MATCHWATCH : Wycombe Wanderers (h)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday 9th March 2024, 3pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

Wycombe Wanderers turn up next as Reading go looking for a second successive league win for the first time in a month.

The Chairboys are pretty much the same sort of standard as Reading, only the lack of having a twonk for an owner has seen them able to keep the points they've earned this season and consequently they are 2 points and 2 places better off than Reading, though winning this game will obviously see Reading climb above their near neighbours.

Form for Wycombe isn't too hot at the moment, being on a run of 1 win in 5, but then Shrewsbury were hardly "pulling up trees" when they arrived, but we all know AFC Charity turned up to help out in that one so hopefully it'll be too soon for a reappearance. However Wycombe have reached the final of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy after beating Bradford and so will have a trip to Wembley to look forward to next month against Peterborough.

The Chairboys' leading scorer this season is defender Luke Leahy with 8 which rather suggests a team that are a handful from set pieces so let's hope that Reading don't spend the afternoon giving away as many corners and free kicks as they can. Garath McCleary is one of those players who has actually managed to light the way for Wycombe's attack minded players having bagged 4 along with Sam Vokes but it is the non striking roles that have been providing much of the scoring activity with 5 for midfielder Dale Taylor and 4 for another defender in the shape of Joe Low.

Not really expecting much in the way of team changes for Reading though maybe Holmes and Dorsett might have recovered sufficiently to play a part from the bench. Meanwhile Wycombe will be missing midfielder David Wheeler after his dismissal in under 7 seconds last weekend.

Other bottom half L1 games on Saturday:

Burton v Peterborough
Cambridge v Northampton
Charlton v Carlisle
Oxford v Cheltenham
Port Vale v Shrewsbury
Stevenage v Fleetwood

Referee

Carl Brook

Previously

12 Dec 23 > Reading 1-1 Oxford United
19 Sep 23 > Exeter City 0-9 Reading (EFL Trophy)

Historically

Here's a rarity, Reading have a 100% home record against Wycombe in the league, true it's only 5 games but it's still something to hope the club can hang onto. Reading have scored 9 against 2 managed by Wycombe in that time and all games have been at the current league level except for the awful struggle which developed between the teams that one time in the second tier.

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 RoyalTV subscription
4. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
5. Or you can always just go and get a ticket

[Stranded]

The most annoying part of that write up is that Wycombe are in the BSM final - if we had actually played to any thing like our recent standard down at Brighton, you would have to think, that would probably be us looking forward to a day out now.

And more importantly, an income boost that a 40k plus crowd at Wembley brings.

[Sutekh]

The most annoying part of that write up is that Wycombe are in the BSM final - if we had actually played to any thing like our recent standard down at Brighton, you would have to think, that would probably be us looking forward to a day out now.

And more importantly, an income boost that a 40k plus crowd at Wembley brings.

Good point, we might have been able to complete the season.

[Dave the rave]

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 RoyalTV subscription
4. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

I think Sutekh is saying that none of us lot are allowed to go to this

Either that or it's a sell out or being played behind closed doors

[Sutekh]

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 RoyalTV subscription
4. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

I think Sutekh is saying that none of us lot are allowed to go to this

Either that or it's a sell out or being played behind closed doors

Now corrected!

[Dave the rave]

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 RoyalTV subscription
4. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

I think Sutekh is saying that none of us lot are allowed to go to this

Either that or it's a sell out or being played behind closed doors

Now corrected!

Like it!

[Green]

The list seems to come from another era of FM/AM radio and SMS.

TBF it is useful to know if a game is on TV or radio somewhere, although these days the channel list should probably be more exhaustive for those of us with, shall we say less orthodox TV subscriptions. The "text a mate for updates" can probably be retired.

[NathStPaul]

Fearing a heavy defeat in this one.

[paultheroyal]

Wycombe sold 1600 so far - expecting that to reach 2000.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Can we follow on Royals TV? What about the 3pm blackout?

[RoyalBlue]

Can we follow on Royals TV? What about the 3pm blackout?

The club's official Twitter/X account was promoting their partner Nord VPN for safe browsing for anyone who wanted to watch the game at Carlisle last weekend. I think that might have been a hint as to how to do it and help club funds, but FFS don't mention it to the EFL or they will accuse us of gaining an indirect competitive advantage again and dock us some more points.

