14 February 2020
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading travel to Sheffield Wednesday this weekend desperate to run a miserable run of league form. The Royals are without a league win since the very first day of the year - an away victory over Fulham that saw Reading top the form tables and climb to 14th place. After that result there was talk of a late run towards the play-offs. That dream has been well and truly shattered as the Royals have drifted back closer to the bottom three than the top six.
The reality, after just four points from the last seven league games, is that Reading's league season is over assuming they can pick up a few more points to avoid the drop. The focus will shift to the FA Cup, and the fifth round game against Premier League Sheffield United to come at the Madejski Stadium. United will be chasing European qualification so could rest a few players for the midweek game, you would expect Reading to field a strong team as they look to grab a last piece of excitement from another disappointing campaign.
Before all of that there are a whole series of league games to get through, starting with Saturday's game against 12th placed Sheffield Wednesday. Wednesday, like Reading, are also out of form with three defeats and two draws from their last five league fixtures. A win could keep their season alive with hopes of closing the gap on the top six, however they too look set for a mid-table finish.
There was good news for Reading this week as Lucas Joao returned to light training, but the former Wednesday striker will be ruled out for a few more weeks yet and won't face his old club. Chris Gunter will also remain sidelined with his groin injury and the Royals will also be without Miazga, McIntyre and Boye. Danny Loader is fit but it unlikely to be in the matchday squad after failing to make an impression on the first team.
New signing Araruna made a start for his new club on Wednesday night but failed to impress and may find himself back on the bench, making room for eithe Charlie Adam or Rinomhota who will be hoping for a start. It will be interesting to see if Puscas is dropped to the bench and if Baldock makes a start. Baldock seemed to be the better option in midweek. Puscas scored from the penalty spot to give Reading the lead against West Brom but had a limited contribution otherwise.
Reading started the season with a 1-3 home defeat against Sheffield Wednesday, which was the most recent in a run of six games without victory over the Owls. Last term we drew 0-0 on the road and lost at home and the 2017/2018 season saw another 0-0 draw at the Madejski but two defeats at Sheffield - one in the league and one in the FA Cup. If Reading are going to win this weekend it will be against form and recent history and it's the home side that will be firm favourites for the full three points.
| DATE | OPPOSITION | COMPETITION | SCORE | REPORT | ATT | POS |
| 03 August 2019 | Sheff Wed (HOME) | Championship | L: 1-3 | Report... | 16319 | 24 |
| 09 February 2019 | Sheff Wed (Away) | Championship | D: 0-0 | Report... | 23412 | 22 |
| 01 September 2018 | Sheff Wed (HOME) | Championship | L: 1-2 | Report... | 14352 | 23 |
| 21 April 2018 | Sheff Wed (Away) | Championship | L: 0-3 | Report... | 24373 | 19 |
| 26 January 2018 | Sheff Wed (Away) | FA Cup | L: 1-3 | Report... | - | |
| 25 November 2017 | Sheff Wed (HOME) | Championship | D: 0-0 | Report... | 18382 | 18 |
| 17 March 2017 | Sheff Wed (Away) | Championship | W: 2-0 | Report... | 26072 | 4 |
| 10 December 2016 | Sheff Wed (HOME) | Championship | W: 2-1 | Report... | 18153 | 3 |
| 23 January 2016 | Sheff Wed (HOME) | Championship | D: 1-1 | Report... | 18972 | 13 |
| 19 August 2015 | Sheff Wed (Away) | Championship | D: 1-1 | Report... | 20247 | 18 |
| 31 January 2015 | Sheff Wed (HOME) | Championship | W: 2-0 | Report... | 17755 | 16 |
| 20 September 2014 | Sheff Wed (Away) | Championship | L: 0-1 | Report... | 29848 | 10 |
| 08 February 2014 | Sheff Wed (HOME) | Championship | L: 0-2 | Report... | 19772 | 6 |
| 02 November 2013 | Sheff Wed (Away) | Championship | L: 2-5 | Report... | 20368 | 5 |
| Championship COMBINED FORM Table at: 14 February 2020 | ||||||||||||||
| Pl | W | D | L | F | A | GD | POINTS | LAST 6 GAMES | ||||||
| 17 | Luton Town | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 10 | -4 | 6 | LLWLLW | ||||
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 5 | WLLDDL | ||||
| 19 | Middlesbrough | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 4 | DLDDLD | ||||
| 20 | Barnsley | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 4 | WLLLDL | ||||
| 21 | Leeds United | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 4 | LLWLLD | ||||
| 22 | Queens Park Rangers | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 4 | LWLLLD | ||||
| 23 | READING | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 3 | LDLDDL | ||||
| 24 | Hull City | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 13 | -10 | 1 | LLLLDL | ||||
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