11-01-2020, 09:44 AM
(This post was last modified: 11-01-2020, 09:51 AM by Joe Baker Legend.)
Reading v Forest 11-1-20
Pre Match comments...
More or less exactly 1 year since they last popped in to see us, Forest are back in town for the first game of an (almost) double header, the away game being due 11 days later.
Reading are in rather good form currently being unbeaten in 7 and having 4 successive league wins under their belt. Yet having seen such miserable form at the club for 2 seasons no-one should be getting too carried away with things just yet particularly as Forest themselves have won their last 3 league games and are sat 4th in the table so will present a formidable challenge.
One time Royal Lewis Grabban poses by far the biggest threat they have to offer with 14 goals from 25 games. Just goes to show how effective he can be when playing up front rather than masquerading as a midfielder under Jaap Stam's influence. The next highest scorer is the fairly useful Joe Lolley with 4 so cutting off supply to Grabban is going to be a must if Reading are to get anywhere with this one.
Forest appear to have been fairly free of injuries this season and been able to name reasonably unchanged line-ups with many players already on the 20+ league appearances mark so they are going to be settled and well versed in understanding each other's game. Reading also have been able to field largely unchanged teams recently so should make for an interesting game with quite probably not a lot in it.
Forest should be largely unchanged from their last game v Blackburn with only full back Chema being a doubt (like Reading, they fielded a reserve team in their tie in the FA Cup at Chelsea reserves). Reading should be nice and fresh after the lack of first team involvement against Blackpool though Moore is going to be a doubt with his shoulder problem so Miazga may start alongside Morrison but other than that I can't see any changes from the 11 that started v Fulham. Puscas should be fit enough to make it to the bench at least.
Referee
Dean Whitestone
Previously
19 Oct 2019 > Reading 1-0 Preston North End
12 Aug 2018 > Reading 2-0 Birmingham City (League Cup)
05 Apr 2016 > Reading 2-1 Nottm Forest
22 Mar 2014 > Birmingham City 1-2 Reading
23 Aug 2011 > Charlton Athletic 2-1 Reading (League Cup)
22 Feb 2011 > Reading 2-1 Millwall
17 Feb 2010 > Crystal Palace 1-3 Reading
07 Nov 2009 > Reading 1-1 Ipswich Town
26 Aug 2008 > Reading 5-1 Luton Town (League Cup)
Historically
Forest have made 21 previous visits to Reading for a league game with all but 4 being at Division 2 level. They have won on 6 of those visits and when Reading lose at home to Forest in the league they fail to score.
Reading have managed 10 wins from those 21 visits and have won the last 4 encounters at the Mad Stad so there is something to live up to.
Got to be careful of Forest. Read on their forum that they’ve not lost one second half yet this season. Added to that they haven’t dropped a single point away from home taking the lead, it’ll be a difficult game. Would go with the usual XI but bench competition fierce
Yep thought they were falling away but 3 wins have put them right back up there
No real reason but don’t have a great feeling about this game, seems we’re due a bit of bad luck
But yeah same team as Fulham etc
Hope Pele bosses them. Point to prove?
Doubt Moore will be fit.Dont know about Joao.
Why will Moore not be fit? He wears a sling after games most weeks, he needs an op. He can get through games carrying the injury normally
Really looking forward to this one. The two games against Forest coming up are the real acid test for our season, I think. 4+ points and I will consider us serious playoff contenders.
Sounds like they are a very effective away team. Happy to let us have the ball and hit us on the counter. Hopefully Adam, Swift and Ejaria have enough nous to break them down, while Pele can be effective at breaking up any counter attacks. It seems like we should have the balance we need.
This will be close. All down to keeping Lewis Grabban quiet - which I think we will. Forest will get a man sent off.
Reading 1-0 Forest HT
Reading 1-0 Forest FT
Pre Match comments...
More or less exactly 1 year since they last popped in to see us, Forest are back in town for the first game of an (almost) double header, the away game being due 11 days later.
Reading are in rather good form currently being unbeaten in 7 and having 4 successive league wins under their belt. Yet having seen such miserable form at the club for 2 seasons no-one should be getting too carried away with things just yet particularly as Forest themselves have won their last 3 league games and are sat 4th in the table so will present a formidable challenge.
One time Royal Lewis Grabban poses by far the biggest threat they have to offer with 14 goals from 25 games. Just goes to show how effective he can be when playing up front rather than masquerading as a midfielder under Jaap Stam's influence. The next highest scorer is the fairly useful Joe Lolley with 4 so cutting off supply to Grabban is going to be a must if Reading are to get anywhere with this one.
Forest appear to have been fairly free of injuries this season and been able to name reasonably unchanged line-ups with many players already on the 20+ league appearances mark so they are going to be settled and well versed in understanding each other's game. Reading also have been able to field largely unchanged teams recently so should make for an interesting game with quite probably not a lot in it.
Forest should be largely unchanged from their last game v Blackburn with only full back Chema being a doubt (like Reading, they fielded a reserve team in their tie in the FA Cup at Chelsea reserves). Reading should be nice and fresh after the lack of first team involvement against Blackpool though Moore is going to be a doubt with his shoulder problem so Miazga may start alongside Morrison but other than that I can't see any changes from the 11 that started v Fulham. Puscas should be fit enough to make it to the bench at least.
Referee
Dean Whitestone
Previously
19 Oct 2019 > Reading 1-0 Preston North End
12 Aug 2018 > Reading 2-0 Birmingham City (League Cup)
05 Apr 2016 > Reading 2-1 Nottm Forest
22 Mar 2014 > Birmingham City 1-2 Reading
23 Aug 2011 > Charlton Athletic 2-1 Reading (League Cup)
22 Feb 2011 > Reading 2-1 Millwall
17 Feb 2010 > Crystal Palace 1-3 Reading
07 Nov 2009 > Reading 1-1 Ipswich Town
26 Aug 2008 > Reading 5-1 Luton Town (League Cup)
Historically
Forest have made 21 previous visits to Reading for a league game with all but 4 being at Division 2 level. They have won on 6 of those visits and when Reading lose at home to Forest in the league they fail to score.
Reading have managed 10 wins from those 21 visits and have won the last 4 encounters at the Mad Stad so there is something to live up to.
Got to be careful of Forest. Read on their forum that they’ve not lost one second half yet this season. Added to that they haven’t dropped a single point away from home taking the lead, it’ll be a difficult game. Would go with the usual XI but bench competition fierce
Yep thought they were falling away but 3 wins have put them right back up there
No real reason but don’t have a great feeling about this game, seems we’re due a bit of bad luck
But yeah same team as Fulham etc
Hope Pele bosses them. Point to prove?
Doubt Moore will be fit.Dont know about Joao.
Why will Moore not be fit? He wears a sling after games most weeks, he needs an op. He can get through games carrying the injury normally
Really looking forward to this one. The two games against Forest coming up are the real acid test for our season, I think. 4+ points and I will consider us serious playoff contenders.
Sounds like they are a very effective away team. Happy to let us have the ball and hit us on the counter. Hopefully Adam, Swift and Ejaria have enough nous to break them down, while Pele can be effective at breaking up any counter attacks. It seems like we should have the balance we need.
This will be close. All down to keeping Lewis Grabban quiet - which I think we will. Forest will get a man sent off.
Reading 1-0 Forest HT
Reading 1-0 Forest FT