MATCHWATCH : Nottingham Forest (a) sponsored by things can only get better

[Sutekh]

When : Tuesday, 20th February, 7.45pm
Where : City Ground, Nottingham, NG2 5FG
Capacity : 30,576
Away Stand : One side of the lower tier of the Bridgford Stand
What might I see in the area : A bloke with arrows dressed in green tights


Forest on a Tuesday night next. Not a particularly happy place for Reading and probably even worse considering current Reading's away league record for Tuesday/Wednesday evening league games (2 wins in 24 games) but then the second of those wins did happen on their last away trek on a Tuesday,albeit at Burton, so there is some hope to be had.

And more so given Forest's current predilection for, well, cr@pness. After a bright start to the season they've fallen away alarmingly through inconsistency into what can only be described as true Reading like ineptitude.

Reading's current league run is 1 win (at Burton) in 11 league games scoring 8 and conceding 17 while amassing a whopping 6 points (approx. 0.54 points per game).

Up in Nottingham, Forest's current league run has seem win just once in 10 games (away at Wolves) and score 4 goals while letting in 16. Their points per game ration is 0.5 from that run.

Sadly we are also aware of Reading's uncanny ability to let opponents correct any dodgy runs that they may be on and as if the above wasn't bad enough there is also the fact that Forest have lost all of their previous 5 home league games and not scored in any of them (the last goals appearing in a 3-2 win over Bolton on 9th December). That said they did put 4 past Arsenal in the cup so as with their visit to Wolves there is something about them that needs to be carefully managed. The other thing of course is that Aitor Karanka has only just taken over so what effect that'll have on them and how quickly remains to be seen.

Forest have no injury concerns as far as I can make out but they do have a game at Burton to play first. Midfielders Liam Bridcutt, Ben Watson and new signing Joe Lolley will all be in contention to start.

All fresh from their break in sunny Spain the Royals should not be able to use tiredness as an excuse. Barrow is expected to return after illness forced him out of the 'boro game which should mean a little more balance attacking wise. Defensively it is pretty much going to pick itself with Mannone, Gunter, Ilori, Moore and Bacuna very likely to pick up those roles given Blackett's loss of confidence and Stam's preference to not play bright upcoming youngsters like Richards. Swift could be back in contention and perhaps Martin might start alongside Bod as really and truly Reading need to be attack minded and take the game to the opposition as quickly as possible.

Referee

For the fourth time this season, Steve Martin is back (must have done something to upset those that make the appointments)



Previously

11 Dec 2017 > Reading 2-2 Cardiff City
23 Sep 2017 > Reading 1-1 Hull City
26 Aug 2017 -> Birmingham City 0-2 Reading
24 Jan 2017 > Reading 1-0 Fulham
15 Oct 2016 > Queen's Park Rangers 1-1 Reading
15 Mar 2016 > Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Reading
23 Jan 2016 > Reading 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday
19 Sep 2015 > Bristol City 0-2 Reading
25 Mar 2014 > Reading 1-3 Barnsley

Historically

For the 20th time Reading head to the City Ground for a league battle. Of the previous 19 battles Reading have lost on eleven occasions and won just five. Reading have only kept two clean sheets in those games and one of those was a goalless draw. Goal wise Reading have scored 21 and conceded 39.

It should be noted that Reading have failed to keep a clean sheet in Nottingham in the last 7 visits and have conceded at least 2 goal in 6 of those games. In fact the last 3 visits have been particularly bad for goals conceded with at least 3 going in in every game.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel
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)
   

[Davezk]

Why is our club badge slightly rotated? That's the big question here.

[Hound]

Would really like to see Richards start this and Bacuna in midfield

[Old Man Andrews]

This is a must not lose game. Would happily take a draw if offered it now.

[LUX]

Good news: Forest have just had Lihaj sent off and he’ll miss the game against us.

Bad news: they are playing Burton and we probably would be better off if Forest won.

[windermereROYAL]

Swift looked to be taking part in full training during the Spain trip, I would hope he is nearly ready to come back. Harriot was there too. but probably not ready yet.

