29 September 2017
By Hob Nob Anyone?
In form Norwich City come to Reading this weekend on the back of two straight away wins in a run of five league games undefeated. Ominously for Reading, the Canaries have kept five straight clean sheets in the League - which could be a problem for a Reading side that has struggled to find the net this season. Reading are nine Championship games into the season and are yet to score a league goal in the opening 45 minutes of a match. With that in mind, and Jaap Stam asking negative fans not to attend, there's not a big incentive to rush to this fixture. On top of that kick-off is at 5:30pm at the Madejski Stadium to allow Sky TV to screen the game live. It feels a strange choice of fixture given Reading's recent lack of entertainment.
Unless something is dramatically different with this match, it seems a reasonable bet it could develop into a big switch off for the neutral fan. However, something has to change, and hopefully this is the match where Reading can start positive and actually take a lead in at the half time break. It has to happen at some point this season. Things will have to change if Reading fans are going to be satisfied at half time. The Royals have gone five games without a win in all competitions and have scored just three goals in those five games. The Royals have scored just one goal in their last three home games, and that was an 87th minute equaliser from the boot of Bodvarsson, who Stam seems so keen to leave on the bench. Reading are clear leaders of the Championship possession table, but are 21st for goals scored and have only scored 4 goals in the league from open play all season. Possession alone does not win points.
After a poor run of form, Stam finds himself under some unexpected early season pressure. It may be early days still, but another Reading defeat would leave Reading fans looking at the relegation positions and Stam forced to justify himself to both fans and owners. There is expectation that the Reading manager will shuffle his squad around again for this match to try and earn some points. Will that mean that Reading will play a striker? With Kermorgant and Mendes still both out through injury, will Bodvarsson get a start? Stam may well have Mo Barrow back in his squad after the player completes his return from a knee injury, but Jordan Obita remains out after being stretched off the pitch at the end of the home draw against Hull City.
The last time Reading faced Norwich was in April when we were on the wrong end of a 1-7 scoreline at Carrow Road after being 1-6 down after just 41 minutes. Earlier last season we had much more success with a 3-1 home win. Kermorgant, McCleary and Harriott scored the goals for Reading on Boxing Day - but only after a very poor first half of entertainment. Kermorgant's goal came just before the break and Reading then went on to secure an impressive victory. So, perhaps the same again isn't that unlikely after all, and would provide much relief all round at Reading FC.
| DATE | COMPETITION | OPPOSITION | SCORE | REPORT |
| 08 April 2017 | Championship | Norwich (Away) | L: 1-7 | Read report... |
| 26 December 2016 | Championship | Norwich (HOME) | W: 3-1 | Read report... |
| 28 December 2014 | Championship | Norwich (HOME) | W: 2-1 | Read report... |
| 29 November 2014 | Championship | Norwich (Away) | W: 2-1 | Read report... |
| 20 April 2013 | Premier League | Norwich (Away) | L: 1-2 | Read report... |
| 10 November 2012 | Premier League | Norwich (HOME) | D: 0-0 | Read report... |
| 12 February 2011 | Championship | Norwich (Away) | L: 1-2 | Read report... |
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