News and Views

Reading Face Tough Away Tests

12 August 2016
By Hob Nob Anyone?

After two straight wins to start the new season, Reading now face two big tests that will give a much better indication of how Jaap Stam's side might measure up in the Championship this season. First up, the Royals travel to Wolves this Saturday, and that's quickly followed by Wednesday night's trip to just relegated, and promotion favourties, Newcastle United. After straight forward home victories against Preston North End in the League and Plymouth in the cup it's likely to be a very different story on the road as we look to build on a postitive start to the new season. Both the games so far Reading have dominated possession throughout - it will be interesting if the passing game continues away from home against sides expecting home wins.

Saturday's opposition, Wolves, started the season with a 2-2 away draw at Rotherham, securing the point after coming back from two goals down, and playing most of the second half with ten men after Iorfa was sent off. Iorfa has already served his one match ban when his team mates secured a 2-1 League Cup win over Crawley mid-week.

Stam fielded a strong side against Plymouth in the league cup, with not as many changes as expected, and appears to already be getting a feel for what his strongest starting eleven might be. Jaakkola was handed his Reading debut in goal on Tuesday night, but will probably find Al Habsi back in goal for the trip to Wolves. Neither keeper has had much to do so far, making it difficult to stake a claim for first choice keeper. McShane looked a better option in defence than Cooper and will find himself back in the team. Up front Kermorgant started on Tuesday but failed to make his mark, leaving Rakels hoping to be back in the starting elevent. Stam has plenty of options and plenty of players hoping to be involved including Yakou Meite who came off the bench against Plymouth and will be hoping to make his second Royals appearance.

Last season we were disappointing against Wolves. At home we drew 0-0, while away we went down 0-1 after James Henry's early goal for the home side. We will be hoping for something similar to the season before, in February 2015, when we were 2-1 winners away from home thanks to goals from Pavel Pogrebnyak and Danny Williams.

Wolves -v- Reading - Form

Wolves -v- Reading - Form

Wolves -v- Reading - Form

Wolves -v- Reading - Form

Graphics supplied by KickOff.

 

Discussion On This Story:

 Royal_jimmy

» 11 Aug 2016 13:04

Jaap to continue his winning start

Wolves 1-2 Reading

 maffff

» 11 Aug 2016 13:51

Wolves 2 - Reading 3.

Reading go 0-2 up in the first half. Early goal 3rd half, last half hour we let two in and a nervy final minutes at 3-2.

 royalp-we

» 11 Aug 2016 13:53



3rd half you say :wink:

I'm going with a 1-2. Goals from Swift and a late winner from Meite. Marvellous.

 maffff

» 11 Aug 2016 13:56

:o errr.......... :lol:

 Slater1993

» 11 Aug 2016 13:57

Wolves 0 - 1 Reading

Clean Sheet, go 1 up in the first half and as in the other games sit back a bit in the second half but hold on for the win.

 CountryRoyal

» 11 Aug 2016 14:21

I would take a clean sheet right now. Think this will be hard but equally after Iorfa's red card hoping that's an area we target and Beerens/Meite have a field day.

Going to go for 1-1.

 K.URZ13

» 11 Aug 2016 14:24

2-1 loss, but a good performance and nothing to be disheartened about.

 John Madejski's Wallet

» 11 Aug 2016 14:34

2-2.

Reading off to a 2-0 lead. New Wolves manager re-jigs their formation at half time. Draw, with us clinging on

 sandman

» 11 Aug 2016 14:47

3-0 Wolves

Back down to earth with an almighty bump. Meite to go off crying because someone starts "screaming at him".

 stl_royal

» 11 Aug 2016 15:47

Wolves 1-3 Reading. Swift (x2) and Rakels for us.

 The Real Sandhurst Royal

» 11 Aug 2016 19:12

2-1 Win.

 Ian Royal

» 11 Aug 2016 19:19

2-1 Reading
Rakels, Meite

 NewCorkSeth

» 12 Aug 2016 00:09

Fancy us to win this one. I dont really rate the Wolves squad (theyll be devastated I know)
2-0
McCleary, Beerens

 RFCUK

» 12 Aug 2016 08:09

3-1 Reading

 Maneki Neko

» 12 Aug 2016 09:50

13-0

Swift 5
Beerens 4
Kermorgant 2
Meite 1
Mcshane 1

 winchester_royal

» 12 Aug 2016 10:21

Think we'll get a bit of a reality check here tbh

 Hendo

» 12 Aug 2016 10:45

2-1 away win.

Beerens & Evans.

 Anonymous

» 12 Aug 2016 11:28

Promising start for Reading last week, so brought back down to Earth with a bump tomorrow.

Narrow defeat

1-2

 GloucestershireRoyal

» 12 Aug 2016 12:32

0-0.

We will control the ball but ultimately fall short in getting that vital goal.

 NewCorkSeth

» 12 Aug 2016 17:46

That match programme looks great.. wouldn't really work if we were the biscuitmen still

 Nuremberg Royal

» 12 Aug 2016 18:19

2-2 with an impressive come back from 2-0 at H.T

 Gunny Fishcake

» 13 Aug 2016 08:02

Anything but a loss please .....1-1

 Anonymous

» 13 Aug 2016 13:15

Wolves 4 Reading 0, Rakels sent off for simulation again.

 royal67

» 13 Aug 2016 14:08

A 2-1 win for the Royals. Swift and McCleary with the goals.....

 maffff

» 13 Aug 2016 15:22



So here we have the first in our 2016/17 series: Wolves v @ReadingFC

#WOLvREA



So I've improved it for them....

 NewCorkSeth

» 13 Aug 2016 15:24


Lol

 tidus_mi2

» 13 Aug 2016 15:33

Oh ffs, is Dellor really going to make regular cut aways for the Olympics? If I wanted to listen to the Olympics I wouldn't be listening to BBCRB.

 tidus_mi2

» 13 Aug 2016 15:43

Dominating possession again but not threatening at all, all Wolves.

There's the deserved goal for Wolves, Stam needs to change things in the 2nd half because this has all been Wolves so far.

 Anonymous

» 13 Aug 2016 15:47



All came from pissing around with it in our own box. Surely Stam will realise that sometimes in this league you need to just lump it.

 Longhorn1970

» 13 Aug 2016 16:08



Looks on ...


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