Last game of the season and like last year Reading are away from home in a game that is largely meaningless. However, unlike last year, Reading have actually achieved a play off place which no one would have expected after the complete and utter on field turgid cr@p and boardroom upheavals off the last few years.
Expectation is for both teams to “fiddle” about with expected line-ups as one prepares for the play offs and the other looks to build for next season. Paul McShane is fit and ready to play so I would anticipate him being on the bench while Joey van den Berg could play if he had to but is likely to again miss out. Garath McCleary will definitely play no part so Popa should start on the right – and preferably in a winger role not wing back.
Burton, like Reading, have also achieved but that probably isn’t so much of a surprise as Nigel Clough has returned and there just seems to be something about him, Burton and success. Given their small squad (most famous names being Marvin Sordell, Luke Varney, Lloyd Dyer and Michael Kightly) and being amongst everyone’s favourites to go down they have survived with a game to spare and can look forward to mixing it with some more famous names next season.
The Brewers are on a 3 game unbeaten streak which includes wins over Leeds and at Birmingham plus a good point at Barnsley, in addition this season they have beaten Sheff Wed and Derby at home plus had a great win at Huddersfield so can give anyone a game on their day.
Referee
Wiltshire’s Simon Hooper will be managing affairs
Previously
09 Aug 16 > Reading 2-0 Plymouth Argyle (League Cup)
05 Mar 16 > Reading 2-2 Fulham
26 Dec 15 > Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 Reading
17 Feb 15 > Reading 0-1 Wigan Athletic
16 Aug 14 > Reading 1-0 Ipswich Town
23 Sep 14 > Derby County 2-0 Reading (League Cup)
14 Apr 14 > Reading 1-1 Leicester City
20 Mar 12 > Peterborough United 2-1 Reading
26 Dec 11 > Reading 3-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
01 Jan 11 > Swansea City 1-0 Reading
28 Dec 09 > Plymouth Argyle 4-1 Reading
18 Aug 09 > Swansea City 0-0 Reading
Historically
This is the first ever trip Reading have made to Burton for any sort of game as far as I know (though I now expect someone to pipe up and say that back in Southern League days Reading played Burton Swifts or one of the other Burton teams that have been in existence at various points down the years).
History wise there have only been two previous games, both at the Madejski and Reading have managed a 100% record by 8 goals to 1 over both games.
