News and Views
Blackburn Preview - And Win An England Shirt
06 May 2016
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading finally wrap up their season with a trip to Blackburn Rovers this weekend (12:30pm kick off, Saturday 7 May). Both sides have had disappointing seasons and currently sit 15th and 16th in the Championship table with identical points. Neither side have had anything to play for for quite some weeks, and have finished the season in very poor form. Certainly for Reading fans it will be relief to see the season finally limp to an end after a run of six games without victory - a run that has included five defeats and just a single point. Blackburn had been on a similar run, going six games without a win, with three defeats and three draws, until they eventually picked up a victory against Rotherham last weekend. It's safe to say this match definitely isn't one for the neutrals.
Reading have had a shocking recent history against Blackburn, until the 1-0 home victory back in December 2015. Danny Williams scored the vital early goal to seal the win for the Royals. Before that the previous ten years had seen the Royals go eight games without a victory. It feels unlikely Reading can win at Blackburn - but last season Reading were on a run of 9 games without a win, including a run in of five straight defeats, before a final day victory over Derby to end the season on an unexpected high. A 3-0 away victory on a hot sunny spring day is just what we need to finish the season but I wouldn't bet on that.
Josh Barrett had an excellent second half last weekend as Reading were beaten by Preston North End at home. Barrett's appearance from the bench was a rare bright spot in a poor afternoon's entertainment. Barrett looked confident in composed and, as well as his creative play, was unlucky not to have got on the score sheet with a couple of impressive efforts just wide of the target. Barrett did more than enough to earn himself an expected start against Blackburn and could be joined by other academy players. Academy right-back Tennai Watson signed a two year contract this week and will be hoping to get in on the action and make an impact ahead of the summer break.
The match will be Reading's last action before the summer break, but at least we have plenty of football through the summer when attention will turn to England playing in Euro 2016. Thanks to Paddy Power we have a personalised England Euro 2016 shirt up for grabs. To have a chance of winning the shirt you need to guess the minute of the first goal in Reading's game away at Blackburn this weekend. Visit the topic in the discussion forums and post your entry. If the same minute is posted then the first one will take priority. If the score is 0-0 we'll randomly pick a winner. You must post your entry before 11am on Saturday 7 May.
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