MATCHWATCH : Peterborough United (h)

[Sutekh]

When : Tuesday, 18 September 2021, 8pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161


Reading’s next challenge is a visit from one of the only two teams below them in the table (and that might become the only team below them if Forest beat Cardiff on Sunday). Should Forest manage their first win then the fact there would still be one team below Reading when this game kicks off is solely down to the Posh conceding 6 (SIX) at Sheffield United on Saturday.

Thanks to Sheffield United, Peterborough are now just two conceded goals behind Reading (14 v 16) so let’s hope that this games sees Reading able to capitalise on the damage done by the Blades and not a Peterborough recovery.

Only 4 players have scored so far this season for ‘boro, 2 for Dembele and Burrows and one each for Marriott and Clarke-Harris but I’m sure that Reading’s defence can probably help those statistics if they put their mind to it.

The defensive shambLOLes that is Reading is likely to still be in place given that Dann and Drinkwater are apparently not match fit (though it’s unbelievable quite how Drinkwater is not even fit enough to get on the bench after he apparently was involved in Chelsea’s preseason). Rinomhota has been added to the list of injury problems though I think his problem is not too serious.

Overall let’s hope this one goes better than the last couple of forays into Tuesday night football at the Mad Stad which has seen two defeats and 3 goals shipped in each. If it doesn’t go better (and to be honest the only real definition of better should be a home win) then VP may find his position as manager (2 wins in 17 games now) hanging by a thread - and with a visit to Fulham being the next game up.

Referee

Tim “1 Reading win in 9 league games” Robinson

Previously....

06 Feb 21 > Stoke City 0-0 Reading
09 Dec 20 > Reading 1-2 Birmingham City
19 Sep 20 > Reading 2-0 Barnsley
18 Jul 20 > Blackburn Rovers 4-3 Reading
07 Dec 19 > Reading 2-3 Birmingham City
06 Apr 19 > Hull City 3-1 Reading
01 Jan 19 > Reading 1-4 Swansea City
19 Sep 18 > Reading 1-2 Norwich City
16 Jan 18 > Reading 3-0 Stevenage (FA Cup 3)
30 Sep 17 > Reading 1-2 Norwich City
29 Apr 17 > Reading 1-0 Wigan Athletic
01 Oct 16 > Reading 1-1 Derby County
02 Feb 16 > Ipswich Town 2-1 Reading
21 Sep 13 > Derby County 1-3 Reading

Historically

This is the 18th season shared with the team that’s posh but not royal with the first league game being a 3-2 home win for Reading back in 1961. Overall the league record is 9 home wins to 2 away wins with 32 scored against 18 conceded.

Based on previous home league games what should be good news to Reading’s defence is that if Peterborough score more than once then Reading should get at least point from the game.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel to the game
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. Red button
5. Use a RoyalsTV subscription
6. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[Royal_jimmy]

Simply a must win game

I think the same team will play as yesterday

[windermereROYAL]

I don`t think there`s too much reason to tinker with the line up apart from the bleeding obvious, yesterdays display was hugely encouraging, same team but bench Moore for Tom Holmes unless Scott Dann is match fit which is unlikely given the timeframe.

[Snowflake Royal]

Rino should come straight back in as soon as fit, unless Drinkwater is actually fit and showing quality.

TBD and Laurent both want to just run the ball forward and it leaves us very open. Which puts pressure on and allows teams to get at an already broken defence.

It'd be incredibly slow, but tempted by

Holmes, Morrison, Dann, Rahman

As the back 4. Would absolutely require Rino sitting to cover the pace issue and drop in behind Holmes when he went forward.

I expect captain calamity will retain his place though.

Let's say:

..........................Cabral
Holmes, Morrison, Dann, Rahman
............Rinomhota, Dele-Bashiru
Halilovic.............Swift..............Laurent
.........................Puscas

[Zip]

I can’t see Dann being fit for Tuesday night....Pauno was inferring he isn’t match fit. Whether it’s fitness issues or an injury I don’t know but I suspect it will be Moore and Morrison again on Tuesday night.

