MATCHWATCH : Stoke City (a)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday 21st January 2023, 3pm
Where : Bet365 Stadium, Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke On Trent, ST4 4EG
Capacity : 30,089


It's all off to Stoke for the first time since the start of last season.

Stoke haven't been particularly good this season but can spring decent results from time to time so this isn't going to be an easy job. Current form at the Stoke end of the five towns is currently poor but then so was QPR's and we all know how that turned out. Of the last 13 league games Stoke have won only 3 and drawn 2 (11 points then out of 39) and they're currently on a run of 3 straight defeats (but then those defeats were to Preston, Burnley and Sheffield United so probably not a cause for concern generally but as games start to run out for the Potters then even those sorts of games will get to be important). Stoke have a 4 point cushion over 22nd placed Huddersfield but that could more or less evaporate if Reading manage to take three points and the bottom sides do well, so I expect Stoke to be right up for this against a team they'll see as eminently beatable.

At home the Potters are poor with only 3 wins so far this season but 1 of those wins was over the Blades so there is definitely something about Stoke on their day. Stoke have already sold keeper Josef Bursik to Club Bruges in this window while Liam Delap has returned to Manchester City so there is very much room for new signings to be made and Stoke are trying to get players in asap (links to Bristol City keeper David Bentley, Arsenal's Matt Smith abound - as do rumours that Harry Souttar, Nathan Lowe and Connor Taylor are wanted by PL clubs) so there could be new faces for the Reading management to consider this week,

Lewis Baker and Tyrese Campbell are the main threats, they have scored 9 league goals between them. Then there's Dwight Gayle who somehow is still looking to score after 17(3) appearances this season so let's hope that duck doesn't get broken on Saturday. The central defensive partnership currently seems to be Harry Souttar (still only 24) and Phil Jagielka, who is now 40 but is just so good at reading a game that his age doesn't matter. Then, after Lewis Baker, there's Josh Laurent and, Brentford loanee, Tariq Fosu-Henry also providing the Reading connections to watch very carefully.

Nick Powell is doubtful for Stoke after limping out of the their game at Sheffield United, Sam Clucas is definitely out and Dujon Sterling is nearing recovery after injury has kept him out of the last few games. For Reading, Hutchinson and Moore are definitely sidelined though it is expected that Andy Carroll should be available along with Ovie Ejaria. Shane Long is a doubt though after feeling a problem in his calf v QPR.

Referee

Gavin Ward

Previously

12 Nov 22 > Hull City 1-2 Reading
30 Aug 2022 > Sheffield United 4-0 Reading
15 Apr 2022 > Sheffield United 1-2 Reading
08 Jan 2022 > Kidderminster Harriers 2-1 Reading (FA Cup)
02 Nov 2021 > Millwall 1-0 Reading
02 Mar 2021 > Reading 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
05 Dec 2020 > Reading 2-0 Nottingham Forest
03 Oct 2020 > Reading 1-0 Watford
04 Feb 2020 > Cardiff City 3-3 Reading (FA Cup)
22 Apr 2019 > Reading 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
12 Mar 2018 > Reading 0-3 Leeds United
01 Sep 2018 > Reading 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
25 Aug 2015 > Portsmouth 1-2 Reading (League Cup)
20 Dec 2014 > Reading 0-1 Watford
25 Oct 2014 > Reading 3-0 Blackpool
17 Apr 2012 > Reading 1-0 Nottingham Forest
01 Feb 2011 > Cardiff City 2-2 Reading
16 Mar 2010 > Reading 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
11 Aug 2009 > Reading 5-1 Burton Albion (League Cup)

Historically

The 26 previous visits to Stoke in the league have brought Reading 6 wins and 7 draws so probably not too bad for northern trek in the scheme of things. The biggest win there was 4-0 around 25 or so years ago while the heaviest defeat was by 5-0. The last 5 trips there though have returned just 3 points, by way of 3 0-0 draws.

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 a RoyalTV subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[Hound]

Thanks Sutekh

Want to be winning this one. They are a bit rubbish, esp Powell is injured. Don’t look a happy bunch

Lumley
Yiadom Holmes Sarr
Loum
Hoilett Jeff Fornah NGW
AC Ince

Bouzanis, Ejaria, McIntyre, Azeez, Meite, Joao, Mbengue

Looks about right but assume Baba will be instead of NGW

[Snowflake Royal]

.......................Lumley
.......Yiadom, McIntyre, Holmes
Hoilett....Hendrick, Loum....NGW
...........................Ince
...............Meite..........Joao


Wouldn’t risk either Carroll or Long after their knocks. Sarr is disappointing. Rahman should not play, but will.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Lumley
Yiadom Holmes McIntyre
Hoilett Loum Hendrick Rahman
Ince
Meite Carroll

Subs: Bouzanis, Sarr, Mbengue, NGW, Fornah, Azeez, Joao.

