Reading at home match thread

[Jerseybean]

Eight games (four at home and four away) left and 24 points available. There will 20,000+ at Ashton Gate for this one, the Royals have sold more than 1,600 tickets for the trip along the M4.

Reading lost on their last visit to Ashton Gate in February 2022 after a late penalty from John Swift proved to just be a consolation after Antoine Semenyo’s opener and an own goal from Michael Morrison.

We were very poor at their place and didn’t register a single effort on goal and were beaten 2-0, when Mamadou Loum's first goal in a Reading shirt and the old war horse Andy Carroll's late match-sealing strike secured the three points for the Royals:

 

 

Loum will be missing for this game after getting a red card against Blackburn. In fact they might be quite depleted according to this https://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/seven-injured-two-set-return-26526177?_ga=2.53186536.1521561589.1679475937-504762577.1679475936

Reading stopped a run of four successive defeats prior to the international break with a 1-1 draw against Hull City, but are winless in the last five.

Shane Long is among those who will be forced to sit out the game in BS3. Central defenders Tom McIntyre and Sam Hutchinson, who have 46 league appearances between them this season are also absent including back-up option Liam Moore. Junior Hoilett (32 appearances), Ovie Ejaria and 20-year-old midfielder Dejan Tetek will also be absent.

They are likely to welcome back two players including forward Yakou Meite who has been out for almost a month. The 27-year-old has been an important player for Reading this season with 24 appearances, scoring three and assisting three. Left-back Baba Rahman will also come back into the frame after picking up an ankle injury around six weeks ago. He has featured 18 times across the Championship during the campaign.

Mark Sykes will miss this game plus those against Stoke City, Middlesbrough and Watford following his four match suspension. Nigel Pearson has also confirmed that Alex Scott suffered a minor knee ligament injury on international duty, which will rule him out of this game.

NP provided this injury update:

So Conway, James are likely to be involved, while Naismith will be missing still.

NP presser:

 

 

Anis Mehmeti presser:

 

 

Rob Matthews 29/05/62 - 14/03/23: Rob was a big supporter of BCFC since his teenage years and a season ticket holder for 30 years rarely missed a game. He loved the atmosphere, the singing and banter at each game and will be missed by all who knew him.

If you’re attending the the game this Saturday can you please join his family and friends on the 60th minute for one minute clap.

The man in charge is Staffordshire official Stephen Martin who is the son of former Premier League referee Andy, who officiated during the 1990s. He took charge of his first Championship game during the 2012/13 season. He has issued 59 yellows and two red cards so far this season and this will be the second City game of the season he's refereed after the 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United at Ashton Gate in November. He will be assisted by Craig Taylor and Matthew McGrath. The fourth official is Carl Brook.

Celebs who support Reading include, Damian Green (politician) he’s an avid follower of the Royals. The club are in his twitter bio and he has been following Reading for a good number of years. Chris Tarrant is probably one of the most well-known Reading supporters. He's been popular on television for years and was a brilliant host of 'Who wants to be a millionaire?'. He was pictured at the play-off final defeat to Swansea and has been a Reading fan all of his life, and still regularly watches the side.

Kate Winslet is from the area, and there have been murmurs that her family go and watch the Royals regularly. Ricky Gervais is a well-known Royals supporter and has made references to his support of the club in different movies and series that he's made. The comedian/actor had a flag made for him by Reading fans that read 'Guilty, I support Reading' which was a famous line from his series The Office. Irwin Sparkes (the lead singer of The Hoosiers) has attended Reading games and has lived around the area for a number of years.

Players who have played for both clubs include, Scott Murray, Leroy Lita, Kaliffa Cisse, Nicky Shorey, Alex Pearce, Chris Martin and Sam Baldock, https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/sport/23065771.bristol-city-reading-fc-six-played/

In November 2021 they were deducted six points as a result of exceeding the EFL’s Profit and Sustainability limits. They issued this statement: https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2021/november/17/club-statement---efl-confirm-points-deduction-penalty-/ which concluded with ‘In the long-term, we pledge to fix the issues of the past and together build a club capable of competing with the very best and challenging for honours.’ The reality, however, is they may again be deducted six points, as the initial sanction included that a further six point penalty was suspended until 2022-23. This will be applied if the club cannot fulfill an agreed business plan going forward.  https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64835869

Reading have the very worst away record in the division (11 points from 57 available so far) and only Rotherham have scored less away (11). However, last time out, at Blackburn, Reading had the temerity to actually score a goal (the 12th) and their first on the road in 2023. With eight games to go, Paul Ince’s side currently sit nine points above the relegation zone in 18th. However, as noted, they are still anxiously awaiting a decision over a possible six-point deduction after it was reported weeks ago that the club allegedly breached the business plan implemented with the EFL after previously breaching profit and sustainability rules.

