MATCHWATCH : Sheffield Wednesday (h)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday 6th March 2020, 3pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

Home again on a Saturday. Reading haven’t won at home on a Saturday this year so have something else to aim for if the 3 points isn’t enough!

This time it’s Darren Moore’s new team set to roll up and that “new management” dynamic is more than likely going to add a fair amount of uncertainty to the game for both teams though that can only really be good for Wednesday as their current form is pretty shocking having collected a massive 0 points from their last five games (their last excursion being a 2-1 defeat at home to 10 man fellow strugglers Rotherham who scored a 97th minute winner in Mr Moore’s first game in charge). This, then, is prime Reading bog up territory.

The leading scorers for the Owls are both midfielders in Callum Peterson and Josh Windass so very much the goal scoring threat would appear to be a little out of the norm though the presence of Elias Kachunga, Jack Marriott and Jordan Rhodes is something to be wary of, particularly with a new manager giving everyone at Hillsborough a little hope and a lift.

Injury wise, Reading should have Meite back, probably in the bench, but Morrison now takes Meite’s place on the treatment table until after the international break. Rinomhota remains in the same boat as Morrison while Swift’s boat is a bit slower than that.

Referee

James Linington

Previously

29 Jan 2020 > Reading 3-1 Bournemouth
04 Jul 20 > Luton Town 0-5 Reading
28 Jan 20 > Reading 0-1 Bristol City
26 Dec 19 > Reading 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
03 Aug 19 > Reading 1-3 Sheffield Wednesday
08 Dec 18 > Reading 0-2 Sheffield United
03 Nov 18 > Reading 3-2 Bristol City
06 Mar 18 > Reading 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
02 Jan 18 > Reading 0-2 Birmingham City
09 Sep 17 > Reading 0-1 Bristol City
08 Apr 17 > Norwich City 7-1 Reading
24 Sep 16 > Reading 1-0 Huddersfield Town
21 Nov 15 > Reading 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
02 May 15 > Derby County 0-3 Reading
28 Dec 14 > Reading 2-1 Norwich City
21 Nov 14 > Cardiff City 2-1 Reading
12 Aug 14 > Reading 3-1 Newport County (League Cup)
10 Sep 11 > Reading 0-2 Watford
30 Apr 11 > Coventry City 0-0 Reading
22 Jan 11 > Reading 1-1 Hull City
02 May 10 > Reading 4-0 Preston North End
30 Jan 10 > Reading 1-0 Barnsley

Historically

Not really very many league games played with Wednesday since 1920. Only 27 games in total to date, meaning just 14 seasons together in the same division, and no league games at all played before 1976. In fact 23 of those 27 games have been played since 2002 so Sheffield Wednesday have been reasonably regular opponents since then.

Only 2 home league games have ended all square. Reading have won 6 and lost 5 of the 13 league games played in Reading scoring 21 and conceding 12 in the process.


How to follow the game

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

[NewCorkSeth]

Same team with Holmes in for Morro?

[Hendo]

Same team with Holmes in for Morro?

Thats what I would go for as well.

[Hound]

yeah same team with Holmes in.

Yak should be back for the bench option. Not heard much on Araruna recently - would still be bench option at best and prob not come on mind you.

[Stranded]

Same formation, get on the front foot and score early.

After 5 straight defeats, that should kill them off.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Perfect chance for Joao to find his form.

[Coppells Lost Coat]

Same team with Holmes slotting in, same formation.
I wouldn't be too against back to 4231 with Joao, as Puscas ran his ass off midweek and just coming back might need protecting a bit? Hopefully, Joao has the cynicism and ruthlessness in him to fire him up and score against a former club.
Was really impressed by Richards application given his new circumstances - really proves what a top professional he is and will become.
Would be nice to see Bristow on the bench and probs Meite (if ready) replacing a youth bench warmer.

[mikey_1871]

Wednesday supporting mate doesn't rate Marriott at all, and says that Jordan Rhodes has been worth roughly £1m a goal so far! Fully expect them both to score on Saturday then...
Seriously though, watched the Rotherham game and they looked pretty shot. As we know though, Bannan is class and thought Izzy Brown looked decent when he came on.

After some good form under an interim manager following the sacking of Pulis, they're now on a horrible run which Moore will be hoping to stop. Whilst I agree that the is prime bog-up territory for Reading, if we can start well and get an early goal we should go on to win pretty easily.

[tidus_mi2]

Imagine if they put Langford on this game.

[muirinho]

Imagine if they put Langford on this game.

He owes us 4 penalities....

May be exaggerating a tad there

[Mr Optimist]

Wednesday supporting mate doesn't rate Marriott at all, and says that Jordan Rhodes has been worth roughly £1m a goal so far! Fully expect them both to score on Saturday then...
Seriously though, watched the Rotherham game and they looked pretty shot. As we know though, Bannan is class and thought Izzy Brown looked decent when he came on.

After some good form under an interim manager following the sacking of Pulis, they're now on a horrible run which Moore will be hoping to stop. Whilst I agree that the is prime bog-up territory for Reading, if we can start well and get an early goal we should go on to win pretty easily.

Most people on Owlstalk sound like they need to be on suicide watch. They are mainly resigned to relegation most people on there, very gloomy about their prospects. Izzy Brown appears to have got some social media backlash to a message he posted for his 96 minute corner that didn’t beat the first man and Rotherham breaking away and scoring their late winner. Not going to help his confidence or attitude you’d think.

I’m not saying as a fan base we’d be in any different in a similar situation but the fact Izzy Brown was spotted driving a new Porsche has particularly sparked off one fan. It’s footballs fault that footballers earn stupid wages; it’s as if earning £30k a week (or whatever it actually is) makes a player play better. If you doubled the salary to £60k a week it doesn’t make him twice the player, but some fans expect him to be.

[Hound]

Brown was one of the bunch along with Baker at Chelsea who probably had their abilities misjudged to be a lot better than they've turned out to be, hence the huge salary

Still a decent player as is Baker. But not 30k a week good.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

We absolutely have to win this game. We've had a day's rest on them which is a big factor given the Feb fixture list, and they have just lost a vitally important game to a relegation rival in injury time and down to a side down to 10 men, and they have a long journey down presumably tomorrow so prep time will be minimal.

I think we need to be at least at 65 points by the international break given what's round the corner after, or it will be very difficult to make the play offs.

[Royals and Racers]

Aluko playing for the U 23`s this lunchtime.

[URZZZZ]

Aluko playing for the U 23`s this lunchtime.

Maybe a sign Meite will be in and around the squad tomorrow? Unless he’s asked to play for them given his lack of game time in the first team in recent weeks

[South Coast Royal]

Aren't we due a game against Wednesday where Bannen has a bad game?

[royalp-we]

Ballsy decision by Paunovic to stick both Joao and Puscas up top in midweek. I really hope he shows the same intent today - we need all the points (and goals) we can get from our remaining home fixtures.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Yeh see mans saying we should rest Joao, but against his struggling old club with Puscas there to take the pressure off, it's the perfect opportunity for him to get back on track.

[Snowflake Royal]

Aren't we due a game against Wednesday where Bannen has a bad game?

He didn't dominate midfield like normal earlier in the season.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Aren't we due a game against Wednesday where Bannen has a bad game?

He didn't dominate midfield like normal earlier in the season.

And he got hooked at half time.