MATCHWATCH : Stoke City (h)

[Sutekh]

When : 5th April 2022, 8pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

Stoke next for another “must get something” game. After the hard work to dig in and get something from the “must not lose” trip to Yorkshire this one looms large and rather quickly for both teams so not much chance to recover, reorganise before having to go again.

The Potters have not been good this year really. However safety in the form of mid table obscurity has been assured mainly on the back of a thoroughly decent first half of the season but current form is 2 wins in 10 and they haven’t won on the road since going to Hull in January (although they have scored at least 1 in each of their last 5 trips). However the 2 wins have arrived in their last 2 games so things could be changing for the better for them again.

Lewis Baker and Jacob Brown are the serious dangers that have to be cut out of the game. The two of them have accounted for 17 of Stoke’s 47 league goals so more than a third overall. Add to that the promising Tyrese Campbell and D’Margio Wright-Phillips (dad is Shaun Wright-Phillips, grandad is Ian Wright), plus the experienced Stephen Fletcher and you can see things are going to be a real challenge for what’s left of the Reading squad.

Stoke will be without Jaden Philogene-Bidace, Reading loanee Liam Moore, Nick Powell and Harry Souttar. At the Royals’ end of things Halilovic, Meite, Araruna and Rinomhota are out for the season, OK Halilovic might make the last couple of games but is hardly going to be up to match speed so is as good as gone for the season in my opinion. On top of that Liam Moore’s injury means Tom Ince is not going to be available as the clubs had apparently agreed both players could play in the game if they were fit, so Reading’s options are pretty much as bad as ever.

Referee

Dean Whitestone

Previously

20 Mar 2021 > Reading 1-1 Queens Park Rangers
23 Feb 2021 > Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 Reading
19 Jan 2021 > Reading 3-0 Coventry City
30 Jun 2020 > Reading 0-3 Brentford
11 Jan 2020 > Reading 1-1 Nottm Forest
19 Oct 2019 > Reading 1-0 Preston North End
12 Aug 2018 > Reading 2-0 Birmingham City (League Cup)
05 Apr 2016 > Reading 2-1 Nottm Forest
22 Mar 2014 > Birmingham City 1-2 Reading
23 Aug 2011 > Charlton Athletic 2-1 Reading (League Cup)
22 Feb 2011 > Reading 2-1 Millwall
17 Feb 2010 > Crystal Palace 1-3 Reading
07 Nov 2009 > Reading 1-1 Ipswich Town
26 Aug 2008 > Reading 5-1 Luton Town (League Cup)

Historically

This will be the 26th league visit by Stoke City to Reading. Of the previous 25 games Reading have won 10 and lost 5. Until the spectacular “wheels off the wagon” 3-0 home stuffing of last season Reading were unbeaten in 15 successive home games (8 wins, 7 draws) and had only failed to score in one of those so this fixture has been a bit of a ‘mare for the Potters generally.

However the issue now is that Reading have not beaten Stoke in any of the last 10 games played in all competitions. The last win was way back in 2005-2006 so a trend here that rather desperately needs to be bucked.

How to follow the game

1. Buy a ticket and go to the game
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 a RoyalTV subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[windermereROYAL]

8 points clear if we win this with 6 to play (Barnsley will have 7), this is massive.

[Zip]

Hoilett will have rested this weekend having missed his interconnecting flight on the way home from international duty....so he can replace Ince v Stoke.
Barker had food poisoning but I would have thought would have a good chance of making the bench. So we should have plenty of options midweek.

[Hound]

This one on red button do you know?

Might struggle to make it down to the ground

[Snowflake Royal]

Main goal is to just try to lose as few of the remaining games as possible to keep the points ticking over. Any wins we pick up along the way are a bonus.

[Royals and Racers]

This one on red button do you know?

Might struggle to make it down to the ground

No it’s not.

[Hound]

This one on red button do you know?

Might struggle to make it down to the ground

No it’s not.

Ok thanks

[Zip]

This one on red button do you know?

Might struggle to make it down to the ground

No it’s not.

Ok thanks

Get down to the ground Houndy. Your club need you.

[Hound]

No it’s not.

Ok thanks

Get down to the ground Houndy. Your club need you.

It’s complicated Zip but I’ll see what I can do

[Stranded]

No Ince is a blow as he's been decent but expect Hoilett to start.

Probably unchanged otherwise unless Rahmen is fit.

We have an awful recent record v Stoke as the OP said, so need to buck that trend.

Anything but a win will let the bottom 3 think they still have a sniff.

[Zip]

No Ince is a blow as he's been decent but expect Hoilett to start.

Probably unchanged otherwise unless Rahmen is fit.

