MATCHWATCH : Exeter City (a)

[Sutekh]

When : Tuesday October 22 2024, 7.45pm
Where : St James Park, Stadium Way, Exeter, EX4 6PX
Capacity : 8,197

Reading take their cr@p away record down to Exeter, looking to do better than the last league visit there just over a year ago. Not only do Reading have to cope with the usual cr@pness that away visits inflict on the club but also the miserable midweek away league record of 6 wins in 58 attempts in the last 10 years and without the apparent boost of facing a team beginning with B.

Exeter are in the play off places so getting anything out of this game will be a real achievement for Reading and certainly the result of the season thus far. However, thanks to Reading’s excellent home form, the club can go equal on points with Exeter if it can somehow wangle a win, though a win by two clear goals would be required to actually get above them in the table.

The Grecians have only lost one home game so far this season (1-2 to Peterborough back in August) while winning all remaining games at St James Park. They have not lost a game since being beaten at Blackpool over a month ago which gives them an unbeaten run of five games (W4 D1). In addition Exeter have not conceded a goal since Blackpool’s 90th minute winner so that’s five games unbeaten and no goals conceded. However if Reading could score twice then they should get at least a point out of the game as Exeter have not scored more that two goals in any home game since beating Morecambe 3-2 back in May 2023.

Threats are the forward line with both Kamari Doyle and Josh Magennis being very difficult opponents. Kamari (Brighton) is one of five loanees acquired in the summer while Josh is one of the seven permanent acquisitions made.

Reading should see WiFi return for the game but Camara, Pereira and Dorsett remain on the injury list. In addition Yiadom, Clarke and Ryan remain long term casualties. After a good win over Crawley it will be interesting to see whether Selles puts Kelvin straight back in the team or selects an unchanged line up.

Referee

Sam Purkiss

Previously

30 Sep 23 > Reading 0-0 Burton Albion

Historically

Exeter have been very regular opponents of Reading. In all there have been 82 league games between the sides.

St James Park hasn't been too bad for Reading down the years with 16 wins achieved which is only 3 less than Exeter themselves have managed and leaves just 6 draws amongst the 41 games played. Reading have only won one of their last 4 league visits to Exeter.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and go
2. Sky button coverage
3. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
4. Ring/text a mate for updates
5. Use a RoyalsTV subscription
6. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Assuming the Shrewsbury game is cancelled due to the next international break, this game starts a run of 5 away games out of the next 6 in the league.....this could define how our season will pan out. After Bristol next week we are not at home again in the league until December.

[themwasthedays]

Any idea if it's possible to buy tickets on the day at the ground?

[Snowflake Royal]

I don't expect Exeter to maintain their position, even though they improved towards the end of last season. But the away conditions are always pretty tricky there because of the weather and lack of shelter in the ground.

They're in very good form, both at home and in general, which should be a worry, and maybe I'm underestimating their quality, but that just makes me think they're due a road bump and we could be it.

Equally, our away form is pretty bad, despite some very narrow margins, so I fancy a result as I don't see us going on as long and awful an away run as we have in recent years.

I'll say a pleasantly surprising 1-2 win to us.

Be interesting to see what Selles does with Kelvin following the big win. I'd be inclined to bring him strraight back in, but I really want to see Savage get a run now. Akande is the obvious junior player... maybe Knibbs could work on the right, but I think the better team fit is Elliott out.

I'd rather not start Garcia in two games in four days, especially away at a team in good form, but I'm not sure what our option is, short of disrupting the whole.of defence putting Mbengue out there and Dean in the middle. Maybe Abrefa will be back? Or Rushesha maybe?

[WestYorksRoyal]

I don't feel like we can play Garcia twice a week; it's too much to demand of a 16 y/o. Not sure what the solution is if Dorsett and Abrefa are unavailable.

I feel Savage should keep his place after another goal. Could Knibbs drop to the bench? I'd also rotate Campbell and Akande.

We haven't been as bad as away results suggest. I'm with IR that we should do better than last season. Problem is we seem to have been dealt a bastard away hand at the start of the season. We've been to Brum, Wrexham, Bolton and Rotherham. Now it's Exeter (5th), Stockport (9th and strong at home), Stevenage (10th), Wycombe (3rd) followed by Peterborough, Barnsley and Lincoln who are all accomplished L1 sides who are a tough trip whatever the table says. We need to get some wins; the hard fixture excuse doesn't last forever. Plus, Exeter, Wycombe and Stevenage are 3 teams I would expect to fall down the table as the season goes on.

We must be due a very favourable run of away games at the end of the season.

[Snowflake Royal]

I don't feel like we can play Garcia twice a week; it's too much to demand of a 16 y/o. Not sure what the solution is if Dorsett and Abrefa are unavailable.

I feel Savage should keep his place after another goal. Could Knibbs drop to the bench? I'd also rotate Campbell and Akande.

