News and Views
Reading Hope To Avoid Another Away Defeat
16 December 2016
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading hit the road again this weekend for the trip to Blackburn Rovers - and will be hoping to avoid a third consecutive away defeat to nil. Reading's last two away games have seen a 0-5 stuffing at Fulham and a 0-2 reverse at Leeds United. Those defeats have been surrounded by home wins to keep Reading in the top three in the Championship. Blackburn should give a different type of challenge to the Royals as they remain in the bottom three - despite last months 1-0 away win over league leaders Newcastle. Since then Rovers have picked up just a point but suffered narrow 2-3 defeats at the hands of Preston and second placed Brighton. The season may have been tough on Blackburn so far but they are certainly showing signs of recovery as they look to climb out of the bottom three before the end of the year.
The home side have a defensive crisis going on with four central defenders ruled out. Charlie Mulgrew, Tommie Hoban and Elliott Ward are likely to miss out through injury and Gordon Greer is suspended for the visit of Reading. Reading will be without Danny Williams as he completes his suspension and John Swift is not yet ready to return to action. That means Jaap Stam is likely to keep a similar line up to the midweek defeat at Leeds.
The Royals dominated possession against Leeds on Tuesday but failed to create much up front, leading the home fans to label Stam's side as "boring". That label is unlikely to stop Stam adopting a similar approach this Saturday after he claimed Reading had played well at Elland Road and deserved something from the game. Reading will be hoping for possession football with an end product to improve their record away from the Madejski Stadium.
Reading have won just once against Blackburn in their last ten attempts. That win came last season, almost exactly a year ago, when Danny Williams scored the only goal of the game at the Madejski Stadium. With recent history, and Reading's recent away results, Blackburn are favourites for the win:
- Blackburn Win: 8/5
- Draw: 12/5
- Reading Win: 19/10
Recent Meetings With BLACKBURN
| DATE | COMPETITION | OPPOSITION | SCORE | REPORT |
| 07 May 2016 | Championship | Blackburn (Away) | L: 1-3 | Read report... |
| 20 December 2015 | Championship | Blackburn (HOME) | W: 1-0 | Read report... |
| 11 April 2015 | Championship | Blackburn (HOME) | D: 0-0 | Read report... |
| 01 November 2014 | Championship | Blackburn (Away) | L: 1-3 | Read report... |
| 22 February 2014 | Championship | Blackburn (HOME) | L: 0-1 | Read report... |
| 23 November 2013 | Championship | Blackburn (Away) | D: 0-0 | Read report... |
| 29 March 2008 | Premiership | Blackburn (HOME) | D: 0-0 | Read report... |
| 20 October 2007 | Premiership | Blackburn (Away) | L: 2-4 | Read report... |
| 13 May 2007 | Premiership | Blackburn (Away) | D: 3-3 | Read report... |
| 16 December 2006 | Premiership | Blackburn (HOME) | L: 1-2 | Read report... |
| Reading and Blackburn - Head to head record (since August 1994) | |
| Games Between Reading and Blackburn | 10 |
| Reading Wins | 1 |
| Blackburn Wins | 5 |
| Draws | 4 |
| Reading Goals | 9 |
| Blackburn Goals | 16 |
| Average Goals Per Game | 2.5 |
Discussion On This Story:
Sutekh
And it's straight back up north to visit Blackburn again only 7 months or so since Brian took charge of his last Reading game as manager and brought the curtain down on a truly miserable season.
The club will be traveling north tomorrow with a little bit more hope than the last visit but will still need to be wary as their last two trips on the road have seen completely forgettable performances and no goals scored but seven conceded. While not a front runner Blackburn are always a big problem for Reading as wins over them are about as common as Graeme Murty goals..
Indeed Blackburn are capable of springing surprises despite them struggling at the bottom of the division, a 1-0 win at Newcastle three weeks ago would prove that so if anyone thinks Reading only have to present themselves on the day they're going to be in for a rude awakening.
On the team front Blackburn will be without Gordon Greer (suspended), Tommie Hoban (shoulder), Elliott Ward (ankle), Adam Henley (hamstring) and Charlie Mulgrew (groin). In addition Corry Evans (groin) is doubtful. Wes Brown is standing by to make his Championship debut and both former Royals Danny Guthrie and Hope Akpan could play some part in covering the myriad of injuries.
Reading will see Danny Williams serve his last gameofn a 3 match ban. Jordan Obita and John Swift will both be missing although could be back for the games after Christmas. Deniss Rakels and Ansi Jaakkola complete those missing through injury and/or a general lack of fitness.
Referee
Lancashire's Jeremy Simpson is due to be demonstrating whistlesome frolics
Previously with Mr Simpson
09 Sep 2016 > Reading 2-1 Ipswich Town (managed to book 9 players)
16 Apr 2016 > Leeds United 3-2 Reading
09 Jan 2016 > Huddersfield Town 2-2 Reading (FA Cup 3)
20 Oct 2015 > Rotherham United 1-1 Reading
If you're of the betting type would suggest placing money on result where both teams score if those previous games with this referee are anything to go by.
Historically
Ewood Park is a bit of a bad place for Reading in that not one win of any description has ever been recorded there for the club, but then we've only ever shared 8 seasons so there was hardly ever likely to be a catalogue of successes. That said we have managed 4 draws in those 8 visits so it's not always quite a bleak as you'd think.
Overall Reading have only beaten Blackburn once in the last 13 league games so quite definitely owe them something
Sutekh
Subs : Moore S, Kermorgant, Cooper, Meite, Watson, Harriott, Wieser
Blackburn XI : Steele, Wiiliams, Lowe, Brown, Akpan, Marshall, Graham, Emnes, Gallagher, Lenihan, Conway
Subs : Raya, Feeney, Byrne, Stokes, Nyambe, Bennett, Wharton
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