That's personally what I'd go for (assuming Long won't be fit and Rahman will be in even though he probably shouldn't).

Not convinced by Sarr, costing us a goal a game at the moment and think Meite might be able to give us something in this game. Hendrick's place, as we all know, is very much cemented in the team.

If I had to make any other changes, it would be bringing Mbengue in at CB, shifting Yiadom out to wing back and having NGW on the left side for more of an attacking threat down that side, whilst Hoilett drops to the bench.

[Stranded]

Big Stranded family grudge match - not won up there for 18 years D3 L2 in the league over than time, so about time we got a win. Probably a draw though.

[Sutekh]

Stoke will be without the services of Arsenal loanee defender Harry Clarke who has been sold by his parent club to Ipswich. Clarke made 9(9) apps scoring twice during his time in the potteries.

Harry Souttar is also supposedly the subject of a £10m bid from Leicester City so there may be a small possibility he is rested while negotiations are continuing.

[Stranded]

Don't need to worry about Fosu having a blinder against us tomorrow. Brentford have recalled him.

He may have a worldie on the 14th though as gone to Rotherham.

Powell definitely out injured.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

That's good news re Powell.

Any news on Carroll & Long anyone?

Seen nothing on twitter from local press, just on Hutch and Moore

[morganb]

That's good news re Powell.

Any news on Carroll & Long anyone?

Seen nothing on twitter from local press, just on Hutch and Moore

From what I remember seeing, Alex Rae did this week's presser and didn't divulge much except a cryptic "we're expecting one or two back" comment.

[karbota]

Thanks Sutekh

Want to be winning this one. They are a bit rubbish, esp Powell is injured. Don’t look a happy bunch

Lumley
Yiadom Holmes Sarr
Loum
Hoilett Jeff Fornah NGW
AC Ince

Bouzanis, Ejaria, McIntyre, Azeez, Meite, Joao, Mbengue

Looks about right but assume Baba will be instead of NGW

Loum is a liability and lacking in ability, Joao still sulking and is just not interested.

[karbota]

.......................Lumley
.......Yiadom, McIntyre, Holmes
Hoilett....Hendrick, Loum....NGW
...........................Ince
...............Meite..........Joao


Wouldn’t risk either Carroll or Long after their knocks. Sarr is disappointing. Rahman should not play, but will.

Mother hold me up NO!

[Royals and Racers]

Fornah starts- no Carroll

Lumley
Yiadom
Holmes
McIntyre
Baba
Fornah
Loum
Hendrick
Hoilett
Ince
Meite
SUBS
Bouzanis
Dann
Mbengue
Guinness-Walker
Azeez
Long
Joao

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Sarr injured? Assume Ejaria just out of favour now

Souttar and Powell out for Stoke, Souttar must be off

[Orion1871]

Twitter moron, Lord coCKS moaning about Bowens signings being poor. As if a club under a transfer embargo has a huge list of players to pick from.

[Sutekh]

Sarr injured? Assume Ejaria just out of favour now

Souttar and Powell out for Stoke, Souttar must be off

Leicester reported to have bid £10m for Souttar

Just need Reading to take the game to Stoke…

[South Coast Royal]

Hoping to be proven wrong but I really don't rate Meite playing through the middle.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Decent enough side, good to see Fornah come back into the side as well, plenty of work ethic up top from Ince and Meite as well. Not especially bothered about the performance today, would just rather the points to be honest and just steer well away from them and leave the rest at the bottom left in the dust so we can try and climb into the top half.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Decent enough side, good to see Fornah come back into the side as well, plenty of work ethic up top from Ince and Meite as well. Not especially bothered about the performance today, would just rather the points to be honest and just steer well away from them and leave the rest at the bottom left in the dust so we can try and climb into the top half.

Agree - its not set up for a classic, 0-0 or 1-0 either way

[Zip]

Twitter moron, Lord coCKS moaning about Bowens signings being poor. As if a club under a transfer embargo has a huge list of players to pick from.

What did he expect? Bowen and Carey have put together a competitive squad. Job done and done well.

[Sutekh]

Twitter moron, Lord coCKS moaning about Bowens signings being poor. As if a club under a transfer embargo has a huge list of players to pick from.

What did he expect? Bowen and Carey have put together a competitive squad. Job done and done well.

Bang on all you like about the players but getting MB and BC on board was a brilliant piece of work.