

When : Tuesday 30th August 2022, 7.45pm
Where : Bramall Lane, Sheffield, S2 4SU
Capacity : 32,702
Well I don’t know what reality we and club have all slipped into recently but let’s hope we don’t all slip back anytime soon. Unbelievably this game is 2nd v 1st in the table but despite that many will still have this as an odds on home banker but given how early it is in the season and Reading are amongst nearly everyone’s tip for relegation that’s probably not a surprise.
The Blades have managed 11 points so far from three home wins out of three (v Millwall, Sunderland and Blackburn) and a couple of draws on the road (1-1 at Luton and 2-2 at Middlesbrough). Their only league defeat so far arrived courtesy of a visit to Watford, where Reading go for their next away game, on the opening day.
Sheffield had a fairly active summer with David McGoldrick, Lys Mousset, Zak Brunt and Luke Freeman all departing and Anel Ahmedhodžić, a Bosnia & Herzegovinian international centre back, arriving on a permanent deal from Malmo together with four loanees from the Premier League; Ciaran Clark (centre back/left back) from Newcastle, Reda Khadra (winger) from Brighton and a pair from Manchester City in midfielders James McAtee and Tommy Doyle.
The goal threat thus far for the red half of Sheffield has come from midfield with half of their ten league strikes so far being thanks to Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye. Oliver Norwood is an ever present for them and has scored too so it really looks like Reading have to shut down that area of the field by whatever means they can. For the record the other players with a small Reading connection (George Baldock (Tom’s brother) and Billy Sharp (36 now)) are still with the Blades.
The one downer to this game that Reading have to overcome is their atrocious away league record for midweek games which now stands at 4 wins from 49 attempts and none whatsoever when the opposing team does not begin with the letter “B”.
On the injury front things might be starting to look manageable though I’m trying not to tempt any fate. This game should hopefully see Dann back in the squad and if it does that’d leave just Azeez, Ejaria, Meite and Moore on the sidelines

Meanwhile at the Sheffield end of things there are six casualties reported; Billy Sharp, Enda Stevens, Jack Robinson, Jack O’Connell, Jayden Bogle and Adam Davies.
Note - Mr Hutchinson is likely to encounter a rough time of it in this one given his Sheffield Wednesday connections, let’s hope he’s prepared and it aids rather than damages his game.
Referee
Gavin Ward
Previously
15 Apr 2022 > Sheffield United 1-2 Reading
08 Jan 2022 > Kidderminster Harriers 2-1 Reading (FA Cup)
02 Nov 2021 > Millwall 1-0 Reading
02 Mar 2021 > Reading 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
05 Dec 2020 > Reading 2-0 Nottingham Forest
03 Oct 2020 > Reading 1-0 Watford
04 Feb 2020 > Cardiff City 3-3 Reading (FA Cup)
22 Apr 2019 > Reading 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
12 Mar 2018 > Reading 0-3 Leeds United
01 Sep 2018 > Reading 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
25 Aug 2015 > Portsmouth 1-2 Reading (League Cup)
20 Dec 2014 > Reading 0-1 Watford
25 Oct 2014 > Reading 3-0 Blackpool
17 Apr 2012 > Reading 1-0 Nottingham Forest
01 Feb 2011 > Cardiff City 2-2 Reading
16 Mar 2010 > Reading 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
11 Aug 2009 > Reading 5-1 Burton Albion (League Cup)
Historically
Another club where league visits were unknown until the late 1970s. Since then Reading have made 21 trips to the ground and not done too badly to date by recording 6 victories to 9 defeats though recent form both there and in Reading is pretty dreadful overall despite the Good Friday “miracle” of last season.
Including the aforementioned miracle Reading have garnered four points the last five visits and overall Reading are averaging 1 goal per league visit to the Lane.
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel to the game
- Red button
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use a RoyalTV subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)