When : Sunday 18 August, 12, noon
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161
It's silly kick off time so Reading must be on the telly again and amazingly Leeds are not involved in any way shape or form (though their game is probably live at some other time over the weekend).
It's Cardiff and Colin that are back in town as Reading go looking for their first pointage of the season. Cardiff are safely ensconced in midtable having recovered from their opening day failure at Wigan by beating Luton 2-1 last time out with new signing Isaac Vassell (from Birmingham) netting the winner.
Cardiff were Premier League last season and so have a pretty useful squad for this level and, although Zohore is now at WBA, Colin has acquired some fairly useful players in the close season such as Will Vaulks from Rotherham, Robert Glatzel from Heidenheim and the aforementioned Vassell. In addition there are 3 ex Reading players currently on the books at Cardiff - Leandro Bacuna (unused sub in the Luton game), Matthew Connolly (who doesn't seem to be involved too often) and Sean Morrison who, barring some form of injury or disciplinary foul up will lead the Bluebirds defence. But at least Peter Whittingham isn't there any more (we have to wait for Blackburn for that treat)!
Reading look like they might promise something with the squad they have gathered so far, however it looks there is still a lot of gelling required as JG goes looking to establish a permutation that works successfully for 90 minutes. At least, currently, only Blackett looks to be on the treatment bench though obviously it's also too soon for Obita to be involved. Expectation will be that Rafael will start with Virginia relegated to the supporting role on the bench, Moore and Miazga should both start and Richards is also a must being the only fit left back (cue JG putting Yiadom there for the game then) add Rino to that lot and then it's anyone's guess what JG will come up with.
And it's on the telly.
Referee
Say hello to Andy Davies
Previously....
09 Mar 19 > Reading 3-2 Wigan Athetic
26 Dec 18 > Millwall 1-0 Reading
02 Oct 18 > Reading 0-1 Queens Park Rangers
28 Feb 18 > Reading 1-3 Sheffield United
19 Sep 17 > Reading 0-2 Swansea City (LC)
07 Mar 17 > Reading 0-0 Newcastle United
26 Dec 16 > Reading 3-1 Norwich City
29 Oct 16 > Reading 2-0 Nottingham Forest
06 Aug 16 > Reading 1-0 Preston North End
15 Sep 15 > Reading 0-1 Derby County
Historically
Cardiff are one of those fairly regular opponents of Reading with games stretching all the way back to Southern League days. Since joining the FL though there have been 58 league games with this game being the 30th at home against them. Of the previous 29 games Reading have won 12 and drawn 11 with the remaining 6 games going the way of the Welsh
Reading though have not been having the best of times at home against Cardiff as only 1 win has been mustered from the last 9 home games in all competitions though most of those games finished as 1-1.
Finally, Reading are really cr@p at keeping clean sheets in home league fixtures against Cardiff having managed precisely zero in the last 18 attempts.
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
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use an iFollow subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
- It’s on SKY
