Reading Drop Two More Points
22/03/2021 - As the season progresses points are harder to come by, and when they needed three today, Reading Expand
22/03/2021 - As the season progresses points are harder to come by, and when they needed three today, Reading had to settle for one. Bournemouth need only to win their game in hand and the Royals will slip out of the top six for only the second time this season. Certainly there was a greater sense of urgency about Reading's performance this afternoon and although they put Rangers under pressure at times, they fell behind on the stroke of half time. Miete scored his third goal in as many games to level the scores early in the second half and Reading looked a good bet to go on and win the game but Rangers rallied, and in the end Reading were the team hanging on for a point.
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Match Report: Reading 1 QPR 1 Collapse
Revival Continues With Comfortable Win
08/03/2021 - The return of George Puscas, and the resulting change of formation, helped to continue the revival Expand
08/03/2021 - The return of George Puscas, and the resulting change of formation, helped to continue the revival of Reading's flagging promotion campaign. Puscas pounced on a loose pass on the halfway line and his pace took him away from the Wednesday defence and into the penalty area where he was brought down by Borner. In view of recent failures from the spot, everyone, including Lucas if he was honest, was relieved to see Michael Olise step up a tuck away the penalty to give Reading the lead. It was a big decision for manager Veljko Paunovic to take to take Joao off penalty taking duties, but that decision, combined with the inclusion of Puscas, took pressure off the out of form striker paid dividends in the second half when Joao ended his recent goal drought with a superbly composed finish and effectively kill off hope of Wednesday snatching a point with a late goal. Andy Yiadom put the icing on the cake with a measured finish late in the game. It was a good day for the Royals.
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Royals Keep In Play-Off Hunt With Away Win
27/02/2021 - Reading made it clear from the start they were not going to accept anything other than three Expand
27/02/2021 - Reading made it clear from the start they were not going to accept anything other than three points from this tough away fixture. It was fast and furious from the kick-off to the final whistles and the Royals responded with character, resolve and essentially, the quality to overcome a physically superior side. Amidst the chaos the only glimmer of decent football came from Reading with Olise and Ejaria having the courage to keep possession long enough to put together some passes and play some telling passes. Had Joao been at anywhere near his best it would have been a more comfortable victory. The Millers dominated to aerial battle overall, but to a man, Reading more than matched them for a willingness to chase every ball and commit fully to winning every loose ball. Once Morrison's determination had given Reading the lead it was clear United were going to need more than physical strength to save a point. In the end Reading held them at bay for the three points they desperately needed Collapse
Great Effort But Unbeaten Run Ends
11/02/2021 - This evening I strongly suspect we saw Reading lose to a team destined to take one of the Expand
11/02/2021 - This evening I strongly suspect we saw Reading lose to a team destined to take one of the automatic promotion places this season. Reading matched Brentford in every department for forty-five minutes with an impressive all round display. There was little to choose between the teams as the score line reflected. Joao converted a penalty and Dasilva scored an outstanding equaliser. The second half was a different story. Reading unable to maintain the effective pressing game of the first half and the pace and power of Brentford up front looked more menacing as the game progressed. Mistakes and poor decision - making began to creep into Reading's play and their passing lost its fluency going forward. Goals from Dasilva and Toney in the last four minutes gave Brentford a deserved win with but a slightly flattering margin of victory.
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Match Report: Reading 1 Brentford 3 Collapse
Devastating First Half Defeats Bournemouth
01/02/2021 - A devastating first half performance gave Reading an unassailable half time lead over promotion Expand
01/02/2021 - A devastating first half performance gave Reading an unassailable half time lead over promotion rivals Bournemouth. There was a score to settle from their previous encounter this season when the Royals surrendered a two goal advantage to suffer a frustrating defeat. The transformation of Reading has been gradual since that fixture and their focus, energy, skill and organisation was simply too much for a strong Bournemouth side. Bournemouth made three changes at half time, but in spite of dominating possession, found Reading's defence a tough nut to crack. Courtesy of a basic defensive error from a free-kick the Cherries clawed a goal back but Reading closed the door on hopes of a comeback in the final phase of the game to achieve the victory their performance deserved.
