MATCHWATCH : Port Vale (h)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday August 30 2024, 3pm
Where : SCL Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

Port Vale are equal on points with Reading in the table, although one place above the Biscuitmen as their defence isn't quite as porous. The Valiants start has been equally miserable though with, until their 1-0 Carabao win at Brum reserves last night, just a League Cup win at Blackpool to show among the miserable league form. Their two league points have come by way of a home draw against promotion favourites Cardiff and away at tricky Burton.

So far last season's division 4 runners up have been turned over at home by surprise package Stevenage and last season's division 4 champions Doncaster after losing their season opener at Rotherham.

Nine players have arrived at Vale Park over the summer and five have left. Biggest loss is their leading scorer, Laurent Tolaj, who left for Plymouth at the end of last week having already scored once and played 4 games for them this season. However the rumoured £1.2m they received should help to ease things especially if they can use it to strengthen what now must be an attack lurching towards Reading proportions.

Following the loss of Tolaj, defender Connor Hall is now the proud possessor of the Port Vale league goalscoring record this season. His goal came in the 2-1 defeat to Rotherham on the opening day. Ex-Harrogate Town striker Jaheim Headley is expected to step up into Tolaj's shoes, unless there's a new arrival such as Spurs' Dane Scarlett on loan.

Darren Moore's charges are apparently very proficient at set pieces, so you can guess that Reading will spend much of Saturday afternoon giving the officials decisions to make around their penalty box. But this really should be a game that Reading take by the horns and stamp their authority on.

There's no reason that Reading can't take this game as being the start of a reset in the league, being as there's likely to be a decent level of positivity about the place following the club at last signing an experienced striker in Jack Marriott (however you can probably be sure that Noel won't start him as it's too soon to expect him to play on a Saturday after signing on a Tuesday ).

O'Connor remains injured but if the prognosis was correct then he should be back after the international break. WiFi & Yiadom also won't be back until after the break but other than that it should pretty much be a full squad to choose from following Lane's return in the League Cup

Referee

“The” Thomas “Alan” Parsons “Project” - let’s hope there’s no Reading player waiting on the turn of a card.

Previously

15 Feb 25 > Reading 2-1 Rotherham United
29 Oct 24 > Stockport County 4-1 Reading
29 Mar 24 > Reading 1-0 Northampton Town

Historically

This is the 32nd season Port Vale and Reading have shared and to date both sides have recorded 24 league wins. At home Reading have managed 17 wins while Vale have recorded just 7 and have lost all the games so far played in RG2, without even scoring.

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 a RoyalTV subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[traff]

Another beauty of a referee
Don't expect a good performance from this clown.

[Royal_jimmy]

Good to see the valiants visit us again back in this league following their relegation. Won't be an easy game but definitely a chance for MoM to get his first goals for us.

If we don't win this I think the players will get a lot of stick.

[Mr Angry]

For a whole host of reasons, this game is assuming "must win" proportions.

We need to show that the positives from the last 3 games (all unbeaten) can be converted into goals and most especially, League points.

And I think we will do just that.

3-0 Reading.

[yuomi]

Would like to see something like:

El Gato
Abrefa/Ahmed Burns Williams Jacob
Fraser
Wing Elliott
Kyerewaa MoM Lane

Bench: Camara, RB, Savage, Doyle, Marriott, Stevens, Dorsett

Are we any clearer on when Paudie's due back?

[windermereROYAL]

Are we any clearer on when Paudie's due back?

Out for 3 weeks 3 weeks ago so likely at least another month yet.

[MartinRdg]

Are we any clearer on when Paudie's due back?

Out for 3 weeks 3 weeks ago so likely at least another month yet.

Apparently training on grass

[morganb]

https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/spor ... noel-hunt/

Reading summer signing Paudie O'Connor has taken a step closer to returning to the pitch, re-joining light training.

"He's not far away," Hunt said. "He’s back on the grass lightly. Paudie is a big miss for us, a great character and an organiser of the back line. He’s been really experienced at this level for two or three years so with the ones we are getting back, we are stronger, and hopefully we can get a few more in through the door."

[Sutekh]

Are we any clearer on when Paudie's due back?

Out for 3 weeks 3 weeks ago so likely at least another month yet.

Apparently training on grass

Club is learning then, another step in the right direction.

Wouldn’t expect him back until after the break given his pre season was interrupted with the injury. They’ll probably want to work on the defensive unit as well over the break period to get full advantage of the probable Northampton postponement.

[South Coast Royal]

Would we have signed Williams if O'Connor hadn't been injured so quickly and with the end of the transfer window approaching?
Possibly.

So far, so good with Williams who is a bit older than O'Connor but has generally played at a higher level than him and has helped our defence look just that little bit less shaky.

[yuomi]

Would we have signed Williams if O'Connor hadn't been injured so quickly and with the end of the transfer window approaching?
Possibly.

So far, so good with Williams who is a bit older than O'Connor but has generally played at a higher level than him and has helped our defence look just that little bit less shaky.

