MATCHWATCH : Nottingham Forest (h) sponsored by rotund lady auditions

[Sutekh]

When : Tuesday 31st October, 8pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

Well at least this one is likely to save you having to work out for a load of plastic tat for Halloween in order to scare your kids. Just bring them over to the Mad Star for an evening of something chilling. Admittedly it's probably going to be more trick than treat but then kids have it too easy nowadays with all this health and safety cobblers.

Forest have not drawn a league game since they went to Preston 21 games ago. They are also doing rather nicely thank you very much and will be looking to follow up a handy 3-2 win at Hull with another 3 points against a badly out of form Reading.

Reading do hope to have Bacuna available but the usual list of non starters is a big as ever now that Ilori has been added to it. Just hope that Moore doesn't suffer a reaction and leave Reading looking at a possible central defensive partnership of McShane and Berg - but then it will be the festival of Samhain.

Referee

It's Lancashire's Paul Tierney for this one and Reading are still waiting to collect 3 points from a game with him in charge



Previously

08 Mar 16 > Huddersfield Town 3-1 Reading
19 Aug 15 > Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Reading
29 Dec 13 > Middlesbrough 3-0 Reading
11 Dec 10 > Reading 0-0 Coventry City

Historically

Forest have made 19 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 8 wins from those visits so, like Middlesbrough really, the record v Forest isn't particularly impressive.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel to the Mad Stad
2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
3. Ring/text a mate for updates
4. Use an iFollow subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[Hound]

Has a win or bust feel for Stam this one

I wouldn’t make huge changes actually. Would go

Mannone
Gunter Moore McShane Blackett
Edwards
Kelly swift
Popa Smith Barrow

Bacuna for kelly if fit. Yann to come on around 60mins

[double d]

Going to this one again. I think we will be tanked 3-0 (2-0 at ht) I will leave after 60 minutes and stam will get sacked

[windermereROYAL]

Forest one clean sheet on the road this season but do score in most games , us no clean sheets at home. looks like a banker for the both teams to score bets

[CountryRoyal]

Lose.

[Snowflake Royal]

Has a win or bust feel for Stam this one

I wouldn’t make huge changes actually. Would go

Mannone
Gunter Moore McShane Blackett
Edwards
Kelly swift
Popa Smith Barrow

Bacuna for kelly if fit. Yann to come on around 60mins

I'd love to say he should field the same XI and shape for the second game in a row. But Barrow and Bacuna were huge misses and having McShane at right back was baffling. Even if it seemed to go alright against M'bro, I can't see it being a gamble worth pushing. So with that in mind.

........................Mannone
..Gunter, Moore, McShane, Andressen
..................Bacuna*, Kelly
Popa.................Swift....................Barrow
..........................Smith

I think Aluko needs a rest, Blackett needs some time out and to return to a team in better form, Barrow and Bacuna add a touch of class so have to play. Swift and Smith deserve a run now they're in. If Bacuna isn't fit then Evans if he's fit, or Berg if not.

[genome]

http://www.forestforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=46343

However Reading have been on somewhat of a downward trajectory in recent years, struggling to cope with life in the Championship.

Apart from, y'know, last season when we finished third

[Hound]

isn't the Forest nickname 'The Tricky Trees'?. Seriously, what sort of a nickname is that?

[leon]

isn't the Forest nickname 'The Tricky Trees'?. Seriously, what sort of a nickname is that?

It's something to do with cottaging

[Sutekh]

http://www.forestforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=46343

However Reading have been on somewhat of a downward trajectory in recent years, struggling to cope with life in the Championship.

Apart from, y'know, last season when we finished third

That is rather amusing. Especially given where the Florists have been finishing in the last couple of seasons.

[CountryRoyal]

http://www.forestforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=46343

However Reading have been on somewhat of a downward trajectory in recent years, struggling to cope with life in the Championship.

Apart from, y'know, last season when we finished third

False third tho... you know that

[genome]

http://www.forestforum.co.uk/showthread ... ost2684841

Reading do try to play football although last time we were there they had a gigantic foreigner playing up front who was very dirty during the game - nasty niggly fouls - and after the game he walked out of the players entrance and gobbed on the bonnet of our car.

Sounds like the Pog to me?

[CountryRoyal]

http://www.forestforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=46343&page=3&p=2684841&viewfull=1#post2684841

Reading do try to play football although last time we were there they had a gigantic foreigner playing up front who was very dirty during the game - nasty niggly fouls - and after the game he walked out of the players entrance and gobbed on the bonnet of our car.

Sounds like the Pog to me?

Stopped reading after that.

[genome]

I will literally give money for someone to sit by Stam's dugout tonight dressed up as the Grim Reaper

[Snowball]

I will literally give money for someone to sit by Stam's dugout tonight dressed up as the Grim Reaper

Excellent!

[CountryRoyal]

I will literally give money for someone to sit by Stam's dugout tonight dressed up as the Grim Reaper

I'll chip in, the most worthwhile cause I've heard in a while.

[Tilehurstsouthbank]

Has a win or bust feel for Stam this one

I wouldn’t make huge changes actually. Would go

Mannone
Gunter Moore McShane Blackett
Edwards
Kelly swift
Popa Smith Barrow

Bacuna for kelly if fit. Yann to come on around 60mins

I'd love to say he should field the same XI and shape for the second game in a row. But Barrow and Bacuna were huge misses and having McShane at right back was baffling. Even if it seemed to go alright against M'bro, I can't see it being a gamble worth pushing. So with that in mind.

........................Mannone
..Gunter, Moore, McShane, Andressen
..................Bacuna*, Kelly
Popa.................Swift....................Barrow
..........................Smith

I think Aluko needs a rest, Blackett needs some time out and to return to a team in better form, Barrow and Bacuna add a touch of class so have to play. Swift and Smith deserve a run now they're in. If Bacuna isn't fit then Evans if he's fit, or Berg if not.

You're going with Smith up front? How things change...

[Snowflake Royal]

Has a win or bust feel for Stam this one

I wouldn’t make huge changes actually. Would go

Mannone
Gunter Moore McShane Blackett
Edwards
Kelly swift
Popa Smith Barrow

Bacuna for kelly if fit. Yann to come on around 60mins

I'd love to say he should field the same XI and shape for the second game in a row. But Barrow and Bacuna were huge misses and having McShane at right back was baffling. Even if it seemed to go alright against M'bro, I can't see it being a gamble worth pushing. So with that in mind.

........................Mannone
..Gunter, Moore, McShane, Andressen
..................Bacuna*, Kelly
Popa.................Swift....................Barrow
..........................Smith

I think Aluko needs a rest, Blackett needs some time out and to return to a team in better form, Barrow and Bacuna add a touch of class so have to play. Swift and Smith deserve a run now they're in. If Bacuna isn't fit then Evans if he's fit, or Berg if not.

You're going with Smith up front? How things change...

Reportedly had a decent game and if you're going to give him a chance he needs to get a fair crack, at least 3 games in a row. And we've got to start trying to find a settled side.

I never had a problem with Stam picking him if he showed enough in training. I had a problem with people berating Stam for not picking him because he happened to be a striker and they knew bugger all about him.

[Theroyalbox]

Looking forward to this one - don't expect to see Liam Moore or obviously Illori start so I predict

Mannone
Gunter Blackett Mcshane Bacuna
VDB Kelly
Beerens Swift Aluko
Kermy

Predicting a 2-0 win 1 pen converted by Yann and then a goal from Aluko finally. Personally would like to see Popa in for Beerens Edwards in for Joey .

[genome]

My match bus hasn’t turned up, lovely