Paul Ince took charge in 2022. A former midfielder, Ince played professionally from 1982 to 2007, starting his career with West Ham United and later representing Manchester United, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Swindon Town and Macclesfield Town, as well as Inter Milan. With a combined total of 271 league appearances for the two, Ince is one of the few players, especially in the Premier League era, to have represented both of arch rivals Liverpool and Manchester United.

We have a close head to head record, having won 41, lost 42 and drawn 20 times against them.

Andy May will be in attendance.

 

 

In January they signed midfielder Cesare Casadei on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season.

Reading hold the record for the number of successive league wins at the start of a season, with a total of 13 wins at the start of the 1985–86 Third Division campaign and also the record for the number of points gained in a professional league season with 106 points in the 2005–06 Football League Championship campaign.

Dai Yongge and Dai Xiu Li acquired Reading FC in 2017 with a bold vision to return the club to the Premier League and expand the club's stadium.  The pair worked for the family business Renhe Commercial Holdings from the early 1990s and specialised in converting former bomb shelters into shopping malls to cater for the rising Chinese middle class.

In 2008, the company was listed on the Hing Kong stock exchange and had a valuation of £1.06 billion.

The family now operate through a new company, China Dili, which is based in the Caribbean’s Cayman Islands tax haven with a focus now geared to the agricultural sector.

On this day in 2019 we announced the Robins’ blue kit, see photo.

Bristol City angered their own fans by presenting a blue shirt. Supporters are very protective of their traditions, so Bristol City’s wind-up about changing their shirt colour from red to blue found a vociferous audience in 2019. The club said the strip was inspired by the Robins' 1909 FA Cup final shirt, which was a dark turquoise shade. They obviously failed to notice the elephant in the room, namely the fact that rival clubs Bristol Rovers and Cardiff City wore blue. Plenty of angry fans were duped before the joke dawned on them. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-city-reveal-brave-new-2707162

Given that it’s April Fool’s Day have a go at this Beano quiz: https://www.beano.com/posts/april-fools-quiz

COYR!

 

 

 

 

 

[RFCLACOSTE]

Any chance the game will be called off with the rain expected today and tomorrow? 

[OliOTIB]

Team for tomorrow, whaat we thinking then?

[RFCLACOSTE]

Game likely to be even on with 48 hours of tain expected?

[WWred]

that due to the volume of injuries the club will be offering raffle tickets and those lucky few chosen will be on the bench

[Gazred]

1 minute ago, WWred said:

that due to the volume of injuries the club will be offering raffle tickets and those lucky few chosen will be on the bench

Mascots will be invited to stay on the pitch, provided they are wearing full kit.

[OliOTIB]

5 minutes ago, Gazred said:

Mascots will be invited to stay on the pitch, provided they are wearing full kit.

And shin pads

[Redandproud]

36 minutes ago, RFCLACOSTE said:

Any chance the game will be called off with the rain expected today and tomorrow? 

No chance, we've got undersoil heating and drainage, 

[RFCLACOSTE]

Good news. Although undersold heating doesn't stop rain. 

[Davefevs]

28 minutes ago, OliOTIB said:

Team for tomorrow, whaat we thinking then?

Not a clue.  In my head I saw Naismith coming back in at CB, and Pring back to LB….but with Kal still getting fit,  that is out if the window.

Can see Nige returning to a front 2 with Mehmeti in behind, and Weimann into midfield.

[Jimbo76]

Slightly selfish post.......attending tomorrow with my lad for his first trip from Devon up to AG (8th birthday present......poor boy).