Williams signing set off alarm bells that POC's injury was going to take longer than they originally thought. Typical training injury luck for us. Hopefully when both are up and running it'll be a solid partnership and help Burns and Stickland develop.

[Hound]

Would go

JP
Abrefa/Ahmed Williams Burns Jacob
Elliott Wing Savage
Lane MoM Garcia

Stevens Kyeweraa Abrefa/Ahmed Dorsett Marriott Fraser Doyle

Getting a hefty squad now - esp if Ritchie joins as expected. He won’t be coming to sit on the bench being as he is leaving Portsmouth as not promised game time

[Esteban]

Would go

JP
Abrefa/Ahmed Williams Burns Jacob
Elliott Wing Savage
Lane MoM Garcia

Stevens Kyeweraa Abrefa/Ahmed Dorsett Marriott Fraser Doyle

Getting a hefty squad now - esp if Ritchie joins as expected. He won’t be coming to sit on the bench being as he is leaving Portsmouth as not promised game time

Yep. Add O'Connor, Yiadom and Ehibhatiomhan into the mix when fit, plus the other 2 signings Noel mentioned (if they come off) and we'll have a job keeping everyone happy.

[Snowflake Royal]

Would go

JP
Abrefa/Ahmed Williams Burns Jacob
Elliott Wing Savage
Lane MoM Garcia

Stevens Kyeweraa Abrefa/Ahmed Dorsett Marriott Fraser Doyle

Completely agree with your first 8. Although reservations about Jacob would be happy with Dorsett too.

I think I want to see something more dominant from Lane before he earns a start, and think Camara's earnt his start.

So my front 3 would be:

Kyerewaa, MOM, Camara

Garcia certainly improving and doing more of what I want though.

[Hound]

Would go

JP
Abrefa/Ahmed Williams Burns Jacob
Elliott Wing Savage
Lane MoM Garcia

Stevens Kyeweraa Abrefa/Ahmed Dorsett Marriott Fraser Doyle

Getting a hefty squad now - esp if Ritchie joins as expected. He won’t be coming to sit on the bench being as he is leaving Portsmouth as not promised game time

Yep. Add O'Connor, Yiadom and Ehibhatiomhan into the mix when fit, plus the other 2 signings Noel mentioned (if they come off) and we'll have a job keeping everyone happy.

I do slightly wonder if we’ve gone for quantity over quality and still don’t see why we signed JOP or Rushesha - but that’s for another chat

[Hound]

Would go

JP
Abrefa/Ahmed Williams Burns Jacob
Elliott Wing Savage
Lane MoM Garcia

Stevens Kyeweraa Abrefa/Ahmed Dorsett Marriott Fraser Doyle

Completely agree with your first 8. Although reservations about Jacob would be happy with Dorsett too.

I think I want to see something more dominant from Lane before he earns a start, and think Camara's earnt his start.

So my front 3 would be:

Kyerewaa, MOM, Camara

Garcia certainly improving and doing more of what I want though.

I’d be more inclined to pick Camara for an away game when his discipline and tidy play may be more needed. For a home game needing creativity…I’m struggling with him

[tidus_mi2]

Things have been getting more positive lately and it hopefully seems like results are soon on the way.

So nailed on Vale win.

[Snowflake Royal]

Would go

JP
Abrefa/Ahmed Williams Burns Jacob
Elliott Wing Savage
Lane MoM Garcia

Stevens Kyeweraa Abrefa/Ahmed Dorsett Marriott Fraser Doyle

Completely agree with your first 8. Although reservations about Jacob would be happy with Dorsett too.

I think I want to see something more dominant from Lane before he earns a start, and think Camara's earnt his start.

So my front 3 would be:

Kyerewaa, MOM, Camara

Garcia certainly improving and doing more of what I want though.

I’d be more inclined to pick Camara for an away game when his discipline and tidy play may be more needed. For a home game needing creativity…I’m struggling with him

Not sure creativity is quite the issue it seemed at the start of the season.

Last 5 in all comps we've score 8, 1.6 a game. Last 3 league only it's 4. Not great, not awful.

Problem has been conceding. We've looked incapable of keeping a clean sheet.

[West F]

Completely agree with your first 8. Although reservations about Jacob would be happy with Dorsett too.

I think I want to see something more dominant from Lane before he earns a start, and think Camara's earnt his start.

So my front 3 would be:

Kyerewaa, MOM, Camara

Garcia certainly improving and doing more of what I want though.

I’d be more inclined to pick Camara for an away game when his discipline and tidy play may be more needed. For a home game needing creativity…I’m struggling with him

Not sure creativity is quite the issue it seemed at the start of the season.

Last 5 in all comps we've score 8, 1.6 a game. Last 3 league only it's 4. Not great, not awful.

Problem has been conceding. We've looked incapable of keeping a clean sheet.

I am hoping that a fit O’Connor and Williams will help with that. I don’t know much about O’Connor, but we could do with a league one warrior that can dominate in the air.