Incidentally, you can get some very good deals for your first two years with Nord - they even feature them on their site to save you looking.

[MartinRdg]

Can we follow on Royals TV? What about the 3pm blackout?

Depends where you are (or which VPN you're behind)

[RoyalBlue]

The list seems to come from another era of FM/AM radio and SMS.

TBF it is useful to know if a game is on TV or radio somewhere, although these days the channel list should probably be more exhaustive for those of us with, shall we say less orthodox TV subscriptions. The "text a mate for updates" can probably be retired.

Given our current financial situation I hope people might consider using the slightly more orthodox TV subscription of Royals TV.

[Snowflake Royal]

Can we follow on Royals TV? What about the 3pm blackout?

Depends where you are (or which VPN you're behind)

There's no International black out, so as you say.

Have to say £80 for two years of Nord plus 2x £140 for a Royals TV season pass has been outstanding value. Even if Nord reliability is a bit patchy at times.

Twice the games, for less than half the price of a ST and without the 6-7 hours travel per game.

It's been amazing.

Only downside is my Mum's disgruntlement at seeing me a bit less often.

[Crowbar6753]

I see the guy from the Chronicle has given a rallying cry for Reading fans to back the club to generate much needed income. With season tickets and an average home attendance of around 12,000 i guess, how much could the club expect to gain by filling the stadium till the end of the season IF the fans did get behind the team!!

An extra 12,000 fans all paying lets say 30 quid a ticket is 360,000!! It would also send out a great message to any prospective buyer that maybe the club is a worthwhile investment.
The Chronic guy does have a good point that crowds and armchair fans will flock to the big cup games against higher opposition and especially Wembley.
If we fail to pay these bills and incur further points deductions we may no longer to have a team to support!! and big cup games and Wembley games will become a distant memory of the club we once had and loved!!

Packing the Mad Stad with 24,000 fans would be a huge boost to our revenue income and would surly get noticed in the papers and would be another Fu-k You to the EFL and Dai Yongge!!

[WestYorksRoyal]

Our tickets aren't £30. You're looking at £20 average once taking into account kids, students, seniors etc., then presumably you have higher stewarding and policing costs. But probably possible to envisage an extra £80k a game or so if people respond, or £400k over the remaining season.

[Crowbar6753]

Our tickets aren't £30. You're looking at £20 average once taking into account kids, students, seniors etc., then presumably you have higher stewarding and policing costs. But probably possible to envisage an extra £80k a game or so if people respond, or £400k over the remaining season.

My bad on pricing! been in Canada for 16yrs (Royals TV subscriber ) so was guessing. I guess every little helps!! Hoping to get across the pond for the final game against Blackpool my flight from Calgary gets into Heathrow @ 11.15am on the Saturday of the game so fingers crossed no delays.
Been back to the UK 5 times in 16yrs and managed 5 Reading games so this really is a bonus getting this game in however, it just dawned on my that if Dai screws with the takeover it may also be Reading last ever game!!!!

[The Cap]

Fearing a heavy defeat in this one.

Why's that Nath? Any rhyme or reason? Or purely gut instinct? Be interested to know.

[NathStPaul]

Fearing a heavy defeat in this one.

Why's that Nath? Any rhyme or reason? Or purely gut instinct? Be interested to know.

Wycombe have been playing well for the majority of the season without getting results, they have tried to get away from the Ainsworth hoofball tactic they were so accustomed to. I think it has to click eventually. We are also due a heavy defeat after a recent good run. Just a feeling.

[tmesis]

Fearing a heavy defeat in this one.

Why's that Nath? Any rhyme or reason? Or purely gut instinct? Be interested to know.

Wycombe have been playing well for the majority of the season without getting results, they have tried to get away from the Ainsworth hoofball tactic they were so accustomed to. I think it has to click eventually. We are also due a heavy defeat after a recent good run. Just a feeling.

A goal difference of -3 suggests they are bang average, and like most teams in this division are very inconsistent. Capable of playing well, and capable of playing badly. With us being at home, and having had considerably better form over the past few months, we are favourites, but we were favourites v Shrewsbury, so anything could happen.