MATCHWATCH : Wolverhampton Wanderers (h) sponsored by the search for a Saturday home win

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday 18th November, 3pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

Well after the turnaround in form which has seen Reading go from under performing dross merchants to something good enough to challenge for promotion in two games comes the acid test. League leaders and a lot of people’s champions-elect - Wolverhampton Wanderers are in town and the game should prove how good Reading really are.

Will the mighty hoops fade out quietly with a whimper like so many previous games or will they actually give Wolves a very stiff challenge and actually make them work a bit if nothing else?

I would expect that Berg will be fit enough to play if called on and that Ilori may have recovered sufficiently to be considered. It is also possible that Bodvarsson may be fit again but in all likelihood we aren’t going to know until the starting line up is finally revealed on Saturday. Same goes for how serious Mannone’s injury actually is, I expect him to play but there has to be a small doubt in the air.

Referee

It's Lancashire's Chris Kavanagh up for his seasonal Reading game



Previously
17 Apr 2017 > Reading 2-1 Rotherham United
13 Sep 2016 > Reading 0-0 Birmingham City
16 Aug 2015 > Reading 0-0 Leeds United

Historically

Thirty six league games have been played thus far between the hoops and the old gold and of those games things are mighty close with 15 wins for Reading jostling with the 14 wins Wolves have registered

Reading have managed to record 9 wins in the 18 league games played in Reading compared to 4 wins for Wolves. However the recent record is a bit on the poor side with only 2 Reading wins in the last 8 home games.

Everything also points to a very tight affair with either a draw or one goal deciding the outcome as it has been over 20 years since either team won a league game in Reading by more than that margin.

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)

[Hound]

Obvs How we line up depends on how fit the injured players are

Would go for this I think:

Mannone
Bacuna McShane Moore Gunter
Joey
Edwards swift
Barrow Yann Aluko

Possibly switching Edwards for Richards and playing Bacuna CM

Hopefully the likes of Ilori, Kelly, McCleary and Bodvarsson are fit enough to decorate the bench

[JoeyJoeJoeJnrShabadoo]

thanks

[Hound]

looks like from Stam's presser that Ilori is fit, as are Aluko and Mannone. Bodvarsson sounds possibly good enough for the bench.

[John Smith]

looks like from Stam's presser that Ilori is fit, as are Aluko and Mannone. Bodvarsson sounds possibly good enough for the bench.

Brilliant news. We're definitely gonna smash them

[windermereROYAL]

Would happily take a draw in this one, I think they have 2 players that cost 31m combined, going to be a noisy away end. no history ect ect , your support is f*cking shit ect ect.
Hope we can shut them up.

[paultheroyal]

Dave Edwards will get an excellent reception from the Wolves fans.

Should be a cracking atmosphere. There does appear to be large number of tickets being sold to Wolves fans in the Reading end. Particularly South West Corner. Could get interesting.

[Hound]

Be pretty easy to locate any Wolves fans where they shouldn’t be by their ridiculous accent though

[tidus_mi2]

We have two of their former players, by the laws of former players, if they play, we've already scored two goals.

[Mr Optimist]

Be pretty easy to locate any Wolves fans where they shouldn’t be by their ridiculous accent though

That and the slip on Lonsdale trainers.

[Royals and Racers]

Surely it`s time for Jan Kermorgant to start- plenty of training since the last match should mean he`s match fit now.

[tidus_mi2]

Surely it`s time for Jan Kermorgant to start- plenty of training since the last match should mean he`s match fit now.

It's Yann.

[dudleywolf]

Wow I remembered my password from 2003 ! hello hob nobbers, should be an interesting game on Saturday, what are your take on Dave Edwards and the Dadi Bodvarson ?

[RichTea94]

Wow I remembered my password from 2003 ! hello hob nobbers, should be an interesting game on Saturday, what are your take on Dave Edwards and the Dadi Bodvarson ?

Dadi has had limited gametime, mostly because he keeps picking up knocks, but so far he seems to be what you said we would- a hard worker who can't hit a barn door. He's fluffed his lines a few times already this season. But as we're yet to see him get an extended run in the team, I'm happy to reserve judgement.

