Interview: ‘We want to give the fans something to shout about’ – King
Posted: Monday, August 16th 2021
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🔎 MansionBet Match Preview: Reading (A)
Tuesday, August 17th 2021
City are back on the road for midweek action at Reading.
Supporters are reminded that the away end is sold out, with City taking their full allocation of 2,178 fans to the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Those without a ticket are encouraged to purchase a Robins TV matchday pass...
👑 Our opponents
It was a case of so-nearly for Reading last season as their play-off battle fell towards the last hurdle.
It was therefore a disappointing end to their 2021/22 season. The Royals endured a final six-game run-in without a win, while they recorded one victory within their last 11 matches in all.
That form meant they would not sustain a play-off bid and it was a seventh-place finish come May, with Reading some seven points behind AFC Bournemouth in the final standings. However, it was an encouraging first season under Manager Veljko Paunović.
But to make matters harder, the club was placed under a transfer embargo for breaching profit and sustainability guidelines. They were able to bring in Tom Dele-Bashiru on loan from Watford, while Michael Olise and Thierry Nevers left for Crystal Palace and West Ham United, respectively.
Fast forward to August and Paunović’s men have made it a habit of conceding from winning positions. Reading let their lead slip twice against Stoke City as they were beaten on the opening day 3-2, before they beat Preston 2-1 to get their first points of the season on Saturday.
They had let their lead slip against the Lilywhites after Femi Azeez’s opener but John Swift struck the winner with his second goal in as many games.
READING PROFILE
Formed: 1871
Stadium: Select Car Leasing Stadium
Nickname: Royals
Manager: Veljko Paunović
Finish last season: 7th, Sky Bet Championship
Honours:
- Championship winners: 2006, 2012
- Third tier, League One equivalent winners: 1926, 1986, 1994
- Fourth tier, League Two equivalent winners: 1979
- Full Member Cup winners: 1988
📍 MATCH DETAILS
Where: Select Car Leasing Stadium
When: Tuesday, August 17th, 8pm KO
Competition: Sky Bet Championship, Matchday 3
Referee: Andy Woolmer
Assistant referee: Lee Venamore
Assistant referee: Ian Cooper
Fourth official: Dean Whitestone
⚽️ Watch: Match action v Middlesbrough
City were sunk at the Riverside by a 70th-minute Matt Crooks goal as Middlesbrough took all three points last time out.
Crooks got on the end of Uche Ikpeazu’s header from a free-kick to put the ball past Dan Bentley from close range.
The Robins had pulled themselves back into the game in the 60th minute when Andy King scored his first goal for City from Matty James’ free-kick, after Ikpeazu had given Boro a half-time lead.
👀 ONE TO WATCH
John Swift is currently Reading's man in form. He has scored two goals and grabbed an assist in his first two games.
A lot of the Royals play goes through the midfielder and with an average pass rate of 87.5% from an average of 36 passes per game, it's safe to say he is a danger man on the ball.
He was voted player of the match in both of those games, notching up an Opta rating of 8.43.
⏮ MATCH REWIND...
Bristol City 2-0 Reading
26.12.2017
Championship
Ashton Gate
Bristol City's super subs proved the difference as City rose back into the automatic promotion spot.
Jamie Paterson fired City ahead in his Boxing Day cameo, before youngster Lloyd Kelly sealed the win in the final embers of the game.
As Cardiff City lost at home Fulham, the Robins went level on points with the Bluebirds but would sit second with a better goal difference.
🆚 HEAD TO HEAD
Bristol City
Matches v the opposition: 100
Won: 39
Drew: 20
Lost: 41
The 2021/22 season so far...
Goals scored: 4
Goals conceded: 5
Championship position: 17th (1 point)
Carabao Cup: Round One
FA Cup: Round Three (January 2022)
Yellow cards: 5
Red cards: 0
Top goalscorer: Saikou Janneh 2
Most assists: Nahki Wells, Chris Martin, Kasey Palmer 1, Matty James 1
Best average rating (Opta): Martin 7.08
Possession: 51.2%
Passing percentage: 69.3%
Tackle success percentage: 70.8%
Average aerial duels won: 29
Reading
Matches v opposition: 100
Won: 41
Drew: 20
Lost: 39
The 2021/22 season so far...
Goals scored: 4
Goals conceded: 7
Championship position: 13th (3 points)
Carabao Cup: Round One
FA Cup: Round Three (January 2022)
Yellow cards: 7
Red cards: 0
Top goalscorer: John Swift 2
Most assists: Lucas João, Swift 1
Best average rating (Opta): Bola 7.49
Possession: 44.6%
Passing percentage: 72.4%
Tackle success percentage: 77.4%
Average aerial duels won: 20
As per EFL regulations, the game can be streamed domestically so fans without a ticket can watch all the action unfold live on Robins TV.
The matchday show will begin at 7.30pm, costing £10, and will include a multi-camera production, analysis and commentary.
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