20 March 2015
By Alex Bower
Though it may feel like a lifetime ago already, it has been just five long days since Reading's
historical FA Cup Quarter-Final victory at the Madejski. With news about seat allocations
and ticket updates being released, Reading fans will be more than excited about their trip to
Wembley in April. Prior to that, however, the Royals must focus once again on building a run
in the Championship with the aim of mathematical safety. With four weeks to go until the
Semi-Final against Arsenal, Reading have five league matches to play before they can focus
on Wembley. Following their outstanding team performance against Bradford last time out,
the Royals will be hoping to pick up some more points before facing their toughest test this
season.
"Hopefully now the team has turned the corner, they realise what they have to do to get
results and we can continue that on Saturday at Charlton which is a difficult game."
-- Reading Manager Steve Clarke
This Saturday, Reading face 11th placed Charlton at The Valley. Last time out, the Addicks
beat the Royals at the Madejski 1-0, courtesy of an Igor Vetokele goal. Charlton may be
seven places ahead of Reading, but there is only a seven point difference between the sides.
With things looking tight in the middle of the table, it is all to play for coming into the last
leg of the season. Recent Charlton form has been positive, with six victories in their last
eight games under new manager Guy Luzon. Most of those victories have been against
lower league teams, with the exceptions being their home victories against Brentford back
in February and Nottingham Forest earlier this month. In their last match against
Championship strugglers Blackpool, Charlton were able to cruise to victory winning 3-0 away
from home. Specifically at home, the Addicks have won three of their last five games,
scoring eleven goals in the process.
Recent Reading form has not been so promising, with four victories from the last ten
Championship games. Their most recent game was away to league leaders Watford, who
dominated the game to beat the Royals 4-1. With Clarke fielding a much changed lineup
prior to the FA Cup Quarter-Final, this result did not come as much of a surprise. In the past
five Championship away matches, Reading have won two, drawn one and lost two. Having
beaten teams such as Ipswich and Wolves away from home most recently, Reading will be
hoping to beat an opponent of a similar ilk this time around as well. Fans will be hoping that
the players will still have their scoring boots on from Monday evening, as Reading have only
managed to score five goals in their last five away games. Against opposition who have
scored more than double that in their last five games at home, they will surely be tested at
the Valley. You have to go back as far as 2008 to find the last time Charlton were able to
beat Reading in the league at home, however, so the Royals will be optimistic.
In terms of the lineup, Steve Clarke has a pretty much fully fit squad to choose from with the
exception of Anton Ferdinand. Nathaniel Chalobah took a knock in Monday's FA Cup match
and was seen leaving in a protective boot, so he will be assessed going into the game. In
comparison, Charlton will have captain Johnnie Jackson, Rhoys Wiggins and Franck Moussa
all sidelined. In their last victory against Blackpool, manager Guy Luzon also chose to rest Tal
Ben-Haim and top goalscorer Vetokele who will probably be returned to the starting lineup.
With the likes of Andre Bikey and Simon Church in the side, who scored last time out, there
will be some familiar faces out to beat their old club.
With the FA Cup firmly on the minds of Reading fans, it is time now to build up a good run
over the next five league games. If Reading can start by picking up three points against
Charlton, and results down the bottom go their way, then they can almost be clear of the
drop zone.
| Reading and Charlton - Head to head record (since August 1994) | |
| Games Between Reading and Charlton | 16 |
| Reading Wins | 6 |
| Charlton Wins | 6 |
| Draws | 4 |
| Reading Goals | 18 |
| Charlton Goals | 19 |
| Average Goals Per Game | 2.31 |
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