Unfortunately, I've had a foot op recently and can't walk much. Is there a reliable bus service from Temple Meads or am I looking at a Taxi?

...... and he really wanted to see Alex Scott

Thanks

[View from the Dolman]

4 minutes ago, Jimbo76 said:

Slightly selfish post.......attending tomorrow with my lad for his first trip from Devon up to AG (8th birthday present......poor boy).

Unfortunately, I've had a foot op recently and can't walk much. Is there a reliable bus service from Temple Meads or am I looking at a Taxi?

...... and he really wanted to see Alex Scott

Thanks

The club's AG3 bus service runs from Temple Meads to Ashton Gate - details here: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/travel/

[Port Said Red]

2 hours ago, RFCLACOSTE said:

Good news. Although undersold heating doesn't stop rain. 

You're OK, it's Ashton Gate home of Bristol City, not the Memorial where the team in blue quarters call off games just because they have had a few injuries that coincide with a few showers. Our 4G pitch is fine, even with all the rugby being played on it.

[Major Isewater]

We mustn’t forget , or must we? , the Steve Coppell link. Uncle Steve thought he’d bought a ticket to the Prem employing the record breaking ex-Reading manager. 
Then , in true City fashion, it went chest up as Mr C found a holiday in Thailand more to his taste than a promotion push at Ashton Gate. 
No one will ever really know all the ‘ins and outs ‘ of this sorry relationship suffice to say that he is not held in any great affection here and he made things even worse for himself by helping Ragass Rovers in recent times. 

[Robbored]

Reading will be missing several first teamers, including Shane Long. Hopefully that’ll be to City’s advantage.

[ralphindevon]

1 hour ago, Jimbo76 said:

Slightly selfish post.......attending tomorrow with my lad for his first trip from Devon up to AG (8th birthday present......poor boy).

Unfortunately, I've had a foot op recently and can't walk much. Is there a reliable bus service from Temple Meads or am I looking at a Taxi?

...... and he really wanted to see Alex Scott

Thanks

There’s a chance he’ll get to see Alex’s flat mate and fellow rising star Tommy Conway at some point.

It used to be useless but as View from the Dolman has pointed out, now there’s a decent service to and from Temple Meads.

Hope you both have a good day.

[Redandproud]

2 hours ago, RFCLACOSTE said:

Good news. Although undersold heating doesn't stop rain. 

No, but underground drainage does, 

[Jerseybean]

OS match preview: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/match-preview-reading-h/

[Curr Avon]

3 hours ago, RFCLACOSTE said:

Good news. Although undersold heating doesn't stop rain. 

Is it never knowingly undersold heating?

[Betty Swallocks]

The pitch will be able to take the rain fine, it’s the rugby lot digging up the soft surface which might be the issue. 

[BigTone]

5 hours ago, Jerseybean said:

Eight games (four at home and four away) left and 24 points available. There will 20,000+ at Ashton Gate for this one, the Royals have sold more than 1,600 tickets for the trip along the M4.

Reading lost on their last visit to Ashton Gate in February 2022 after a late penalty from John Swift proved to just be a consolation after Antoine Semenyo’s opener and an own goal from Michael Morrison.

We were very poor at their place and didn’t register a single effort on goal and were beaten 2-0, when Mamadou Loum's first goal in a Reading shirt and the old war horse Andy Carroll's late match-sealing strike secured the three points for the Royals:

 

 

Loum will be missing for this game after getting a red card against Blackburn. In fact they might be quite depleted according to this https://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/seven-injured-two-set-return-26526177?_ga=2.53186536.1521561589.1679475937-504762577.1679475936

Reading stopped a run of four successive defeats prior to the international break with a 1-1 draw against Hull City, but are winless in the last five.

Shane Long is among those who will be forced to sit out the game in BS3. Central defenders Tom McIntyre and Sam Hutchinson, who have 46 league appearances between them this season are also absent including back-up option Liam Moore. Junior Hoilett (32 appearances), Ovie Ejaria and 20-year-old midfielder Dejan Tetek will also be absent.

They are likely to welcome back two players including forward Yakou Meite who has been out for almost a month. The 27-year-old has been an important player for Reading this season with 24 appearances, scoring three and assisting three. Left-back Baba Rahman will also come back into the frame after picking up an ankle injury around six weeks ago. He has featured 18 times across the Championship during the campaign.

