MATCHWATCH : Oxford United (h)

[Sutekh]

When : Tuesday December 12, 8pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161


Reading take on the might of Oxford United next in the biggest local derby there is in these parts. Hoping it's been sold to Selles as the equivalent of el classico so he can understand how critical it is that the Royals turn up for this game rather than being an occasion for more of his estimable charity work.

The thing is, with this one, that there is a chance for Reading to do well as the Ox are on a run of 1 draw and 2 defeats from their last 3 league games so are no doubt starting to feel that things could be getting away from them after losing their manager to Bristol City and appointing former Reading youth player Des Buckingham to replace him. It should be noted that while being turned over recently by the likes of Cheltenham they have won at both Barnsley and Derby.

Oxford would appear to be a threat from everywhere but their strikers. Leading scorer is left back Greg Leigh with 5 to his name (as well as September's League One player of the month award), then there's midfielders Cameron Brannagan and Ruben Rodrigues who have each contributed 4 goals so far. All in all then sounds like a slightly different challenge which I'm sure Selles will have considered well and therefore be able to counter with a successful team selection and/or game plan that catches everyone out.

Pretty sure everyone is fit except Ovie and his "political injury" and McIntyre who is, allegedly, just a game or two away from being back.

Referee

Carl Brook

Previously

19 Sep 23 > Exeter City 0-9 Reading (EFL Trophy)

Historically

22 years since the last league game and so far Reading have a pretty awful league record against Oxford, wherever the two clubs play, having won only 5 (and lost 6) of the 12 league games played in the town to date.

There has only ever been 1 draw (1-1) in this league fixture (back in February 1968). Just 2 of those games have been played at the Mad Stad with each team winning 1 though Reading's win (4-3) is one game that will live long in the memory of the 16022 fans that attended back in October 2000 (highlights below).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXYRr4vDyFo

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)

[Orion1871]

Des Buckingham sounds like the name of a childrens entertainer who should be in jail for historic 80s sex offences.

[Royal_jimmy]

We better bloody smash them, I don't care how but I just want a win. Absolutely despise them, far more than I dislike Swindon.

[rightroyalkneesup2]

Des Buckingham sounds like the name of a childrens entertainer who should be in jail for historic 80s sex offences.

[AthleticoSpizz]

A simple little 1-0 win will suffice ‘Jimmy’
Just stay away from the razor blades tomorrow evening.

[Royal_jimmy]

A simple little 1-0 win will suffice ‘Jimmy’
Just stay away from the razor blades tomorrow evening.

[Jerry St Clair]

Oxford were awful at Cheltenham a couple of weeks ago. Cheltenham even had a man sent off just before half time and Oxford still couldn't lay a glove in the second half, eventually having Rodrigues sent off themselves late on.

The thing that did it was Cheltenham turning it into a fight. They roughed Oxford up from the first minute and they weren't up for it at all.

[Orion1871]

Oxford were awful at Cheltenham a couple of weeks ago. Cheltenham even had a man sent off just before half time and Oxford still couldn't lay a glove in the second half, eventually having Rodrigues sent off themselves late on.

The thing that did it was Cheltenham turning it into a fight. They roughed Oxford up from the first minute and they weren't up for it at all.

No danger of Reading turning anything into a fight.

[Royal_jimmy]

Oxford were awful at Cheltenham a couple of weeks ago. Cheltenham even had a man sent off just before half time and Oxford still couldn't lay a glove in the second half, eventually having Rodrigues sent off themselves late on.

The thing that did it was Cheltenham turning it into a fight. They roughed Oxford up from the first minute and they weren't up for it at all.

No danger of Reading turning anything into a fight.

I'm sure our fans in C1871 will turn it into a fight tomorrow

[Snowflake Royal]

A draw would be nice.

But it's going to be something to us, more to them.

[blythspartan]

I have no enthusiasm for this, but I will go. Years ago, I would have been well up for this game, but watching too many dire games in recent years has made me feel pretty nonplussed about this one.

I’d settle for a draw, but I am expecting a 3-1 defeat. A 3-0 defeat at the Manor Ground around March 1998 still haunts me. What was the name of the really good central defender who played for them?

[Clyde1998]

We're looking at around 11,000 home tickets sold at this stage, plus the ~3,000 from Oxford (around 14,000 total). The actual attendance will probably be lower, as some people - especially school age children - won't go to make midweek matches.

Based on our midweek attendance drop since 2014, we'd've been looking at around 16,000 tickets sold if the game had been played on a Saturday (as originally planned) and based on our midweek attendance drop since Covid, it would be closer to 17,000 on a Saturday. Our average attendances for a weekend game has been 17% higher when compared to midweek games since the 2013-14 season, whilst we've seen 26% higher attendances on weekends since Covid.

That said, it's possible tonight will be our biggest attendance of the season so far, 14,417 against Portsmouth being the largest so far, and should easily exceed our largest midweek attendance of 11,726 against Bristol Rovers.

[Hound]

Will be along for this. Selles really needs to try to avoid getting this wrong again. They’ll obviously be right up for it, something we quite often struggle with

Think team basically picks itself if everyone fit except that left mid/wing position. Be extremely unimpressed with Mukairu last two games there. I’d give Vickers a go there but suspect he won’t. Shame Ejaria has turned into such a waster as he’d suit that spot in this side

We were decent enough for 80 mins on Saturday, we’re certainly capable of winning the game. As ever need to score our chances and stop giving away soft goals

[Mr Optimist]

Des Buckingham sounds like the name of a childrens entertainer who should be in jail for historic 80s sex offences.

Didn’t realise the young Desmond was in our youth set-up at one time. Who names a child born in the mid 80s Desmond unless they want them to have a tough childhood, vibes of the Johnny Cash song.

Back to the football, let’s hope we can turn up and give our near neighbours a dose of reality. Even though we are on our arses at the moment we are still capable of beating them. This is the best chance they have had for a quarter of a century, but hopefully we’ll be seeing you next season when we are starting an upward trajectory again.

[Norfolk Royal]

My mate who is an Oxford fan reckons they've got three key players missing tonight and can't score for toffee at the moment.

[Orion1871]

My mate who is an Oxford fan reckons they've got three key players missing tonight and can't score for toffee at the moment.

You know what that means.

[Stranded]

My mate who is an Oxford fan reckons they've got three key players missing tonight and can't score for toffee at the moment.

Final Score Reading 1 Oxford 3.

[RG30]

Must win.

[PieEater]

Is it really 22 years since the last game? And was that the game Tony Rougier was the star of the show in torrential rain?

[Snowflake Royal]

Is it really 22 years since the last game? And was that the game Tony Rougier was the star of the show in torrential rain?

League game, yes. We've played them in the cup twice since though, 2001 league, 2003 and 2004 cup.