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Match Report: Reading 3 Bournemouth 1 Collapse
Reading Hold Out For Point At Swansea
31/12/2020 - Reading rode their luck at times this evening at The Liberty stadium against in from Swansea but Expand
31/12/2020 - Reading rode their luck at times this evening at The Liberty stadium against in from Swansea but Veljko Paunovic's selection and tactics produced a performance which earned his team a valuable point which keeps them in the top six. Still deprived of key players, The Royals played with real desire and team spirit from start to finish. It was not pretty to watch, but with 'keeper Raphael in outstanding form and some resolute and disciplined defending, Reading kept a clean sheet and even had a chance to win the game near the end. Taking four points from the last two games with so many players unavailable is an impressive achievement.
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Match Report: Swansea City 0 Reading 0 Collapse
Royals Now Five Points Clear
25/10/2020 - An outstanding goal from Yakou Meite was the turning point in Reading's sixth victory in seven Expand
25/10/2020 - An outstanding goal from Yakou Meite was the turning point in Reading's sixth victory in seven games. With just over ten minutes to play, and Reading hanging on to a fragile looking lead from a first half goal, also scored by Meite, the Reading striker controlled a corner on his chest and swivelled to smash an unstoppable left foot volley past Rotherham 'Keeper Blackman. Rotherham certainly never gave up at any stage, but Reading are now so secure at the back, anything other than a Royals win was extremely unlikely. Joao added a third from the penalty spot having used his strength to get on the end of a long ball up the middle to win the spot kick in stoppage time. It was a flattering score line but tactically Reading once again got everything right and took all three points and secured yet another clean sheet.
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Report and Opinion: Reading 1 Rotherham United 0 Collapse
Alfa Semedo Signs For Season
05/10/2020 - Reading have completed the signing of Alfa Semedo from Benfica on a season long loan. The 23 Expand
05/10/2020 - Reading have completed the signing of Alfa Semedo from Benfica on a season long loan. The 23 year old midfielder arrives at Reading after spending last season on loan at Championship side Nottingham Forest where he had a mixture of starts and appearances off the bench. Semedo clocked up 26 appearances for Forest and scored two goals before a very short return to his parent club.
He signed his professional contract with Benfica in the summer of 2018 and has played 8 times for his club scoring once.
Paunovic describes the player as "strong, powerful, versatile, comfortable on the ball and full of energy." - which sounds like a postitive endorsement of his new signing as he aims to keep Reading at the right end of the table this season.
Meanwhile former Reading defender Chris Gunter who left when his contract expired in the summer looks set to sign for Charlton Athletic. Collapse
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Royals Stumble Again In Promotion Race
18/03/2021 - Reading continue to stumble towards the finishing line in this season's promotion race and once Expand
18/03/2021 - Reading continue to stumble towards the finishing line in this season's promotion race and once again came unstuck against a well organised, aggressive and physically strong side. With Lee Bowyer installed as their new manager this week, City had a very different look about them from the team that had been in free fall with only one win in their previous nine games. Bowyer as a player was not averse to 'putting a foot in' so unsurprisingly brought in the old guard including the old war horse Lucas Jutkiewicz. Jutkiewicz wasted no time in making his presence felt clattering in to Joao after sixteen seconds for the first free kick of the game, and then after four minutes climbed all over Moore to head in Bela's cross to give City the lead.
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Match Report: Birmingham City 2 Reading 1 Collapse
Narrow Win As Reading Hold Fifth
03/03/2021 - George Puscas celebrated his return to the starting eleven with a crucial goal to earn another Expand
03/03/2021 - George Puscas celebrated his return to the starting eleven with a crucial goal to earn another valuable three points for Reading, but it was a far from convincing show from the Royals. Rovers' dominance of the game however was as much to do with Reading's inability to retain possession as it was about the quality of Blackburn's passing. There was little evidence of Reading's creative flair this evening, it was their defensive organisation, work rate and discipline that prevented Rovers from taking anything from the game. If Rovers had been sharper in and around the Reading penalty area it might have been a very different story.
