* The unofficial - Reading v Sheffield Utd. Match-Day Thread *

r00fie1

r00fie1

Well-known member
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OK. We know what the score is: if our dreams are to come true, we have to keep the pressure on the Blades and they have to continue their stumbling, spluttering form. Far from "choking the life" out of anyone recently, they have been wheezing and coughing, home and away. They struggled against blackburn and Millwall. Bramble Lane is no fortress [as we know ;@))] and the aging squad are creaking and leaking badly. Three defeats, two wins and a draw from the last 6 doesnt sound like second-spot form [for long]. Nevertheless, their hosts, Reading, are in a downward spiral - but at least their home form is better than their away..... In spite of that woeful "performance" on Saturday against the Mighty Boro, Reading have turned in some good results at home. They have been up and down all season - with young players, loanees and some aging old scrappers. [Sounds like Sunderland!]. But, tonight, we want Paul Ince`s men to all turn up and put in a great performance against the Blades.

The Championship Table before tonight`s game:
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Those four points seperate us from second place - automatic promotion. Thats all. From a 15 point gap just over a month ago - we`ve pulled up behind the Blades and are looking to over-take them on the next bend. OK, this is a game-in-hand, but it means nothing if they cant take all three points. A draw still only leaves a 5-point gap, but a juicy win for Reading will see the alarm bells ringing in Paul Rattledbottoms boxers - squeeky bum time! Its definitely on. United think they are the dogs wotsits and have a sense of "entitlement" about automatic promotion. Hopefully, Reading will choke the life out of them and take all three points.
 
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Championship Form Table:

Sheffield United and Reading have both achieved 7 points out of a possible 18.
Thats two points better than Blackpool in 20th place and 8 points behind Boro on 15!
Hull City, Rotherham and Wigan are above the Blades on form.

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⚽​

Reading v Sheffield United ​

The Royals looking to win a third straight match at Home​

The Royals have been imperious at Home this season, with the fifth best home record in the Championship. (y)
 
Royals Preview:

The Opposition​


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Sheffield United look set for promotion to the Premier League. Currently sitting in second place, the Blades have a four point cushion between themselves and third-placed Middlesbrough.
Manager Paul Heckingbottom has been in charge at Brammal Lane since November 2021, guiding United to a playoff semi-final last season, where they were defeated by eventual playoff final winners Nottingham Forest.
Sheffield United have shown signs of stuttering in recent weeks, despite a blistering first half to their league campaign. The Blades have won just one of their last five matches on the road.
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One to watch: Oliver Norwood​

Former Reading player Oliver Norwood is one to keep an eye on during Tuesday’s battle with the Blades. The midfielder, who played for the Royals between 2014 and 2016, is able to dictate the tempo of games from a deep-lying midfield position.
The 31-year-old is among the most consistent passers in the Championship. Only Matt Grimes of Swansea City has delivered more progressive passes than Norwood this season.
But as Royals fans know, the Northern Ireland international doesn’t shy away from the other side of the game. No midfielder in the league has made more interceptions than Norwood.
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Head-to-Head​

Wins against Sheffield United have been hard to come by for the Royals of late, winning just one of their last six against Tuesday’s appointment.
Fans will remember that singular victory, which came at Brammal Lane last season. After a last-gasp equaliser for the Blades, defender Tom McIntyre popped up with a 92nd minute winner for Paul Ince’s side. Our last home league victory over United came in our debut Premier League season, winning 3-1 thanks to goals from Shane Long, Ulises de la Cruz and Stephen Hunt.

www.readingfc.co.uk

Royals look to extend Home record against the Blades

Reading host Sheffield United this Tuesday, with the Royals looking to win a third straight match at Home.
www.readingfc.co.uk www.readingfc.co.uk
 
Preview:

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Reading
A season that began with promise of a play-off push has quickly unravelled for Reading, with an impending points deduction threatening their Championship safety. Morale would have been further hit by a royal 5-0 thrashing against Middlesbrough, which left manager Paul Ince fuming at the referee for a couple of ‘diabolical decisions’ that cost his side dearly.
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Ince ought to be worried about his side’s form as Reading have won just two of their last ten league games (D3, L5). A leaky defence is blighting the Berkshire outfit, with their 53 goals conceded the joint-most of any side in the division. Despite that, home comforts could inspire a positive result: only two sides have lost fewer games on home soil than Reading’s three (W10, D3) courtesy of a six-game unbeaten run in home Championship games (W4, D2) stretching back to November.

Sheffield United
May not be particularly optimistic they can break that streak after failing to win each of their last four away games in this competition (D2, L2). That trend continued with a 1-0 loss away to Blackburn that slightly weakened their grip on automatic promotion, with manager Paul Heckingbottom concerned about their fluency and energy during that defeat to Blackburn.
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Despite results not falling their way, Heckingbottom’s men still boast the joint-best defensive record on the road in the Championship this season (GA: 15), while they’ve also won each of their last four visits to Reading. That’s part of a dominant recent H2H run which has seen the Blades lose just two of their last 14 meetings with Reading (W11, D1), so a return to form could well be on the cards.

Players to watch:

Reading forward Andy Carroll will be looking to break his career scoring duck against Sheffield United, and he’s seen four of his six goals this term arrive after half-time.
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Looking to do the damage for the Blades will be Oli McMuffin who has netted a joint-career high five times against Reading, including once in their 4-0 win over Reading in the reverse H2H.
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Hot stat:
Championship matches involving Reading are averaging 2.68 goals per game this season, the fourth-largest total in the division.

REA 0-1 SHU | Reading - Sheff Utd

www.flashscore.co.uk www.flashscore.co.uk
 
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Draw would be fine in my opinion.

I do love this stage of the season where you start watching other teams' matches as if it was a Boro match. Quite often by this stage we're hoping to just sneak up into 6th and it rarely happens.
 
Team News:

Reading
Possible changes and players back from injury.

* Joe Lumley - played some "blinders" since joining Reading. Hope that continues tonight. (y)
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* Lucas Joao - back from injury. Signed from Sheffield Wednesday on a four - year deal back in 2019, his contract is up at the end of this season.
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* Tyrese Fornah is available to come back in the side.
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Sheffield United:

* Anel Ahmedodzic is out - following a two match ban for ten yellow cards.
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* George Baldock, Tommy Doyle and James McAtee could be on the starting blocks.
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Can’t see anything other than a Sheffield win.

Reading are the worst team I have seen at the riverside in decade. Add soapy Joe in goal it will be 0-4 to Sheffield.
 
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