When : Saturday April 20 2024, 3pm
Where : Pirelli Stadium, Princess Way, Burton upon Trent, DE13 0BH
Capacity 6,912
First of the pre-season friendlies next as super safe Reading travel to Derbyshire to take on the might of Burton Albion in a game that surely has to be better than the ultra dreary 0-0 earlier in the season.
Burton are still fighting to avoid the drop and anything other than a win in this game will more or less relegate them depending on results elsewhere, so expect a team right up for it and tearing into Reading from the off. After settling into a lower mid table position for much of the season, 2024 has brought Burton much trouble and the current run of 1 win in 12 has spiralled them into anxious looks at the botton four.
The issue in particular has been home form as the Brewers haven't managed a home point since doing Charlton 2-0 on 20th January, since then the record has been P8 W0 D0 L8 F3 A17 - so the sort of thing that usually attracts a visit from AFC Charity then!
The top scorer for Burton has notched 5 goals so far but there's 3 players on that figure; Beryly Lubala, Joe Powell and Mark Helm - a number of other goals have been scored by defenders so giving away set pieces probably isn't such a good idea. However they do struggle to score (35 so far), with only Shrewsbury having scored fewer (33) and the same number as Carlisle so if Reading can get their defence marshalled properly there should be a decent chance of a 5th away win for the Royals.
Yiadom is a doubt with injury but pretty much the rest of the squad should be available. Given the fact that there is something riding on the game for the teams fighting against relegation I would be playing the strongest side possible and not experimenting with youngsters or formations etc.
Saturday's games for the bottom clubs in L1
Bolton v Port Vale
Burton v Reading
Cambridge v Derby
Carlisle v Wycombe
Charlton v Shrewsbury
Cheltenham v Lincoln
Orient v Fleetwood
Referee
Scott Oldham
Previously
03 Feb 24 > Oxford United 1-1 Reading
21 Oct 23 > Charlton Athletic 4-0 Reading
07 Apr 23 > Reading 1-1 Birmingham City
History
This is third trip to the Pirelli and so far Reading have managed to win on each of the previous visits scoring at least 3 on both occasions so there is something to live up to in this fixture.
How to follow the game
- Ticket yourself, be brave 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 a RoyalTV subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