We have an awful recent record v Stoke as the OP said, so need to buck that trend.

Anything but a win will let the bottom 3 think they still have a sniff.

I would be ok with a draw provided we beat Cardiff. Four points from the next two will widen the gap between us and the bottom three.

[Stranded]

No Ince is a blow as he's been decent but expect Hoilett to start.

Probably unchanged otherwise unless Rahmen is fit.

We have an awful recent record v Stoke as the OP said, so need to buck that trend.

Anything but a win will let the bottom 3 think they still have a sniff.

I would be ok with a draw provided we beat Cardiff. Four points from the next two will widen the gap between us and the bottom three.

Of course but WNG and all that. I just think given that Barnsley & Derby don't play this midweek that a win deflates them.

Suddenly Derby need to find 9 points in us with just 18 left.

For Barnsley, they then know they have to get a win or two from away games v Millwall and Swansea, even if we go on to lose to Cardiff. They have only managed one away win

A win will be massive psychologically.

[Hound]

Yes win this and I’d dare to say we’re pretty much safe. Be very very hard for anyone to catch us

[Zip]

I do think Drinkwater is considerably fitter now than he was a few months ago.
He looked out on his feet so often in the first half of the season.

[Hound]

I do think Drinkwater is considerably fitter now than he was a few months ago.
He looked out on his feet so often in the first half of the season.

Think that’s true of most of the team. Big tick in the plus column for Ince imo

[Millsy]

Totally winnable game.

URZ

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Don't like this fixture just because we don't tend to do well against Stoke, in terms of results. We didn't play that badly in the reverse in all fairness but still ended up on the wrong side of the scoreline.

A bit of a reverse from Saturday though, we were playing a team where we have a good record, now we are playing a team where we don't. Then again, we've managed to buck a couple of trends this season, Swansea away and Birmingham at home, for example.

If we can pick up a point, that would be good again. If we can pick up all 3, that would be massive. If we win our next 2 games, it's done. If we get 3-4 points, that's good. =<2 points will depend on others' results around us really. 2 defeats wouldn't be good, but if the other 3 below us all lose when they play, at least it chalks more games off.

[Stranded]

Stoke have won their last 2, both at home.

Currently on a run of 1 win in 8 on the road.

[Millsy]

Don't like this fixture just because we don't tend to do well against Stoke, in terms of results. We didn't play that badly in the reverse in all fairness but still ended up on the wrong side of the scoreline.

A bit of a reverse from Saturday though, we were playing a team where we have a good record, now we are playing a team where we don't. Then again, we've managed to buck a couple of trends this season, Swansea away and Birmingham at home, for example.

If we can pick up a point, that would be good again. If we can pick up all 3, that would be massive. If we win our next 2 games, it's done. If we get 3-4 points, that's good. =<2 points will depend on others' results around us really. 2 defeats wouldn't be good, but if the other 3 below us all lose when they play, at least it chalks more games off.

I've never paid too much attention to record. Too many variables, different players, different managers, different seasons.

It is what it is now. We have a squad I believe wouldn't be out of place fighting for a playoff spot and Stoke are firmly midtable. No reason we can't batter them. Of course morale, contracts etc dont' help but if we can rise above that this game is ours.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Don't like this fixture just because we don't tend to do well against Stoke, in terms of results. We didn't play that badly in the reverse in all fairness but still ended up on the wrong side of the scoreline.

A bit of a reverse from Saturday though, we were playing a team where we have a good record, now we are playing a team where we don't. Then again, we've managed to buck a couple of trends this season, Swansea away and Birmingham at home, for example.

If we can pick up a point, that would be good again. If we can pick up all 3, that would be massive. If we win our next 2 games, it's done. If we get 3-4 points, that's good. =<2 points will depend on others' results around us really. 2 defeats wouldn't be good, but if the other 3 below us all lose when they play, at least it chalks more games off.

I've never paid too much attention to record. Too many variables, different players, different managers, different seasons.

It is what it is now. We have a squad I believe wouldn't be out of place fighting for a playoff spot and Stoke are firmly midtable. No reason we can't batter them. Of course morale, contracts etc dont' help but if we can rise above that this game is ours.

Morale shouldn't be too much of an issue, we haven't lost in 3 games now, performed well in all 3 and we did a job on Saturday. A draw which felt like a victory within itself as we came from behind and managed to stop a direct rival gaining any ground on ourselves. Fans were buzzing and the players and staff seemed happy enough whereas Barnsley looked dejected waking off.

I don't completely disagree though when you say our squad could be capable of challenging a play off position either. Stoke would probably say the same though as well. It will be a tough game, if we can avoid defeat, that would be important. A win would be very damaging to those below us. Big chance to take advantage tomorrow.