MATCHWATCH : Barnsley (h)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday December 9, 3pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161


Next for the uSelles masterplan is how to counter Barnsley successfully.

Barnsley are 7th in the division and also last season's losing third division play off finalists so, as per usual, are very decent at this level and will be a difficult proposition for the Selles mess.

Form for the South Yorkshire outfit is fairly nondescript though at the moment with 1 win and 1 defeat in their last 5 league games. They are rather useful away from home though having won 5 and drawn 2 of 8 league visits so won't exactly be scared of visiting a team struggling in the bottom 4, even one riding on 2 succesive league wins.

Devante Cole is the star so far with 11 goals from 18 appearances and while Barry Cotter and Callum Styles provide midfield guile there have been a large number of goals (33 so far) being contributed across the whole team so Reading will need to be organised to have a chance of blanking the threat.

Injury means that McIntyre misses out again (though he is now thought to be down to the last couple of weeks of recovery) and attitude, we are told, is still a malaise in the Ejaria arena. There was also some talk that Mbengue picked an injury in the Trophy game v Charlton and that Dorsett has a slight injury and will miss out.

Referee

Ollie Yates

Previously

Nothing

Historically

Overall though this game is the Tykes' 38th league trip to Reading and they've only won 6 of the previous 37 games in total compared to Reading's 21 victories. Of the 10 league draws in Reading, a whopping 8 of them have finished 0-0.

But in recent times Barnsley have had an annoying habit of turning up, being dour, and going home with 3 points as 3 of those 6 Barnsley wins have been in the last 8 games played.

How to follow the game

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

[Stranded]

Draw will be fine here.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

so Reading will need to be organised to have a chance of blanking the threat.

Now there would be a sight. I'd think we are going to have to score (at least) 2 to win this game. Would happily be proven wrong though.

[Stranded]

so Reading will need to be organised to have a chance of blanking the threat.

Now there would be a sight. I'd think we are going to have to score (at least) 2 to win this game. Would happily be proven wrong though.

It's been 10 games since we last kept a clean sheet, so it's pretty much a given that we will have to score twice in most games to win.

[yuomi]

Was enjoying the Dorsett renaissance at LB so a bit worried to be going back to Mola, Carson, NGW or, worst of all, Yiadom w/ Bindon at RB. Would absolutely take a draw.

[Clyde1998]

Was enjoying the Dorsett renaissance at LB so a bit worried to be going back to Mola, Carson, NGW or, worst of all, Yiadom w/ Bindon at RB. Would absolutely take a draw.

Tbf, Mola did well yesterday. Although most of the good stuff I remember was with him at RB than LB.

I'd suspect it will be Mola at LB if Dorsett is definitely out; hopefully Dorsett will be back for the Oxford game.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Avoid a loss here and we're really starting to get some momentum.

[Millsy]

Please Selles prove us wrong.

Come on Reading!

[Hound]

Need to win our home games. A draw wouldn’t be a disaster but really should be going full out for 3 points

Starting to think there is the basis of a proper first 11 now. It’s interesting the last two games when we’ve brought Wing/Smith/Knibbs/Azeez in we’ve looked an awful lot better

FBs still a major concern. Not sure if Holmes managed to play his way out of the side on Saturday, but Abbey must play

Think we’ll go

Button
Yiadom Abbey Binden Mola/Carson
Craig
Azeez Wing Knibbs Mukairo
Smith

Perreira Holmes Carson Savage Elliot/Vickers Ehibhatiomhan Mbengue

Haven’t thought a lot of Mukairo last two games tbh so would love to see Vickers there instead

So leaving out Dean, NGW, Hutch, Rushesha. TMc and Dorsett injured

[Snowflake Royal]

We weren't good against Wycombe or Carlisle, we were just less shit.

We've been pretty poor against Eastleigh and Charlton.

We've had no good news and the squad is weaker through injury.

Barnsley aren't shit.

We should lose this comfortably.

[Hound]

I suspect Barnsley won’t be very good either tbh

They’ve just been smashed 3-0 by Derby, drew 2-2 at home to Fleetwood and needed a dodgy goal to beat Wycombe at home. Drew with some crap non league team in the fa cup

Doesn’t scream a great team tbh

[Hendo]

They only managed to beat a poor Wycombe side with one of the most comical goals going in the last minute.

FWIW, I thought, in parts, we were ok against Carlisle, namely the last 20 of each half half. Drab during the rest though.

[blythspartan]

I am looking forward to this one and I think we’ll win. I have had times of dreading going, but nowhere near as bad as last season.

I am worried about the club folding so am just trying to enjoy every game atm. The reality is if a Phoenix club had to be formed, I might not be around long enough to see it get back into the EFL.

[tidus_mi2]

I am looking forward to this one and I think we’ll win. I have had times of dreading going, but nowhere near as bad as last season.

I am worried about the club folding so am just trying to enjoy every game atm. The reality is if a Phoenix club had to be formed, I might not be around long enough to see it get back into the EFL.

Unless you're already 70, I don't think it will take a hypothetical phoenix Reading FC that long to return to the EFL.

[Snowflake Royal]

How many times have we won 3 league games in a row in the last 3 seasons?

Answer: twice. August 22, September 21.

Ain't happening.

[Vision]

How many times have we won 3 league games in a row in the last 3 seasons?

Answer: twice. August 22, September 21.

Ain't happening.

So we've done it once a year for the last two years but haven't done this year as yet.

Sounds nailed on to me

[Snowflake Royal]

How many times have we won 3 league games in a row in the last 3 seasons?

Answer: twice. August 22, September 21.

Ain't happening.

So we've done it once a year for the last two years but haven't done this year as yet.

Sounds nailed on to me

In both cases because we started the season well and went down hill. We've skipped starting the season well this time. We've missed our window, only way to create a new one is with a new owner (and manager).

[YorkshireRoyal99]

How many times have we won 3 league games in a row in the last 3 seasons?

Answer: twice. August 22, September 21.

Ain't happening.

To be fair, for as poor as we've been that's surprisingly more than I thought.

[Snowflake Royal]

How many times have we won 3 league games in a row in the last 3 seasons?

Answer: twice. August 22, September 21.

Ain't happening.

To be fair, for as poor as we've been that's surprisingly more than I thought.

Did it 3 times the season before.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

How many times have we won 3 league games in a row in the last 3 seasons?

Answer: twice. August 22, September 21.

Ain't happening.

To be fair, for as poor as we've been that's surprisingly more than I thought.

Did it 3 times the season before.

The season we finished 7th? A little less surprising.