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Match Report: Reading 1 Blackburn Rovers 0 Collapse
Back To Winning Ways At Bristol City
17/02/2021 - A typical Lucas Joao finish and a rare goal from Michael Morrison gave Reading a much needed three Expand
17/02/2021 - A typical Lucas Joao finish and a rare goal from Michael Morrison gave Reading a much needed three points to halt a run of two successive defeats. It was a comfortable win over a really poor Bristol City side bereft of ideas and confidence. Injury to Laurent forced Veljko Paunovic to make a change in midfield but Samedo filled the vacant defensive midfield role extremely well as is indicated by another clean sheet. Yiadom and Richards returned after being rested on Saturday and Esteves was given his chance to play in midfield to increase Reading's attacking potential.
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Match Report: Bristol City 0 Reading 2 Collapse
Tough Test For Reading As Brentford Visit
10/02/2021 - Reading face a huge test tonight as they take on Brentford behind closed doors at the Madejski Expand
10/02/2021 - Reading face a huge test tonight as they take on Brentford behind closed doors at the Madejski Stadium. The Bees are flying high and looking to go top after an amazing run of 20 league games unbeaten in the Championship. Brentford were 4-1 away winners at Middlesbrough on Saturday - a result that saw them climb into second place and just a single point behind leaders Norwich with a game in hand. That game is hand is of course tonight against Reading and they will be hoping and almost expecting a draw or win that will see them become league leaders.
Brentford are firm favourites for victory given their amazing form - find here on sportsbetting24 However, Reading are also on a good unbeaten league run of seven matches that stretches back to 19 December last year. That defeat was of course the 1-3 reverse at Brentford. Hopefully things will turn out different for the Royals this time with players back from injury compared to our last messing. We will also have the slight Collapse
Reading Concentrate On The League
11/01/2021 - It was clear from the team selection of both managers where their priorities lie this season. In Expand
11/01/2021 - It was clear from the team selection of both managers where their priorities lie this season. In each case nine changes were made to the starting line-up for this Third Round FA Cup tie. Given Reading's dreadful run of injuries leading up to Christmas, Veljko Paunovic probably had more justification for resting most of his first choice players. Reading fans will no doubt be disappointed not to progress in the competition but they should be pleased with the performance of some of the young players drafted in for the game. Luton shaded the first half and scored a good goal, but the second half was a different story as Reading played some flowing passing football and certainly deserved at least to take the game into extra time.
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Report: Luton Town 1 Reading 0 Collapse
Reading Continue Slide Down Table
22/12/2020 - The outcome of this game was decided within the first thirty minutes with a good Brentford side Expand
22/12/2020 - The outcome of this game was decided within the first thirty minutes with a good Brentford side taking full advantage of some poor defending and a dreadful goalkeeping error by Raphael to race into an early three goal lead. A more spirited showing and a headed goal from substitute Aluko in the second half maintained a respectable score line, but in truth Reading never looked likely to recover from their poor start. There was no lack of fight and spirit in this defeat but the errors keep coming thick and fast and have proved costly in recent games. Reading have now slipped out of the top six, and the sooner the players currently out of action due to injury return, the better.
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Match Report: Brentford 3 Reading 1 Collapse
Unbeaten Run Ends At Coventry
31/10/2020 - After Tuesday's outstanding performance away to Blackburn Rovers, Reading were brought back down Expand
31/10/2020 - After Tuesday's outstanding performance away to Blackburn Rovers, Reading were brought back down to earth with bump by a Coventry City team low on confidence after a run six matches without a win. Reading never reached the level of performance achieved in recent games. Their play lacked intensity and a well organised City team grew in confidence as the game progressed. Once Coventry had taken the lead Reading struggled to penetrate a tight Coventry formation. Joao levelled the score out of the blue mid away through the second half with a brilliant solo effort from outside the box which should have signalled a Reading revival but Coventry refused to lie down and hit back with two more goals before Puscas pulled a goal back in stoppage time.