[double d]

Wecwiko loose

[Old Man Andrews]

Wecwiko loose

Well said.

[gdroyal]

Good news: Forest have just had Lihaj sent off and he’ll miss the game against us.

Bad news: they are playing Burton and we probably would be better off if Forest won.

They had two shots all game against Burton. Seems like they're struggling as much up front as we are and will be there for the taking. However we are well known for our charitably in these situations.

Barnsley v Burton and Bolton v Sunderland makes it a big night down the bottom on Tuesday.

[Hound]

If we beat Forest, they are every bit as much in the brown stuff as we are

[Zip]

Good news: Forest have just had Lihaj sent off and he’ll miss the game against us.

Bad news: they are playing Burton and we probably would be better off if Forest won.

They had two shots all game against Burton. Seems like they're struggling as much up front as we are and will be there for the taking. However we are well known for our charitably in these situations.

Barnsley v Burton and Bolton v Sunderland makes it a big night down the bottom on Tuesday.

Would like those two games to end in draws.

[marlowuk]

Good news: Forest have just had Lihaj sent off and he’ll miss the game against us.

Bad news: they are playing Burton and we probably would be better off if Forest won.

They had two shots all game against Burton. Seems like they're struggling as much up front as we are and will be there for the taking. However we are well known for our charitably in these situations.

Barnsley v Burton and Bolton v Sunderland makes it a big night down the bottom on Tuesday.

Would like those two games to end in draws.

I agree. Let them share 4 points rather than 6!

[JoeyJoeJoeJnrShabadoo]

thanks

[Sutekh]

Forest had Lichaj sent off for a quite appalling challenge at Burton which left Forest fans disgusted with him. Hero v Arsenal to Zero v Burton in a month apparently.

Ashkan Dejagah will also be missing after picking up an injury in training late last week.

[Old Man Andrews]

Ashkan Dejagah will also be missing after picking up an injury in training late last week.

They'll miss him.

Nobody in their team moves like Dejagah.......

[Hound]

Would like to see the team line up along these lines
Mannone
Gunter Moore Ilori Richards
Bacuna
Swift Edwards
Dadi Martin Barrow

obvs depends on Swift being fit - I suppose Kelly is the best replacement currently. Also a bit problematic up front with Dadi being wide, but don't fancy McCleary or Aluko at the moment

And also that doesn't take into account that Joey will be picked whatever anyway,.

[tidus_mi2]

Reading their forum, they seem to be making a lot of similar complaints as our own fans. I can only hope that the fact we've had a longer break, used it to have a high quality training session in Spain while they've played and struggled to a draw with Burton, lost 1 player to suspension and another to injury will be a deciding factor in the game.

If we can get the win, it would probably get us at least that 6pt gap again, could do with Hull pushing clear as well since they are the only ones currently that can challenge us for goal difference if it came down to that.

[leon]

I reckon we’ll win this. Well, I hope we do.

[tidus_mi2]

Mancienne, Murphy and Vellios potentially out with an illness.

[Hound]

some quotes from the Forest Forum:

As I seem to say every game now, it would be nice for us to really go for a win from the start. I don’t mean play reservedly and feel our way into the game before conceding the inevitable sloppy goal out of nothing. I mean push up, get full backs forward and get some crosses and shots in. Murphy and Brereton won’t score out of nothing and Cash can’t create everything on his own.

Reading, on a run of poor results and poor form, are playing us at exactly the right time - everyone ends their poor run of form with a win at the City Ground at the moment.

Karanka with his eye on not losing is unlikely to be adventurous and go for 2 upfront. And how long is it since we won at home, or even scored a league goal?

wanting to see a positive attacking side being built that goes for it no matter what, if they lose you still feel proud, taking risks fielding young players, gambling, empowering players, making average players into good teams, having shots on goal,

I don't do booing but the team do need to give us something other than a half arsed effort and being 2/3 nil down. Where the flying fox do we get a positive mindset from after what we have been witnessing.