When : Saturday 28th September 2019
Where : Liberty Stadium, Morfa, Swansea, SA1 2FA
Capacity : 21,088
Away Stand : North Stand
What might I see in the area : Sheep
Saturday sees Reading's rapidly descending shambles of a season hit the welsh countryside with a trip to high flying Swansea.
Easily splatted twice last season by way of their own wholly unacceptable performances Reading will be desperately at least trying to avoid a hat trick of said unacceptability, though their current form is seeking to try it's damnedest to even snuff that hope out before the day arrives.
Swansea are rather good this season, if you hadn’t already noticed. They’ve managed 7 wins from the 10 games played so far in all competitions but have slipped up recently with no wins from either of their last 2 games (0-0 at Bristol City and a 1-0 loss at home to the ever erratic Forest - so that’s also no goals scored).
Swansea have a midweek league cup game with Watford to worry about but as with most clubs from the higher divisions they’ll be resting most of their recognised first teamers so are unlikely to pick up any additional injuries or suspensions to add to the injured Aldo Kalulu and suspended Jake Bidwell that would affect their team Reading’s visit.
Reading may well have Matt Miazga available again but are likely to be without Michael Morrison so the adjustments defensively are likely to have to continue. After the mess of the last 3 games god only knows what permutation JG will come up with. Think I might be inclined to just drop Joao and put Rinomhota in and ask the full backs to play a bit more like full backs as the last thing you want to be doing is encouraging Swansea’s wingers. Still I’m sure there’s many different approaches that can be taken with the squad at Jose’s disposal.
To be honest though, given the current state of affairs, I'd recommend ignoring the football altogether and carry straight on past the ground to have a weekend in Pembrokeshire instead.
Referee
It’s Mr Keith Stroud again, back for the first time this season to take charge of the same fixture he handled last season.
Previously
05 May 2019 > Reading 0-0 Birmingham City
10 Apr 2019 > Norwich City 2-2 Reading
27 Oct 2018 > Swansea City 2-0 Reading
28 Apr 2018 > Reading 0-4 Ipswich Town
02 Dec 2017 > Sunderland 1-3 Reading
04 Nov 2017 > Derby County 2-4 Reading
01 Apr 2017 > Reading 1-0 Leeds United
14 Feb 2017 > Reading 3-2 Brentford
19 Nov 2016 > Reading 3-0 Burton Albion
28 Dec 2015 > Reading 1-2 Brentford
07 Nov 2015 > Cardiff City 2-0 Reading
03 Oct 2015 > Reading 2-0 Middlesbrough
14 Apr 2015 > Reading 0-1 Bournemouth
29 Mar 2014 > Reading 1-1 Huddersfield Town
11 Jan 2014 > Watford 0-1 Reading
13 Aug 2011 > Leicester City 0-2 Reading
03 Apr 2010 > Ipswich Town 2-1 Reading
06 Feb 2010 > Doncaster Rovers 1-2 Reading
29 Dec 2007 > Tottenham Hotspur 6-4 Reading
22 Sep 2007 > Reading 2-1 Wigan Athletic
25 Feb 2006 > Reading 2-1 Preston North End
23 Aug 2005 > Reading 3-1 Swansea City (League Cup)
Historically
This will be the 34th league visit to Swansea who have been consistent opponents stretching all the way back to 1920. In that time there have been 9 wins for Reading but 17 wins for the Swans. There have been only 2 goalless draws in that run but Reading have had a tendency to “come a cropper real good” on several visits, esp. in the 1960s when they conceded 5 goals on three consecutive visits. That said, though, the biggest win was Reading’s 6-1 hammering of Swansea back in 1989 of all seasons.
However Reading are still looking for their first league win at the Liberty Stadium being on a run of LDLDL at the moment.
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel
- 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)