Mark Sykes will miss this game plus those against Stoke City, Middlesbrough and Watford following his four match suspension. Nigel Pearson has also confirmed that Alex Scott suffered a minor knee ligament injury on international duty, which will rule him out of this game.

NP provided this injury update:

So Conway, James are likely to be involved, while Naismith will be missing still.

NP presser:

 

 

Anis Mehmeti presser:

 

 

Rob Matthews 29/05/62 - 14/03/23: Rob was a big supporter of BCFC since his teenage years and a season ticket holder for 30 years rarely missed a game. He loved the atmosphere, the singing and banter at each game and will be missed by all who knew him.

If you’re attending the the game this Saturday can you please join his family and friends on the 60th minute for one minute clap.

The man in charge is Staffordshire official Stephen Martin who is the son of former Premier League referee Andy, who officiated during the 1990s. He took charge of his first Championship game during the 2012/13 season. He has issued 59 yellows and two red cards so far this season and this will be the second City game of the season he's refereed after the 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United at Ashton Gate in November. He will be assisted by Craig Taylor and Matthew McGrath. The fourth official is Carl Brook.

Celebs who support Reading include, Damian Green (politician) he’s an avid follower of the Royals. The club are in his twitter bio and he has been following Reading for a good number of years. Chris Tarrant is probably one of the most well-known Reading supporters. He's been popular on television for years and was a brilliant host of 'Who wants to be a millionaire?'. He was pictured at the play-off final defeat to Swansea and has been a Reading fan all of his life, and still regularly watches the side.

Kate Winslet is from the area, and there have been murmurs that her family go and watch the Royals regularly. Ricky Gervais is a well-known Royals supporter and has made references to his support of the club in different movies and series that he's made. The comedian/actor had a flag made for him by Reading fans that read 'Guilty, I support Reading' which was a famous line from his series The Office. Irwin Sparkes (the lead singer of The Hoosiers) has attended Reading games and has lived around the area for a number of years.

Players who have played for both clubs include, Scott Murray, Leroy Lita, Kaliffa Cisse, Nicky Shorey, Alex Pearce, Chris Martin and Sam Baldock, https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/sport/23065771.bristol-city-reading-fc-six-played/

In November 2021 they were deducted six points as a result of exceeding the EFL’s Profit and Sustainability limits. They issued this statement: https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2021/november/17/club-statement---efl-confirm-points-deduction-penalty-/ which concluded with ‘In the long-term, we pledge to fix the issues of the past and together build a club capable of competing with the very best and challenging for honours.’ The reality, however, is they may again be deducted six points, as the initial sanction included that a further six point penalty was suspended until 2022-23. This will be applied if the club cannot fulfill an agreed business plan going forward.  https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64835869

Reading have the very worst away record in the division (11 points from 57 available so far) and only Rotherham have scored less away (11). However, last time out, at Blackburn, Reading had the temerity to actually score a goal (the 12th) and their first on the road in 2023. With eight games to go, Paul Ince’s side currently sit nine points above the relegation zone in 18th. However, as noted, they are still anxiously awaiting a decision over a possible six-point deduction after it was reported weeks ago that the club allegedly breached the business plan implemented with the EFL after previously breaching profit and sustainability rules.

Paul Ince took charge in 2022. A former midfielder, Ince played professionally from 1982 to 2007, starting his career with West Ham United and later representing Manchester United, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Swindon Town and Macclesfield Town, as well as Inter Milan. With a combined total of 271 league appearances for the two, Ince is one of the few players, especially in the Premier League era, to have represented both of arch rivals Liverpool and Manchester United.

We have a close head to head record, having won 41, lost 42 and drawn 20 times against them.

Andy May will be in attendance.

 

 

In January they signed midfielder Cesare Casadei on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season.

Reading hold the record for the number of successive league wins at the start of a season, with a total of 13 wins at the start of the 1985–86 Third Division campaign and also the record for the number of points gained in a professional league season with 106 points in the 2005–06 Football League Championship campaign.

