MATCHWATCH : West Bromwich Albion (a) sponsored by as hard as it gets

[Sutekh]

When : Wednesday 21st August, 7.45pm
Where : The Hawthorns, Halfords Lane, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B71 4LF
Capacity 26,850
Away Stand : One side of the Smethwick End
What might I see in the area : Birmingham

This game is going to be a yardstick. The first of the season. Chances are that if you finish above WBA in the league then you will be promoted or at least be getting home advantage in the 2nd leg of the playoffs. So this is probably going to be as hard as it gets at this level of football this season.

After the Cardiff game the team is at least going in with confidence and belief but that is from just one game played albeit against the supposed best of last year's relegated trio. As we know one swallow doesn't make a summer so no one should be getting carried away but a great result for Reading at the Hawthorns and there could be real reason to for a change of mindset.

WBA are top class. They've strengthened well in the summer, under new boss Slaven Bilic, with the likes of Kenneth Zohore, Charlie Austin, Semi Ajayi and Romaine Sawyers not to mention some useful loans like West Ham's Grady Diangana. Thus far WBA are joint top with Leeds, Swansea, Millwall and Charlton on 7 points but failed to win their one previous home game (1-1 v Millwall) so perhaps there will be a chance for Reading to surprise.

Reading have now climbed to the heady heights of 17th place, the highest they have ever been with Gomes in charge. Injures are still, touchwood, negligible with Blackett nearing being more of a doubt than definitely out. WBA have a doubt over former Reading player Hal Robson-Kanu while Ahmed Hegazi will definitely miss the game.

Given the Cardiff performance one would expect no line up changes but then perhaps there might be a little bit of squad rotation just to keep a little freshness about the place or perhaps there might be something in the way WBA set up that means JG want to change the system or perhaps everyone will go down injured or something. Certainly could do with developing some form of stability and understanding amongst the first team though so let's hope for the former though who will actually care as long as the result is a good one.

And once again it's a chance for Reading to change the woefully wretched run of 2 wins from 32 away midweek evening league games stretching back to 2014.

Lastly, the evening's events should be able to be followed on the old red button for those with SKY subscription.

Referee

Peter Bankes is back but at least his last away game with Reading finally earned a point for the club at the 5th attempt.

Previously

16 Mar 2019 > Stoke City 0-0 Reading
16 Dec 2017 > Ipswich Town 2-0 Reading
25 Feb 2017 > Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 Reading
21 Jan 2017 > Derby County 3-2 Reading
30 Jan 2016 > Reading 4-0 Walsall (FA Cup)
20 Dec 2015 > Reading 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
08 Aug 2015 > Birmingham City 2-1 Reading

Historically

This will be the 17th visit to The Hawthorns for a league game and it’s a right tale of miserable woe with a catalogue of defeat after defeat stretching all the way back to the 1920s.

Reading have managed to produce an incredible 13 defeats from their 16 previous league visits with the only sojourn being a couple of successive wins back in the mid 1980s - of all times. Consequently the goal difference is a bit cr@p really with 10 goals scored and 34 conceded.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel all the way up north
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)
6. Red button
7. Watch it down the pub

[Hound]

Certainly a tough one, and I’d be fearing for us had we not beaten Colin’s lot

Think basically we pick the same team. It worked pretty well and can’t see good reason to change it. I’d always have Olise in the squad mind you.

You do wonder a little where the likes of Baldock, Nova, Loader and Barrett for into this side. 4 good players who I can’t really see getting much of an opportunity

[Zip]

Certainly a tough one, and I’d be fearing for us had we not beaten Colin’s lot

Think basically we pick the same team. It worked pretty well and can’t see good reason to change it. I’d always have Olise in the squad mind you.

You do wonder a little where the likes of Baldock, Nova, Loader and Barrett for into this side. 4 good players who I can’t really see getting much of an opportunity

I do wonder if Novakovich will go in this window. Perhaps back to Holland. There will be injuries though so you just never know. Not many would have predicted Meite as our top scorer when last season started. If Novakovich gets a chance he needs to grab it.

[Snowflake Royal]

Certainly a tough one, and I’d be fearing for us had we not beaten Colin’s lot

Think basically we pick the same team. It worked pretty well and can’t see good reason to change it. I’d always have Olise in the squad mind you.

You do wonder a little where the likes of Baldock, Nova, Loader and Barrett for into this side. 4 good players who I can’t really see getting much of an opportunity

Yeah... it's got to be the same team.

I'd probably stick Olise on the bench over Barrett or Adam, but harsh on Barrett if him, not sure we need Adam there with Rino sadly getting splinters. Not much room for Nova with Boye and Meite on the bench though I agree.

Baldock was given a pretty clear indication of where he fit in. Sadly, despite being really excited by Loader during his time in the Academy I don't think he's really earnt a place in this team. Behind pretty much all our strikers and attacking midfielders for me.

[NewCorkSeth]

Yeah. Same team.

Loader, Novakovich, Olise and Barrett all sadly are fighting for scraps now. Still.. What a strength in depth we have now.

