club.

1-0 Reading, Terry og

justice is served

[CountryRoyal]

Fun fact: 5 of the top 7 championship earners play for Villa with the lowest earning 42k a week.

Jesus, is this accurate? Our highest earner is probably around half that.

As accurate as any readily available contract information. Ultimately no one really knows apart from the parties involved but I wouldn’t doubt it. If anything I’m surprised they aren’t higher, I know they’re paying Kodjia a shit tonne too but don’t know figures.

Apparently;

Robert Snodgrass - 42k (Villa pay 70% of his 60k West Ham salary)
Mile Jedinak - 45k
Micah Richards - 50k
Gabby Agbonlahor - 54k
John Terry - 60k

Richards (who’s only made 2 league appearances in the last 2 years - both last season) will have cost villa £10m in wages when his contract expires. Appearing 24 times in the prem the season they were relegated it works out at £384,615 per league appearance (assuming he doesn’t play again for them).

[John Smith]

Yeah but, yeah but, Villa are a Premiership club.

1-0 Reading, Terry og

justice is served

If that happened I wouldn't know what to do

[Brum Royal]

Pretty wet in Brum yesterday, but dry this morning, so shouldn't be any issues with the game being on tonight. Probably a night for the long studs though.

[oldebiscuit]

I must say how enjoyable it is to sense the positivity at long last, and i hopes it lasts long.

[Snowflake Royal]

Lose and Brum win and I imagine there'll be a few of the usual suspects on suicide watch.

I fancy a draw though. Call it 1-1

[Hound]

Smith, Bacuna and Evans in

Swift, Martin and Joey out

All fair enough decisions imo.

[alfie9]

Lineups are in. Same side that beat QPR with VDB, Swift, and Martin out for Evans, Bacuna, and Smith. Kelly back on the bench.

[The Reverend]

Smith ahead of Martin. That's a call!

Bacuna and Evans into midfield too