Kermorgant Gets New Deal Ahead Of Barnsley Game

10 February 2017
By Hob Nob Anyone?

It's been another good week for Reading as they prepare to face Barnsley at the Madejski Stadium this Saturday afternoon. Last night Jaap Stam was confirmed as the Championship's manager of the month for January and today Yann Kermorgant put pen to paper to extend his contract at Reading until the summer of 2018. That followed a very positive injury update from Stam in the week which confirmed a number of key players are on the verge of returning to action. Following a successful transfer window that saw a number of Premier League loan players come in, things are looking very positive indeed around the club as they sit third in the Championship table.

A quick glance at the current Championship table reveals Saturday's game is a big opportunity to move ahead of a play-off rival. Barnsley are four points outside the play-off positions, but a Reading victory would pull Reading a huge 14 points clear of the Tykes. It's getting to the stage of the season where victories over teams like Barnsley become a huge step towards securing a top six finish at the end of the season. If things go according to plan then Reading could be looking more likely to to finish in the top six than not, giving us a huge chance to chase that unexpected promotion. A Reading win will see fans looking out for results of the top two; Brighton are at home to Burton and league leaders Newcastle United travel to Wolves. The top two will be expected to pick up further wins there.

Barnsley had gained ground on the top six until picking up just a single point from their last two games. Their last game was a 0-0 home draw against Preston North End, and before that they suffered a hugely disappointing 1-3 home defeat to Championship strugglers Wolves. Any points at Reading would be a big result for them as they look to stay in touch. Reading are of course in great form, with last weekend's 2-2 away draw at Ipswich following on from three straight victories. Earlier this season we were 2-1 winners away at Barnsley with McCleary and Swift both scoring inside the opening half an hour.

As revealed in the week, Paul McShane and Joey van den Berg are expected to miss the home games against Barnsley and Brentford (Tuesday night). The Royals will also still be without Stephen Quinn and Deniss Rakels who are also on the verge of returning to first team action - if they can find a place in the side with competition for places hotter than ever at the club. Visitors Barnsley find themselves without midfielder Alex Mowatt who will be out suspended.

Recent Meetings With Barnsley

Graphics supplied by KickOff.

Discussion On This Story:

 Sutekh

» 10 Feb 2017 10:06

Reading return the Madejski Stadium to face another awkward challenge, this time from a fairly useful Barnsley who are lurking just outside the playoffs and have a good away record in recent games with 3 wins out of their last 4 trips. I presume they'll come down and try and hassle Reading into their usual panic ridden defensive mistakes from the start rather than just plonk the bus, bulldozer and whatever else they have in front of the goal and wait for a breakaway.

So the standard cliche dictates Reading need to be patient (well they're quite good any that, in fact rather too good at times) and work hard for one and all to get something from this as turning up expecting them to just... well you know the rest.

Reading will be without; Paul McShane, Daniss Rakels, Callum Harriott, Stephen Quinn, Tiago Ilori and Joey van den Berg. Barnsley have new signing Alex Mowatt serving the second game of a three match. Aidy White and Adam Jackson are also out (one is injured the other is unwell). They could give a full debut to ex Swansea striker Ryan Hedges who was signed on transfer deadline day.

And Garath McCleary will be hoping to complete a full 90 minutes rather than 30 minutes or so he managed at Oakwell...

Referee

Lancashire's Darren Bond will be taking ownership of the match day whistle and notebook on his first trip to the Madejski



Previous games

13 Aug 16 > Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 Reading
14 Mar 2015 > Watford 4-1 Reading
30 Aug 2014 > Middlesbrough 0-1 Reading

Historically

Making their 33rd league trip to Reading, Barnsley will be looking for their third successive victory at the ground, yet they've only won 6 of the previous 32 games in total compared to Reading's 17 victories. Of the 9 league draws in Reading, 7 of them have finished 0-0 and rather interestingly Reading have scored in every game they've won

Reply

 genome

» 10 Feb 2017 10:17

No shit

Reply

 Ian Royal

» 11 Feb 2017 14:16

That's only 10 players... I'm assuming you missed McCleary (checked and that's right)

So presumably one of

........................AAH
Gunter, Moore, Blackett, Obita
.........Williams, Evans, Kelly
..McCleary, Kermorgant, Beerens

or

...........................AAH
............Gunter, Moore, Blackett

With one of McCleary, Williams or Beerens playing RWB and the other two in midfield and partnering Kermit.

EDIT: Whoscored.com (not necessarily accurate) have it as 3-4-2-1

AAH
Gunter, Moore, Blackett
Williams, Kelly, Evans, Obita
Beerens, McCleary
Kermorgant

Now changed to 4-2-3-1 - clearly they're just guessing
Gunter, Moore, Blackett, Obita
Williams Evans
McCleary, Kelly, Beerens
Kermorgant

Reply

 Libertine

» 11 Feb 2017 16:19

Tykes just hit the woodwork.

Reply

 i_kingsley

» 11 Feb 2017 16:23

whoo hooo im on the first page
thats a first for me


very dull on this site
is it that dull at the game

Reply

 Emeraldroyal

» 11 Feb 2017 16:58

False fourth

Reply

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