Dangerous Dave seems to have secured himself a starting spot in our midfield three, starting in both of our last wins. It's actually hard to put a finger on what exactly he contributes, but he's obviously doing something right! Delivered a delicious cross for our fourth goal vs Derby.

[Hound]

Yeah that pretty much. Dadi has looked pretty good and scored a couple of important goals, but keeps getting injured

Edwards is exactly as expected - ticks over nicely and looks a useful squad player. Not sure I’d want to see him in the starting 11 long term but he’s done ok

[dudleywolf]

Hound, You, in a very short time have summed up the enigma that is Dangerous Dave ! he is a genuine lovely bloke, he will run all day and has a knack of ghosting into the box to score vital goals , usually with his head. However , it is what he does the rest of the game that became a problem, there is no way you could play him in a 2 man midfield and even in a 3 man he can seem a liability. He should get a great reception and absence does make the heart grow fonder. I hope we perform on Saturday as we have been doing thus far this season as we can be a treat to watch, the Portuguese lads being way to good for us or this division if I'm honest. The 3 games we have lost, we still created lots of chances, being kicked to bits by Cardiff , a stupid sending off at Sheffield and then missing a penalty and then not adapting to the subutteo arena that is QPR. but Reading have a nice ground, wide pitch and a rep for playing football so no excuses. Enjoy.

[Sutekh]

Wolves will be without Barry Douglas and Phil Ofosu-Ayeh for the game and are expected to play a 5-2-3 formation :

John Ruddy

Matt Doherty
Danny Batth
Conor Coady
Willy Boly
Ruben Vinagre

Romain Saiss
Ruben Neves

Helder Costa
Leo Bonatini
Diogo Jota

Costa, Saiss and Bonatoni are the really scary ones to watch out for IMO.

[Hound]

Hound, You, in a very short time have summed up the enigma that is Dangerous Dave ! he is a genuine lovely bloke, he will run all day and has a knack of ghosting into the box to score vital goals , usually with his head. However , it is what he does the rest of the game that became a problem, there is no way you could play him in a 2 man midfield and even in a 3 man he can seem a liability. He should get a great reception and absence does make the heart grow fonder. I hope we perform on Saturday as we have been doing thus far this season as we can be a treat to watch, the Portuguese lads being way to good for us or this division if I'm honest. The 3 games we have lost, we still created lots of chances, being kicked to bits by Cardiff , a stupid sending off at Sheffield and then missing a penalty and then not adapting to the subutteo arena that is QPR. but Reading have a nice ground, wide pitch and a rep for playing football so no excuses. Enjoy.

thanks, yeah I'm hoping it should be a good game. It has the makings of one - especially if Reading can take the lead. Unfortunately we've been utterly inept against any side who has sat back against us so far this season, which I very much doubt Wolves will do, even if they do score first.

The front line and midfield you has does look pretty tasty. I suppose to quote the usual cliche, its whether they can continue to perform during the miserable English winter - but thats probably not going to really kick in for a month or so yet

[dudleywolf]

Wolves will be without Barry Douglas and Phil Ofosu-Ayeh for the game and are expected to play a 5-2-3 formation :

John Ruddy

Matt Doherty
Danny Batth
Conor Coady
Willy Boly
Ruben Vinagre

Romain Saiss
Ruben Neves

Helder Costa
Leo Bonatini
Diogo Jota

Costa, Saiss and Bonatoni are the really scary ones to watch out for IMO.

Vinagre will be the straight replacement for Douglas, a really good kid that has been linked with Manure, Costa may well not start, since his injury last season he has not looked the star he was, he has played in bits of 7 games this year and is misfiring. Cavalero will probably start. Saiss is a defensive midfielder, so surprised you highlighted him, Jota is the main man, currently on loan from Athletico Madrid and of course , Bonatini on loan from Saudi Arabia, who is a fox in the box but links up play so well and has 10 goals to date and has scored in the last 6 consecutive. Phil Ofuso-Ayeh hasn't played a game this season yet through injury.

[John Smith]

This would have been a really good one for 5:30 on Sky