Score predictions - Reading away

Reading next in what is an extremely difficult game to predict. We're 6/4 favourites with the bookies, with the hosts priced slightly longer at 9/5. Despite a 4 point deduction, the Royals would be in the relegation zone regardless, having picked up 17 points from 18 games. Both teams have scored in Readings last 10 fixtures in all competitions, suggesting their frailties lie in defence rather than attack.


Its at home where Reading have garnered the majority of their points, acquiring 14 of their 17 points in 9 games at the Select Car Leasing stadium, including victories over both Bolton and Stevenage. They're currently unbeaten in their last 5 home games in all competitions, and have lost just twice over 90 minutes in their last 13 home games in all comps. They've only failed to score twice in that time too, in a defeat to Peterborough and a goalless draw with Burton.


Its thought Reading are beginning to find their feet in the division, which has coincided with Sam Smith returning to fitness. The former Cambridge attacker netted 4 in 4 last month after returning to Reading in the summer. He's been limited to just 7 league appearances so far this season due to injury, but is certainly having an impact. As too is Harvey Knibbs, who also made the switch from Cambridge in the summer, and has 8 goals in all competitions at present. As previously mentioned, they are inexperienced at the back, with 3 of the back 4 in their last league game being 21 or under, and 2 of whom are in their first full senior season. Reading do have experience peppered through their squad though with former reds Andy Yiadom and David Button, along with former Wednesday trio Lewis Wing, Sam Hutchinson and Harlee Dean.


We've found the Select Car Leasing Stadium a difficult place to visit in the past, having lost on our last 4 visits there, and not scoring in our last 5. It was our relegation season of 2014 the last time we were the winning side in Berkshire. Reuben Noble-Lazarus, Stephen Dawson and Dale Jennings were on target around a Pavel Pogrebnyak penalty. That was the last of 3 victories at the former Majdeski Stadium, with Matt Done and Daniel Bogdanovic being the other reds winning goalscorers there. There's also been 6 Reading victories, and 2 draws in our 11 visits there.


Referee Ollie Yates takes charge of both Reading and Barnsley for the first time this season. He's issued 73 yellows and 5 reds in just 17 games so far this season, averaging about 4.5 cards a game (which is about average nowadays). The peak of this was issuing 7 yellows and 2 reds in Wimbledon's 2-0 win over Doncaster (where ironically, it was the winning side with the 2 red cards). His last Barnsley fixture was our 3-0 home defeat to Wycombe last season; I vaguely recall him not letting the game flow, giving niggly fouls and playing into Wycombe's attempts to slow the game down. He's also previously taken charge of cup games involving the reds; a league cup penalty defeat to Bolton and an EFL Trophy penalty defeat to Man City U21s. He's never refereed a Reading game.


I'm finding this a difficult game to predict. Despite having fairly good home form, Reading are only the 13th best home team in the division. Defensively, they're seen as quite frail, which is something to exploit. We need to score first, simply because we don't have a chance of winning otherwise. We're yet to win from a losing position this season (despite coming from behind late on at Lincoln), but have lost just once from a winning position (in the league). I haven't seen the pre-match presser to determine Cole, Connell and McAtee’s availability. If all 3 are available, I fancy us to edge this one, though I cam see another draw on the road just as easily. I'll plump for 1-2 with Cole and Cadden on the scoresheet.

 

It's at Reading.

 

3-0 Reading. All three in the 2nd half

 

0-3 Phillips hat trick

 

I’ll have some of what you’re on please…..

 

2-2.

 

1-3 Reds.

 

1-1

 

0-2 Reds

 

2-2 an another dubious penalty for the home side

 

2-0 defeat

 

Match postponed due to fan safety after protests from Reading fans

 

Half time kickabout with tennis balls.

 

Reading -10 points Barnsley -10 points = draw

 

Reading 176-1 Barnsley

 

Reading 0 - 1 Barnsley. Watters late goal.

 

2-1 Reading (Cole)

 

3 0 to Reading.