When : Saturday 18th August, 3pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161
Well here we go, second home league game of the season and already the biggest game so far and probably a real 6 pointer that Reading really cannot afford to drop points in
As ever with Reading they approach a game with a trail of injuries and a good half the squad already “unavailable”. A very real concern is for attacking wide men as of the 6 available (Popa, Aluko, Barrow, Meite, Harriott, McCleary) all are currently injured. Perhaps Aluko and Meite have the best chances to be fit for the game but should Barrow be missing then Clement might need a different gameplan.
Bolton have had a pretty good start and are unbeaten in the league on 4 points. As ever a Phil Parkinson team is expected to be tough, gritty, difficult to beat and well organised and though the squad is without any star names it is a good well balanced team. Both Jem Karacan and Adam Le Fondre have left Bolton (Jem is currently a free agent while Adam is thinking over a move to Sydney FC) so Phil is the only remaining Reading connection now.
Note : haven’t all league games that Reading have played against sides managed by Phil Parkinson finished as draws, the two draws last season and a 2-2 with Charlton back in 2008/9? Anyone confirm?
As to Reading, they’re on a magnificent run of 3 league wins in 2018 (from 23 games) and 5 wins in all competitions (27 games). League wise 15 points have been gained in 2018 giving a ppg ratio of around 0.65
Extrapolate that over a whole season and Reading will finish well clear at the bottom of the table on 30 points. Still Reading are now on a roll of 1 successive win having managed to win a league cup game and the performances (so far) are better than last season but as we all know there is still something not quite right about the attacking threat posed by the team overall. Just something missing that would make it all click.
Other than the issue over wingers, the management have a headache as to whether to restore Moore to the team.
Personally I would play him but should Ilori or McShane accompany him? I think PC will play Moore and opt for McShane alongside. Yiadom and Blackett will remain as full/wing backs but – if there is a real problem with wingers then Yiadom could play wide right with Bacuna filling in as a right back. Up front, think Bod will start alongside Baldock meaning just a couple of midfielders (Meyler and Swift?) rather than the three we normally see.
As ever get down to the ground and get behind everyone for 90 minutes and encourage as much positivity and “good vibrations” as possible. The better and more encouraged the players feel then the better and more encouraging the performance should be and that might mean a first league win which really is needed with two horrible away trips to Blackburn and Villa looming rather immediately
Referee
James Linington returns to the Madejski for the third time this year and for the second time against Bolton. His last four games have seen 2 Reading goals and 11 conceded not to mention that appalling New Year performance against Birmingham last season.
06 Mar 18 > Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Reading
02 Jan 18 > Reading 0-2 Birmingham City
09 Sep 17 > Reading 0-1 Bristol City
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
Fifteen previous league head to heads played against Bolton Wanderers in Reading. Of those games Reading have won 9, drawn 3 and lost 3 scoring 25 to Bolton's 13
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel to the game
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use an iFollow subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
