When : Wednesday, 29th December 2021, 8pm
Where : SCL Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161
Should there be another Reading game before the end of the year then it will come in the shape of Fulham’s biennial league visit to RG2. Although the game is a scheduled midweek fixture it seems it will NOT be available on SKY’s Red button service as looking at their Christmas coverage it seems only selected games are available which on Wednesday means just Brum v Peterborough and SheffU v Hull (though for those not going to the game being able to keep tabs on those clubs in the relegation mire might be useful ).
As usual Fulham are among the favourites to return to the PL for another relegation season so this game is going to be yet another struggle not helped by Reading’s magnificent home form which has seen no wins since October 16.
Fulham’s form has dropped like a stone in recent weeks. After 7 straight wins, which included a 7-0 stuffing of Blackburn at Ewood Park, it has been 4 draws and a 1-0 home defeat to Sheffield United last time out (on 20 December) to show for the last 5 games.
The main issue for Reading on the night will be one of keeping Mitrovic away from the ball. As usual in this division he is in his element and enjoying life again now he is away from his struggle to find the net in the Premier League. This time round from his 22 league appearances so far he has managed just the 22 goals which is 16 more than the next Fulham net bulging contributor Harry Wilson. And Harry Wilson is the other problem offering sizeable issues for opposing teams not just in midfield but from dead ball situations as well.
Fulham’s awful injury problems amount to whether Ivan Cavaleiro will be fit enough to be involved, while Reading’s problems are a complete unknown as the enforced lay off has meant that at least acquiring new injuries would have been very unlikely (least for any normal club not suffering under an injury curse). Of the 12 known injuries in the squad after the WBA game (Azeez, Clarke, Dann, Drinkwater, Ejaria, Joao, McIntyre, Meite, Morrison, Rinomhota, Swift and Yiadom) there is a very slim chance that everyone except Clarke, Meite and Morrison could be be involved in VP’s thoughts for the game, though expectation should be set at seeing just Dann, Drinkwater, Ejaria, Swift and Yiadom being available.
While Fulham won’t have played since 20th December, Reading will have been without a game since the malaise that surfaced at the Hawthorns on 11th December, so put that with the limited amount of training that the club would have been able to organise since then and you can see why the performance is going to be a even more of total unknown thsn usual for the Biscuitmen.
Finally, season’s greetings to one and all. Hope you are all able to have a Merry Christmas followed by a Happy New Year.
Referee
John “no Reading wins” Brooks
Previously
13 Apr 21 > Reading 1-1 Cardiff City
04 Nov 20 > Reading 0-3 Preston North End
04 Jan 20 > Reading 2-2 Blackpool (FA Cup 3)
27 Apr 19 > Middlesbrough 2-1 Reading
09 Feb 19 > Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Reading
26 Jan 18 > Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 Reading (FA Cup 4)
23 Dec 17 > Reading 1-2 Burton Albion
Historically
22 previous visits from the west Londoners in the league. 10 wins for Reading and 7 for Fulham.
Reading and Fulham have both scored 26 in these games but Reading have only kept one clean sheet at home against them in the last 7. Reading have only lost 1 of the last 6 at home v the Cottagers but it was a 4-1 trouncing the last time the clubs met in Reading.
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel to the Mad Stad
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use a RoyalTV subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
- Red button