Dai Yongge and Dai Xiu Li acquired Reading FC in 2017 with a bold vision to return the club to the Premier League and expand the club's stadium.  The pair worked for the family business Renhe Commercial Holdings from the early 1990s and specialised in converting former bomb shelters into shopping malls to cater for the rising Chinese middle class.

In 2008, the company was listed on the Hing Kong stock exchange and had a valuation of £1.06 billion.

The family now operate through a new company, China Dili, which is based in the Caribbean’s Cayman Islands tax haven with a focus now geared to the agricultural sector.

On this day in 2019 we announced the Robins’ blue kit, see photo.

Bristol City angered their own fans by presenting a blue shirt. Supporters are very protective of their traditions, so Bristol City’s wind-up about changing their shirt colour from red to blue found a vociferous audience in 2019. The club said the strip was inspired by the Robins' 1909 FA Cup final shirt, which was a dark turquoise shade. They obviously failed to notice the elephant in the room, namely the fact that rival clubs Bristol Rovers and Cardiff City wore blue. Plenty of angry fans were duped before the joke dawned on them. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-city-reveal-brave-new-2707162

Given that it’s April Fool’s Day have a go at this Beano quiz: https://www.beano.com/posts/april-fools-quiz

COYR!

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Version 

Reading::

Try the Beano quiz

COYR

[spudski]

13 minutes ago, Betty Swallocks said:

The pitch will be able to take the rain fine, it’s the rugby lot digging up the soft surface which might be the issue. 

Yes just realised it's Bristol at home tonight. In this rain it could be a poor pitch tomorrow 

[Leveller]

1 hour ago, spudski said:

Yes just realised it's Bristol at home tonight. In this rain it could be a poor pitch tomorrow 

Playing on consecutive days is crazy.

[ChippenhamRed]

21,000 tickets sold for this game now. I don’t quite understand how or why given we’ve got nothing to play for, sat in midtable, in fairly poor form, with long injury list - and unremarkable opposition!

Genuinely quite puzzled by it

[tin]

6 hours ago, OliOTIB said:

Team for tomorrow, whaat we thinking then?

—————-O’Leary———-

Tanner—Vyner—Pring—Dasilva

———James—Taylor-Clarke—

Cornick—-Weimann—Mehmeti

——————Wells—————

The back five should pick itself, Nige has been very complimentary about OTC, King might get the nod over James, same with Bell over Mehmeti or Cornick. Other than that, I don’t see what else we can do. 

[glynriley]

12 minutes ago, ChippenhamRed said:

21,000 tickets sold for this game now. I don’t quite understand how or why given we’ve got nothing to play for, sat in midtable, in fairly poor form, with long injury list - and unremarkable opposition!

Genuinely quite puzzled by it

We're not roverzzz. Our fans don't only turn up because there's something to play for or the opposition is attractive.

I'm puzzled that you're puzzled.

[bcfc01]

12 minutes ago, tin said:

—————-O’Leary———-

Tanner—Vyner—Pring—Dasilva

———James—Taylor-Clarke—

Cornick—-Weimann—Mehmeti

——————Wells—————

The back five should pick itself, Nige has been very complimentary about OTC, King might get the nod over James, same with Bell over Mehmeti or Cornick. Other than that, I don’t see what else we can do. 

The refereeing is shocking, but even they could see the problem with that line up..

Edited March 31 by bcfc01

[Jerseybean]

Programme: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/harvey-wiles-richards-in-the-robins-online-programme/

[Countryfile]

23 minutes ago, ChippenhamRed said:

21,000 tickets sold for this game now. I don’t quite understand how or why given we’ve got nothing to play for, sat in midtable, in fairly poor form, with long injury list - and unremarkable opposition!

Genuinely quite puzzled by it

Couldn’t agree more, 13K season tickets? 3K from Reading? We’ve sold circa 5K to members and general sale? I stand to be corrected on away sales and STs but still a remarkable figure given the circumstances, and the cost of living crises etc.

[Major Isewater]

25 minutes ago, ChippenhamRed said:

21,000 tickets sold for this game now. I don’t quite understand how or why given we’ve got nothing to play for, sat in midtable, in fairly poor form, with long injury list - and unremarkable opposition!

Genuinely quite puzzled by it

They’re all coming to see Alex Scott.