[royalp-we]

I was sceptical about going 3 at the back - but it worked against Cardiff soooo well!!! I think it will suit us away from home even better; we have a really strong spine and it will make us difficult to break down. I feel confident Miazga, Morrison and Moore (& Rafael) can deal with the best attackers in this league, West Brom will be that test.

Definitely the same team for me - but we really need to look after Omar Richards - the sooner Blackett and Obita are back to provide cover then I’ll feel we have cover for every position and every spot is up for grabs.

[genome]

Would've preferred a winnable home game to follow Sunday's win, build up a bit of momentum

I'm intrigued to see how we will do though. Think West Brom will have a little bit too much for us, narrow 1-0 defeat but another promising performance.

[Hound]

I was sceptical about going 3 at the back - but it worked against Cardiff soooo well!!! I think it will suit us away from home even better; we have a really strong spine and it will make us difficult to break down. I feel confident Miazga, Morrison and Moore (& Rafael) can deal with the best attackers in this league, West Brom will be that test.

Definitely the same team for me - but we really need to look after Omar Richards - the sooner Blackett and Obita are back to provide cover then I’ll feel we have cover for every position and every spot is up for grabs.

guessing both Blackett and Obita no more than a couple of weeks away now. Richards' spot to lose though - he was excellent on Sunday

[windermereROYAL]

WBA don`t have their 2 big scoring forwards from last year now, big test for us yes, but I reckon we are capable of getting a point,

[NewCorkSeth]

I was sceptical about going 3 at the back - but it worked against Cardiff soooo well!!! I think it will suit us away from home even better; we have a really strong spine and it will make us difficult to break down. I feel confident Miazga, Morrison and Moore (& Rafael) can deal with the best attackers in this league, West Brom will be that test.

Definitely the same team for me - but we really need to look after Omar Richards - the sooner Blackett and Obita are back to provide cover then I’ll feel we have cover for every position and every spot is up for grabs.

Saw somewhere that Blackett is back in training. Either way if there was an issue Yiadom switches left and Rinomhota plays right..

[Oilroyal]

WBA:
Forest Game (A) – 12 shots / 3 on target / scored 2 / pass accuracy 79%
Millwall game – (H) 11 shots / 4 on target / scored 1 / pass accuracy 88%
Luton game / (A) 23 shots / 3 on target / scored 2 / pass accuracy 87%
Conceding a total of 3 / 1 per game

Reading:
Wednesday game (H) – 14 shots / 4 on target / scored 1 / pass accuracy 80%
Hull (A) – 13 shots / 4 on target / scored 1 / pass accuracy 83%
Cardiff (H) 14 shots / 6 on target / scored 3 / pass accuracy 78%
Conceding a total of 5 / 1.66 per game

WBA slightly up on shots compared to us
Reading have had 4 more shots on target compared to WBA
Same number of goals scored / last 3
WBA slightly better pass accuracy

Will be a fascinating game

[WestYorksRoyal]

I sincerely hope Rinomhota at RWB is a rarely repeated experiment. We have an experienced player, known for his fitness and athleticism, who can do that role if Yiadom is unavailable. We also have an academy prospect.

[NewCorkSeth]

I sincerely hope Rinomhota at RWB is a rarely repeated experiment. We have an experienced player, known for his fitness and athleticism, who can do that role if Yiadom is unavailable. We also have an academy prospect.

Gunter will not play for us again. Rinomhota will be used there again as its saves on substitute spots. Once Blackett is back Howe will drop out of contention all together.

One of Richards/Blackett will be on the bench with McIntyre.

[Hound]

just flicking through their results, the fact they lost and drawn at home to Millwall this season is a little interesting

Wondering if they are a little soft. Was very impressed with how physical we were against Cardiff, so maybe more of the same is needed

[Oilroyal]

Would love more of the same but without being too gung-ho. I think JG will have us do the basics right. Disciplined in defence, break up their play, win the seconds look to counter.

[Hiram K Hackenbacker]

Would love more of the same but without being too gung-ho. I think JG will have us do the basics right. Disciplined in defence, break up their play, win the seconds look to counter.

I agree

[stealthpapes]

Think we'll be up against it, but if not

[Snowball]

just flicking through their results, the fact they lost and drawn at home to Millwall this season is a little interesting

Wondering if they are a little soft. Was very impressed with how physical we were against Cardiff, so maybe more of the same is needed

They've been behind to Forest, Millwall and Luton

[NewCorkSeth]

just flicking through their results, the fact they lost and drawn at home to Millwall this season is a little interesting

Wondering if they are a little soft. Was very impressed with how physical we were against Cardiff, so maybe more of the same is needed

They've been behind to Forest, Millwall and Luton

Ah. That's a worry. They must be mentally quite strong then.

[Snowflake Royal]

I sincerely hope Rinomhota at RWB is a rarely repeated experiment. We have an experienced player, known for his fitness and athleticism, who can do that role if Yiadom is unavailable. We also have an academy prospect.

Gunter will not play for us again. Rinomhota will be used there again as its saves on substitute spots. Once Blackett is back Howe will drop out of contention all together.

One of Richards/Blackett will be on the bench with McIntyre.

Rino really shouldn't start at RWB given we have four options who specialise in that area.