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Report and Opinion: Coventry 3 Reading 2 Collapse
Performance Lacking But Royals Go 3 Points Clear
21/10/2020 - A moment of inspired forward play from Lucas Joao in the sixty-fourth minute was enough to see off Expand
21/10/2020 - A moment of inspired forward play from Lucas Joao in the sixty-fourth minute was enough to see off a resilient Wycombe. The Reading striker controlled a long ball from Liam Moore on the edge of the Wycombe box, held off two defenders, and rifled a low shot past Allsop. It was Reading's first shot on target but it proved to be sufficient to lift Reading to the top off the Championship with a clear three point lead over second placed Bristol City. It was great result for the Royals but a far from convincing performance.
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Report and Opinion: Reading 1 Wycombe Wanderers 0 Collapse
Championship Winning Run Continues
05/10/2020 - Today Reading chalked up their fourth successive Championship victory against a very strong Expand
05/10/2020 - Today Reading chalked up their fourth successive Championship victory against a very strong Watford side. Depleted by injuries to key players, Veljko Paunovic drafted in the relatively inexperienced Holmes at full back, Aluko in midfield, and George Puscas up front. All three rose to the occasion as Reading produced a solid performance in every respect. With the quality of players available for Watford it was always going to a big test for the Royals, and there were periods when Watford put their defence under considerable pressure. However this season Reading are playing with significantly greater confidence and composure. With a combination of confident passing, disciplined defending throughout the team, and some slick passing, Reading deserved their win today. Not that it mattered, the winner came with scuffed shot from Puscas which took a wicked deflection wrong-footing Foster as it bobbled into the net.
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Report and Fan Opinion: Reading 1 Watford 0 Collapse
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Reading Miss Opportunity To Extend Winning Run
15/03/2021 - Yakou marked his welcome return from a long, injury enforced, absence with a late equaliser to Expand
15/03/2021 - Yakou marked his welcome return from a long, injury enforced, absence with a late equaliser to earn Reading a point in game they really should have won. Reading dominated possession, created the best chances, hit the post and conceded a soft own goal. In short, it was a wasted opportunity for the Royals to strengthen their claim for a place in the play-offs, and a frustrating afternoon for their fans. Reading controlled the game for long periods but were not sharp enough to convert their dominance of possession into goals.
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Match Report: Nottingham Forest 1 Reading 1 Collapse
Out Of Form Blackburn Visit
02/03/2021 - Reading face Blackburn Rovers tonight at the Madejski Stadium looking to pick up some form after Expand
02/03/2021 - Reading face Blackburn Rovers tonight at the Madejski Stadium looking to pick up some form after Saturday's important win at Rotherham. After such a good start to the season our form is more mid-table than promotion, and we need another three points to retain a secure position in the top six. After being top six all season it would be difficult to take dropping out of the play-off positions as the season hits the final straight. A Reading win would keep the very slim chance of automatic promotion alive too.
However, poor Reading's form has been Blackburn's is certainly worse. Their February saw a losing run of five straight defeats finally come to an end at home against Coventry City on Saturday - but they were still only able to pick up a single point. That run of form has seem fall down the table and the play-offs are now a huge 12 points away from them now. That poor run, Reading's position in the table, and home advantage does make Reading firm favourites for the full Collapse
Royals Slip To Second Defeat
17/02/2021 - Reading lost ground in the promotion chase suffering their second home defeat in four days against Expand
17/02/2021 - Reading lost ground in the promotion chase suffering their second home defeat in four days against a very physical Millwall side. After Millwall had failed to intimidate Reading with their typically brutal physical start to the game Reading began to play some good football and took an early lead through a brilliant Samedo opportunist goal. There were flashes of brilliance from Olise, Ejaria and Joao but the vital second goal eluded Reading. Millwall stuck to their game plan, mainly due to the limitations of their squad, and finally got a couple of lucky breaks late in the game and nicked two goals. In short a typical Championship fixture against a side not good enough to go up but not bad enough to go down.