[Snowflake Royal]

I can’t see Dann being fit for Tuesday night....Pauno was inferring he isn’t match fit. Whether it’s fitness issues or an injury I don’t know but I suspect it will be Moore and Morrison again on Tuesday night.

As long as he can walk he's an improvement.

[Royal_jimmy]

Reading 1-0 Peterborough HT
Reading 3-1 Peterborough FT

Reading to score first in first half (44th minute)

1-0 Reading (44) Puscas alt Swift
=======
2-0 Reading (60) Puscas
2-1 Peterborough (65)
3-1 Reading (79) Swift

[Snowball]

Reading 1-0 Peterborough HT
Reading 3-1 Peterborough FT

Reading to score first in first half (44th minute)

1-0 Reading (44) Puscas alt Swift
=======
2-0 Reading (60) Puscas
2-1 Peterborough (65)
3-1 Reading (79) Swift

wrong thread?

[Lower West]

Peterboughs defending yesterday looked as good as ours. Tuesday night might be a goal fest. Anything less than 5 goals in total will come as a surprise.

[tidus_mi2]

Only the 2nd bottom half team we will have played in the early Championship table, need to make it count.

[Royal_jimmy]

Only the 2nd bottom half team we will have played in the early Championship table, need to make it count.

Probably helped as we've gifted most opponents 3 points so far.

As for the game. Puscas really needs a goal and we really need to keep a clean sheet. Otherwise the pressure really will be on with some hard fixtures coming up before the next international break.

Our Tuesday night record is appalling so wouldn't be surprised if it's a similar result as yesterday.

[Sutekh]

Peterboughs defending yesterday looked as good as ours. Tuesday night might be a goal fest. Anything less than 5 goals in total will come as a surprise.

0-0 it is then.

[CountryRoyal]

Was going to give this a miss but oxf*rd itttt, IN for Pauno’s last game.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

Reading 1-0 Peterborough HT
Reading 3-1 Peterborough FT

Reading to score first in first half (44th minute)

1-0 Reading (44) Puscas alt Swift
=======
2-0 Reading (60) Puscas
2-1 Peterborough (65)
3-1 Reading (79) Swift

wrong thread?

[Donny Ironside]

Anything less then a win and I think Pauno is gone

[URZZZZ]

Southwood

Yiadom
Holmes
Dann>Morrison>Moore
Rahman

Laurent
Rinomhota

Halilovic
Swift
Ejaria

Puscas


CBC Morrison/Bristow Moore Tetek/Drinkwater FDB Hoilett Clarke

Don’t quite agree with the scapegoating of Moore (and Morrison) as I feel the tactics are hanging them out to dry but something has to change, 16 goals conceded in 6 games is awful

Really need to try and grind out a result tomorrow, fullbacks sticking close to the wingers, midfielders tracking runs and the CB’s staying alert. FDB hasn’t really impressed so far, sloppy on the ball and little awareness defending, so would slot Rino back in

Tomorrow night has shades of the start to McDermott’s promotion season, same number of points after 6 games with the 7th game being at home to bottom of the league. May have been the final straw for McDermott if we’d lost that one and tomorrow night may be the final straw for Paunovic who’s led us to an extremely disappointing run of results since early February

[Simon's Church]

53 goals in the 14 games the two teams have played in so far this season.

Two of the biggest entertainers around.

[paultheroyal]

Anything less then a win and I think Pauno is gone

thats a given

[CountryRoyal]

53 goals in the 14 games the two teams have played in so far this season.

Two of the biggest entertainers around.

Football’s court jesters if you will.

[Sutekh]

53 goals in the 14 games the two teams have played in so far this season.

Two of the biggest entertainers around.

There’s two ways of reading that statistic….