MATCHWATCH : Bristol City (h) sponsored by a surfeit of midfielders

[Sutekh]

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

Well now the first utterly tedious international gap is over (I mean just what is the point in half the games anyway) we can all get back to the proper things in football and worrying about whether Reading are good enough to overcome a fairly reasonable Bristol City side.

Bristol are on a run of three successive league draws and currently ensconced in mid table obscurity (being just a tad more obscure than Reading) on 6 points. However they did manage a 3-2 win at Watford reserves in the League Cup so must have a certain usefulness about them.

Transfer activity at Ashton Gate this last summer has been busy. Goalkeeper Luke Steele arrived on deadline day from Panathinaikos as did two youngsters for City's academy; Rory Holden and Tyreeq Bakinson. Leaving the club on loan deals were Scott Golbourne, George Dowling and Diego de Girolamo to MK Dons, Torquay and Chesterfield respectively and also Joe Morrell, Taylor Moore and Freddie Hinds all off to Cheltenham. Earlier in the window Lee Tomlin headed to Cardiff City, Aaron Wilbraham and Mark Little to Bolton Wanderers while added to the ranks were Eros Pisano (Verona), Famara Diedhiou (Angers for £5m ), Nathan Baker (Aston Villa), Niclas Eliasson (Norrkoping), Cauley Woodrow (Fulham, loan) and Jonathan Leko (West Brom, loan).

Reading on the other hand have only added two players since the last time they set out for Birmingham all those moons ago. Rob Edwards and record signing Sone Aluko will therefore help make up the numbers and give the management some added options. Whether they start or not of course is anyone's guess.

Believe there is a chance Obita maybe involved though most likely only from the bench if at all. Harriott too must be nearing being considered as a bench warmer but Kermorgant, Watson, Swift etc. are all still sidelined. Beerens should be back in contention although quite how Stam intends to keep the myriad of wingers/midfielders now on the books happy is well beyond me.

Bristol City fans are expected, as ever, to number about 3500 so there will be plenty of noise from that end of the ground however I'm sure they'll be drowned out by the masses of Reading followers singing their hearts out for the lads in a sterling effort to give our boys a lift and dispirit the City team.

Referee

Scheduled to take up the whistle for today is Newport's very own James Linington



Previously

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 with Bristol City

This will be the 89th time the two teams have met in the league. Pretty even down the years with Reading just edging ahead on wins by 37 to 34 with 17 draws. At home Reading have 23 wins to 11 defeats (10 draws) and have netted on 74 occasions while conceding 62.

Last years starting line ups

Reading :

Habsi, Gunter, Obita, Moore L, Blackett, McShane, Evans, Beerens, McCleary, Williams, Samuel
Subs : Moore S, Cooper, Mendes, Harriott, Meite, Kelly, Watson

Bristol City :

Fielding, Little, Brian, Flint, O'Neil, Abraham, Tomlin, Reid, Paterson, Pack, Magnusson
Subs : Lucic, Moore, Smith, O'Dowda, Freeman, Engval, Wilbraham

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel to the Mad Stad
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. Use an iFollow subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

And a random Bristol City memory from the archive

http://www.royals.org/matdoc/230301.html

[Hound]

annoyed to be missing this one as away for the weekend

still, think its going to be a decent game actually. Be intrigued to see the line up and how we gel

I'm in an optimistic mood so reckon the pieces will come together and we will be comfortable winners. 2-0, Jon Dadi + Aluko on debut

[Silver Fox]

When did we sign Rob Edwards? Is he any good? where does he play?

[Brum Royal]

I'll open the prediction bidding with a 2-1 Reading win, with Big Daddy as first scorer.

[Gunny Fishcake]

Should be good atmosphere with big Brizzle support , confident 2-0 win

[Tilehurstsouthbank]

Who's this Rob Edwards bloke Sutekh?

[Sutekh]

When did we sign Rob Edwards? Is he any good? where does he play?

I of course meant Dave and not the ex Bristol City defender from the 1990s.

[3points]

When did we sign Rob Edwards? Is he any good? where does he play?

I of course meant Dave and not the ex Bristol City defender from the 1990s.

Going to join the 2-0 win brigade. Kelly and Barrow

Line up
4-3-3
Mannone
Gunter
McShane
Moore
Blackett
Kelly
Joey
Bacuna
Aluko
Jon Dadi
Barrow

[Nuremberg Royal]

I'll go for a mixed bag 3-2 to Reading.

[Silver Fox]

Now that we've established that Rob Edwards hasn't signed I'll go for 2-0

[Stockport Royal]

Reading 3 - 2 Bristol City

Reading are 2-1 down, but then Gary O'Neil is sent off for punching Aluko in the stomach and then headbutting McShane.

The game looks like it's getting away from Reading until Jon Dadi pops up and levels in the 91st minute, game on!

The game goes into the final seconds, last chance, the ball falls to Aluko on the edge of the box, he goes round the last defender, strikes at goal, ALUKOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I swear you'll never see anything like this ever again!

[Snowflake Royal]

2-1
Barrow, Moore

[Oilroyal]

They looked decent in their game on sky the other week. Organised all over the pitch and fluid going forward.

My heart says 2-0 Reading BUT for Snowball’s predictor league I’ll go 1-1 draw.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

2-0

Early Barrow goal, they put us under a bit in the second half but GMac gets a late second to secure the points.

Decent home record against them of late too.

[maffff]

Can Rob Edwards be our twenty goal a season striker?

2-0, Edwards brace.

[bcubed]

2-1 Reading

[Jackson Corner]

An entertaining 2-2

[Muskrat]

In for this one, Brizzle always bring decent support so should be a good atmos. Not going to make a prediction until Snowball's prediction thread appears though, would feel disrespectful...

[double d]

1-2 Bristol City win

[John Smith]

1-2 Bristol City win

Get out. Get out now