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Unbeaten Run Continues At Stoke
08/02/2021 - It is easy to see why Stoke City have now gone ten games without win. They successfully stifled Expand
08/02/2021 - It is easy to see why Stoke City have now gone ten games without win. They successfully stifled Reading's attacking threat for most of the game but lacked the ability to create many scoring opportunities themselves. Reading certainly struggled to cope with City's effective pressing game and the long ball option was also fruitless against the likes of the towering Soutter, Collins and Batth who won just about everything in the air at the back. Up front Fletcher was winning more than his share of headers too against Morrison and McIntyre. Reading's first and only shot on target came from Ejaria after seventy-nine minutes which reflected the amount of time they spent passing the ball around in their own half especially in the first forty-five minutes.
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Match Report: Stoke City 0 Reading 0 Collapse
Joao Gets Two On Return From Injury
04/01/2021 - Bolstered by the return of Lucas Joao, John Swift and Omar Richards to the starting eleven, Expand
04/01/2021 - Bolstered by the return of Lucas Joao, John Swift and Omar Richards to the starting eleven, Reading were in control of this tough away game for most of the match. In spite of going behind after only six minutes, The Royals came from behind to win the game with two superbly taken second half goals from Joao. Having won their previous five home games Huddersfield would have expected to take something from this game, but Reading, almost back to full strength, were solid at the back and carried much more of goal threat going forward than the home side.
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Match Report and Opinion: Huddersfield Town 1 Reading 2 Collapse
Injury Hit Royals Suffer Narrow Defeat
17/12/2020 - Norwich moved three points clear at the top of the Championship with this narrow victory over Expand
17/12/2020 - Norwich moved three points clear at the top of the Championship with this narrow victory over Reading at the Madejski Stadium this evening, but for Reading fans the performance of their team was of greater significance. Deprived of their leading strikers, Veljko Paunovic put together a team which provided stubborn opposition for a City team considered to be one of the leading contenders to win the title. Paunovic's tactics and selection almost paid off. An uncharacteristic error by Andy Rinomhota gifted City an early goal. Reading's response was swift, and with aid of a strike by Ejaria which deflected off Olise, the Royals were level three minutes later. Pukki scored the winner early in the second half from the penalty spot after Aarons was brought down by Moore. In a late flurry Reading forced three corners in stoppage time and it took a very good save from McGovern to prevent Olise's free kick from dipping under the bar. Had it gone in nobody could argue Reading did not deserve a Collapse
Top Of The League And Getting Better
30/10/2020 - This evening Reading opened up a seven point lead at the top of the Championship with a Expand
30/10/2020 - This evening Reading opened up a seven point lead at the top of the Championship with a performance of outstanding quality. The Royals blew away a very good Rovers side in the opening twenty minutes scoring three goals, playing football of the highest quality. Meite put Reading ahead after just nine seconds when Douglas took his eye off a long ball and provided an inadvertent assist as the ball hit his heel and fell in to the path of the Reading striker. With Rovers 'keeper Pears stranded Meite simply rolled the ball in to the empty net. Rovers hit back instantly equalising through Armstrong two minute later. The Rovers goal sparked a response from Reading which stunned the home side.
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Report and Opinion: Blackburn Rovers 2 Reading 4 Collapse
Bore Draw But Royals Stay Unbeaten
19/10/2020 - Teams managed by Neil Warnock are rarely renowned for their creativity and expansive attacking Expand
19/10/2020 - Teams managed by Neil Warnock are rarely renowned for their creativity and expansive attacking football and today's trip north to take on Middlesbrough was no exception. What little flair surfaced from this dour struggle came from a very composed and confident Reading team strengthened by the return of Joao and Ejaria. Attempts on goal were few and far between, Reading having the distinction of officially registering one shot on target as opposed to Boro' who failed to manage even one in the entire ninety minutes.
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Report and Opinion: Middlesbrough 0 Reading 0 Collapse
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