News and Views
Fog Forecast As Reading And Fulham Try Again
24 January 2017
By Alex Bower
"We are ready to play a very good Fulham side once more. We know our opponents play good possession football and we're all aware of the quality they possess, so we need to try to make it difficult for them and hopefully get ourselves a win."
- Reading FC Manager Jaap Stam
"It is a massive game - every game in the Championship is massive, because everyone wants to be up there fighting to be in the play-offs and chasing everyone that's above them. So it's massive for us, and it'll be massive for them as well."
- Reading FC Midfielder John Swift
"The abandonment was a bit strange. It was lucky the game was level because otherwise I'm sure it would have been a bit controversial. We have to show Reading respect because they are ahead of us in the table. They play a similar passing style to us, so we are wary of them."
- Fulham Goalkeeper David Button
Due to a somewhat controversial postponement, Reading FC face Fulham on Tuesday evening for the third time this season. The last time the two sides met at the Madejski, the game was brought to a halt prior to the commencement of the second half because of foggy conditions.
Reading go into the rearranged game fifth in the Championship but have been suffering a dip in form of late. The Royals have now succumbed to two narrow league defeats against QPR and Derby following their 4-0 FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United. Fulham, meanwhile, are in ninth having won two, drawn one and lost one so far this month. Last time out they managed a 1-1 draw against a QPR side who have recently beaten the Royals.
The reverse fixture between the two sides earlier in the season is one that Reading will be hoping to avenge. Fulham won the game 5-0 courtesy of goals from Reading's own Chris Gunter, a brace from Chris Martin, Sone Aluko and Stefan Johansen.
If Reading are to get back to winning ways, they will have to do so without left-back Jordan Obita who is absent through suspension. Jaap Stam, however, has no new injury worries going into the game. Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic also has no new injury concerns but Floyd Ayite and Neeskens Kebano are away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Based on the first-half of the abandoned fixture, it will be a tough game for the Royals. Both sides play in a similar fashion so it will be hard to break the away side down. Ryan Fredericks is a continuous threat for Fulham from the full-back position and has already shown that he has the beating of the Reading defence. The Lilywhites will also be boosted by the availability of Chris Martin, who did not feature last time out due to drama surrounding his loan.
If Reading are serious about contending for promotion, however, these are the kinds of games they have to be winning. Losing three league games on the bounce would also have an unwelcome impact on confidence so this is the time to string some positive results together.
Tonight's forecast: Dense fog with a severe weather warning due to poor visibility!
Discussion On This Story:
BonBoh
During their two away matches in December, Fulham scored 4 goals at Wolves (a 4-4 draw) and 2 goals at Ipswich (a 2-0 win). They also played three home matches, scoring 5 vs Royals (a result skewered by Danny Williams's sending off at 2-0 in the 2nd half). They beat Rotherham 2-1 and then drew 2-2 with high-flying Derby. They have therefore scored a minimum of 2 goals in every match played since the start of December.
My prediction: Royals 1 Fulham 2
OLLIE KEARNS
Moore was serving his suspension in that game and we collapsed after going down to 10 men with the score at 2-0.
Shouldn't need any switch in formation unless it's purely tactical.
Not sure if you were at the game but we collapsed long before we went down to 10 men and we could easily have been 5-0 down at half time. Much of that came from their two full backs getting down the outside of us just about every time they went forward hence the desire to go 5 at the back against Fulham. To your point, it would indeed be purely tactical.
Woodcote Royal
Moore was serving his suspension in that game and we collapsed after going down to 10 men with the score at 2-0.
Shouldn't need any switch in formation unless it's purely tactical.
Not sure if you were at the game but we collapsed long before we went down to 10 men and we could easily have been 5-0 down at half time. Much of that came from their two full backs getting down the outside of us just about every time they went forward hence the desire to go 5 at the back against Fulham. To your point, it would indeed be purely tactical.
If Obita is still not fit I think Jaap should take a chance by giving Harriot the wing back role and reverting to 3 at the back. Blackett seems more suited to being a third centre half and this has not been helped by Beerens reluctance to track back.
Ainsley has been banging on the door again, give him a well deserved chance to shine.
harry
Not sure if you were at the game but we collapsed long before we went down to 10 men and we could easily have been 5-0 down at half time. Much of that came from their two full backs getting down the outside of us just about every time they went forward hence the desire to go 5 at the back against Fulham. To your point, it would indeed be purely tactical.
If Obita is still not fit I think Jaap should take a chance by giving Harriot the wing back role and reverting to 3 at the back. Blackett seems more suited to being a third centre half and this has not been helped by Beerens reluctance to track back.
Ainsley has been banging on the door again, give him a well deserved chance to shine.
Agree re Blackett being suited more to LCB role than LB.
Also agree Harriott deserve a start. Just not convinced he's a LWB.
I think we look best with 3 at the back with wing backs this season but it's very reliant on Obita as LWB or a.n.other who I have never seen play for us. Happy to be proved wrong if Harriott is that man.
Beerens is definitely not a wing back. Goes with my natural preference to see more of a workman like Stephen Hunt than an out & out technical skill merchant who is a bit lazy. Given a choice I'd have a Parky over Guthrie or Caskey any day while I recognise the limitations.
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