We haven't been as bad as away results suggest. I'm with IR that we should do better than last season. Problem is we seem to have been dealt a bastard away hand at the start of the season. We've been to Brum, Wrexham, Bolton and Rotherham. Now it's Exeter (5th), Stockport (9th and strong at home), Stevenage (10th), Wycombe (3rd) followed by Peterborough, Barnsley and Lincoln who are all accomplished L1 sides who are a tough trip whatever the table says. We need to get some wins; the hard fixture excuse doesn't last forever. Plus, Exeter, Wycombe and Stevenage are 3 teams I would expect to fall down the table as the season goes on.

We must be due a very favourable run of away games at the end of the season.

Late season CHAAAARRGE!!

[Royals and Racers]

Slightly unfortunate that Exeter last played on Thursday and us yesterday and we have to travel as well.

[RG30]

Any idea if it's possible to buy tickets on the day at the ground?

Nothing on the OS about it being all ticket so I would assume it is likely.

[tidus_mi2]

I feel weirdly optimistic about this one, I think their recent form has been inflated by playing 3 of the bottom 5, while our away form has had the opposite effect after playing 3 of the top 6.

Is a bit frustrating that they get 2 more days of recovery though, didn't even realise they played on Thursday.

[Wycombe Royal]

I believe, in this great run of form they've had, they have conceded more shots than their opposition in all of those clean sheets, which is largely down to the performances of the young on loan keeper from Palace.

That is some record that surely must come to an end soon. I'm not saying they have been fortunate but they aren't a great attacking team. They soak up pressure and sneak tight wins.

[Snowflake Royal]

I believe, in this great run of form they've had, they have conceded more shots than their opposition in all of those clean sheets, which is largely down to the performances of the young on loan keeper from Palace.

That is some record that surely must come to an end soon. I'm not saying they have been fortunate but they aren't a great attacking team. They soak up pressure and sneak tight wins.

Ah, well we will almost certainly concede at least 1.

[Clyde1998]

Looks like north of 700 away tickets have been sold for this game so far.

[tidus_mi2]

Looks like north of 700 away tickets have been sold for this game so far.

Solid effort for a mid-week ~3hrs away.

[South Coast Royal]

Slightly unfortunate that Exeter last played on Thursday and us yesterday and we have to travel as well.

They played on Thursday night away and we played at home on Saturday at lunchtime so not much over a day between the two fixtures.
Also Exeter is hardly a long trip for Reading.

I did watch the game on Thursday night and Exeter started very well with 3 very quick forwards and the goal was very classy.
Shrewsbury gradually got back in the game and had a lot of the ball but much of it in non-threatening areas.

Ryan Woods does for Exeter what Barry Bannen does for Sheffield Wednesday and at our level is still a very good player.

It could be a good watch tomorrow , I wouldn't want to call the result but expect a few goals if not so many as the game there in October 1993 (just 3 days after playing Man City in the League Cup on the Wednesday evening and losing 2-1) when we won 6-4 and it could easily have been more (for us).

[LUX]

I remember 4-3 to us in our 1975-76 promotion season. Iirc they had Beer and Bowker as scorers.

Happy days.

[AthleticoSpizz]

….and Bob Wilson in goal. (but not THE Bob Wilson obvs)

[URZZZZ]

Wonder if Savage could do a job at LB? Solves the midfield conundrum of who to drop as Knibbs is extremely ineffective out wide and would presume Kelvin will slot straight back in

Square pegs in round holes but we’re not exactly blessed with options. Wouldn’t be starting Garcia three times in a week and the alternative is bringing Dean back in and would rather not disrupt the CB partnership

[Snowflake Royal]

Wonder if Savage could do a job at LB? Solves the midfield conundrum of who to drop as Knibbs is extremely ineffective out wide and would presume Kelvin will slot straight back in

Square pegs in round holes but we’re not exactly blessed with options. Wouldn’t be starting Garcia three times in a week and the alternative is bringing Dean back in and would rather not disrupt the CB partnership

Ye-es. Probably 'a job'.

Only concern would be he is a bit of a terrier, so question mark over positional discipline back there.

Would rather not resort to that though.

[Clyde1998]

Wonder if Savage could do a job at LB? Solves the midfield conundrum of who to drop as Knibbs is extremely ineffective out wide and would presume Kelvin will slot straight back in

Square pegs in round holes but we’re not exactly blessed with options. Wouldn’t be starting Garcia three times in a week and the alternative is bringing Dean back in and would rather not disrupt the CB partnership

Ye-es. Probably 'a job'.

Only concern would be he is a bit of a terrier, so question mark over positional discipline back there.

Would rather not resort to that though.

I’d agree. He’d do a job, but it’s far from ideal when we’ve got alternative options who are more comfortable in that position.

I expect we’ll see Dean at CB and Mbengue moved to LB from the start before we see Savage at LB.

[Snowflake Royal]

Given our away form, we should definitely see a more defensive line up, set up to keep it tight and frustrate so we can hopefully nick a point or win.

Just going out like we're at home doesn't really work.