When : Saturday 15th December, 3pm
Where : New York Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1AH
Capacity : 12,021
Away Stand : Mears Stand at one end of the stadium
What might I see in the area : the north
This is going to be a very long way to go to come home with nothing. Not that it’s not a long way anyway of course but it’ll seem an interminable journey not have at least a point at the end of it all. Trouble is without Meite or a Bodvarsson about Reading’s attack really is far too lightweight and poses little or no presence or threat.
Now it may also be the first game for Reading’s new manager whether that be Jokanovic, Parkinson, Ainsworth or someone completely different. If it is then they’re not likely to have any answers ready in the day or two they would have to see the squad and read the scouting reports but they might be able to trigger the famous “new manager effect” that’ll at least see the team put in a worthy performance. It might also add 2 or 3 extra away followers to the gate esp. if it’s Parky.
Rotherham are struggling too but then that’s what they do at this level so they are well used to fighting and scrapping for everything. Their current form looks awful on first glance with just 1 win their last 14 league games but that is slightly misleading as they’ve managed to draw 9 of those 14 games so this lot are extremely difficult to beat and they have only been beaten once in the last 9 and that was away at Norwich. So just the sort of team Reading will be wanting to face then.
No changes are known on the injury front but hopefully Meite might be back. I’m really not expecting to see Moore and O’Shea so the defence will once again get to pick itself.
Referee
New ref alert. Ross Joyce steps up for the challenge in his first ever Reading game – and also, form what I can see, his first game at Division 2/Championship level.
Historically
This will be the 23rd league game with Rotherham in Rotherham. Of those games Reading have won 5 and lost 9 with 8 drawn. There has only been 1 goalless draw to date so expectation is there should be some form of net rippling happening on Saturday afternoon for Reading.
Since Rotherham moved a little bit down the road from Millmoor to their nice new shiny plastic arena Reading have won 1, drawn 1 and lost 1 but always managed to score. Think that particular record might be a bit of a challenge to maintain given the pathetic showing against Sheffield United last time out.
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel to the game
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use an iFollow subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)