When : Wednesday 2nd December 2020, 7.45pm
Where : Hillsborough, Sheffield, S6 1SW
Capacity : 39,812
Another game live on Sky for the recovering Royals. Reading are now in a run of 1 win from 1 game and that was also live on Sky so might the live hoodoo finally be turning? Given the record since August 2017 is played 16 won 3 drawn 2 lost 11 think it might take a few more games to convince us of that.
In addition to that Reading are also looking to continue reversing their pretty grim away midweek league record of just 3 wins from 38 outings since 2014 esp. given all 3 of those wins came against teams beginning with ‘B’ so will need to dig deep to collect 3 points.
Sheffield Wednesday are certainly in a false league position due to a 6 point deduction and they should actually be 19th rather than 23rd. Given that league standing it’s fairly clear their form is not great (1 win and 3 draws from the last 9 played) but as we all know Reading do tend to have great problems with any side not doing particularly well so would expect this to be a difficult test, particularly as that solitary win was at home to Bournemouth and because Tony Pulis has only just taken up the reins at the club and we know how difficult his sides can be to break down. Indeed the Owls have drawn away at Swansea and at home to Stoke in their last 2 games so Mr Pulis is already starting to have an effect.
From experience Barry Bannan is the big thorn in the side and has a tendency to run games between the teams, this term he is also the Owls’ leading scorer although he has only scored twice which would highlight what seems to be the main problem for Wednesday who have only scored 6 goals. Adam Reach is another player who needs to be carefully watched.
Wednesday will be without Josh Windass (suspended), Aden Flint and Jack Marriott and have doubts over Kieran Westwood and Dominic Iorfa. Reading are still missing Swift, Araruna, Yiadom and Puscas.
Referee
Oliver Langford is back for this one
Previously
19 Apr 19 > Bristol City 1-1 Reading
12 Jan 19 > Reading 2-0 Nottingham Forest
24 Nov 2018 > Wigan Athletic 0-0 Reading
22 Aug 2018 > Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Reading
17 Mar 2018 > Norwich City 3-2 Reading
26 Dec 2017 > Bristol City 2-0 Reading
28 Oct 17 > Reading 0-2 Middlesbrough
12 Jan 17 > Reading 0-1 Queen’s Park Rangers
03 Dec 16 > Fulham 5-0 Reading
04 Oct 16 > Portsmouth 2-2 Reading U23 (Checkacrowd Trophy)
27 Sep 16 > Brentford 4-1 Reading
19 Jan 16 > Reading 5-2 Huddersfield Town (FAC3R)
16 Dec 15 > Hull City 2-1 Reading
11 Mar 14 > Leeds United 2-4 Reading
14 Dec 13 > Huddersfield Town 0-1 Reading
06 Mar 12 > Reading 1-0 Portsmouth
27 Aug 11 > Hull City 1-0 Reading
16 Oct 10 > Reading 0-1 Swansea City
09 Feb 10 > Reading 1-0 Plymouth Argyle
Historically
Given Wednesday’s history of regularly being in and around the first division and yo-yo-ing between there and the second division, until around 1970, it’s no real surprise that other than a couple of cup ties it was not until October 1976 that a league game was finally played between the clubs. Even then the late 70s saw a Wednesday return to the aforementioned yo-yo-ing status so again it was not until the appearance of the 21st century that league games became a regular occurence.
This is the 14th season the two clubs have shared and of the previous 13 treks up north it’s not been too bad a place for Reading to visit having earned 4 wins and 3 draws overall.
Hillsborough has actually not been too bad a place for Reading down the years given it’s a long northern trek to a more illustrious club. In the 13 previous visits Reading have won on 4 occasions and managed 4 draws while scoring 17 to the Owls’ 18.
How to follow the game
- SKY again
- 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 (audio only)
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
