03 March 2015
By Alex Bower
It is safe to say that recent Reading form is not the most impressive. With
twelve matches left to play in the Championship, things are looking tight and
Reading need to start putting some results together. Two 3-0 defeats on the
bounce, and several defeats to lower placed teams including Leeds, Wigan and
Huddersfield have seen the Royals drop to 18th in the league.
"Bolton is about going out and getting some points on the board. We're still not
safe from relegation and you keep looking over your shoulder."
-- Steve Clarke
Tonight, Reading face Bolton at the Macron Stadium. Bolton are only one place
above Reading in 17th, being level on points and having a slightly better goal
difference. Despite a good run of form at home, Bolton have won only three of
their last ten matches in the league. During these matches, however, they have
still managed to find the net sixteen times. In comparison, Reading have also
won only three of their last ten games in the Championship but have only
managed to score six goals. Bolton's problem is that, while they can clearly
score goals, they also struggle to keep them out at the other end.
"I don't know if Reading prioritise the cup but once you get to the quarter-final
stage you must start thinking about the semi-finals and the final."
-- Neil Lennon
The timing of tonight's match, only a few days before Reading take on
Bradford in the FA Cup, is one reason why Reading need to win against Bolton
and get things back on track. Many will already be thinking that Reading minds
will already be focussed on Saturday's match, including Bolton manager Neil
Lennon. Going into the cup game losing three in a row, however, will do
nothing to help the Reading players' confidence. Even though Bradford are a
lower league team, with ex-Royal Phil Parkinson at the helm at home, they
must fancy their chances. Going into the game on the back of an away win at
Bolton, will be exactly the kind of preparation the Royals will benefit from.
A certain member of the opposition, who Reading fans will be well aware of,
will definitely make life difficult for the Royals. Adam Le Fondre, who for
financial reasons was part of the cull at the end of last season following three
seasons at Reading, originally signed for Cardiff. In January Le Fondre was then
loaned out by Cardiff to Bolton for the remainder of the season. Since joining
Bolton, Le Fondre has scored three goals in seven games, most recently in their
games against Nottingham Forest and Watford in February. Scoring against
some tough opposition so far this season, and having scored fifteen goals in his
last season with the Royals, Reading fans are fully aware of the kind of threat
Le Fondre will pose for Bolton. Along with 19-year-old Zach Clough, who has
scored six goals in nine games, Bolton have a strike force that is fully capable of
easing to victory.
The statistics are not on Reading's side going into the game. At Bolton, Reading
have won only one of the last twelve meetings in all competitions and that was
back in 2007. This season, Bolton have also only lost one of their last eleven
matches at home. Reading have also only won one of the last five meetings
between the clubs, their last victory since 2007 being the memorable 7-1
victory at the Madejski in 2014. It is worth mentioning, however, that in that
victory Le Fondre scored a first half hat-trick to help the Royals to victory.
With Reading seemingly performing better away from home, hopefully this can
be the match to turn things around and get back on track. Losing another game
to opposition in a similar league position will not help Reading confidence in
the slightest. The Royals will definitely have their work cut out for them tonight
and it will soon be seen if their minds are already focussed on Saturday's cup
match.
See Also:
| Reading and Bolton - Head to head record (since August 1994) | |
| Games Between Reading and Bolton | 12 |
| Reading Wins | 5 |
| Bolton Wins | 5 |
| Draws | 2 |
| Reading Goals | 21 |
| Bolton Goals | 18 |
| Average Goals Per Game | 3.25 |
It is safe to say that recent Reading form is not the most impressive. With
twelve matches left to play in the Championship, things are looking tight and
Reading need to start putting some results together. Two 3-0 defeats on the
bounce, and several defeats to lower placed teams including Leeds, Wigan and
Huddersfield have seen the Royals drop to 18th in the league.
<Br/><br/>
<em>"Bolton is about going out and getting some points on the board. We're still not
safe from relegation and you keep looking over your shoulder."</em>
<br/>
<b>-- Steve Clarke</b>
<Br/><br/>
Tonight, Reading face Bolton at the Macron Stadium. Bolton are only one place
above Reading in 17th, being level on points and having a slightly better goal
difference. Despite a good run of form at home, Bolton have won only three of
their last ten matches in the league. During these matches, however, they have
still managed to find the net sixteen times. In comparison, Reading have also
won only three of their last ten games in the Championship but have only
managed to score six goals. Bolton's problem is that, while they can clearly
score goals, they also struggle to keep them out at the other end.
<Br/><br/>
<em>"I don't know if Reading prioritise the cup but once you get to the quarter-final
stage you must start thinking about the semi-finals and the final."</em>
<Br/>
<b>-- Neil Lennon</b>
<Br/><br/>
The timing of tonight's match, only a few days before Reading take on
Bradford in the FA Cup, is one reason why Reading need to win against Bolton
and get things back on track. Many will already be thinking that Reading minds
will already be focussed on Saturday's match, including Bolton manager Neil
Lennon. Going into the cup game losing three in a row, however, will do
nothing to help the Reading players' confidence. Even though Bradford are a
lower league team, with ex-Royal Phil Parkinson at the helm at home, they
must fancy their chances. Going into the game on the back of an away win at
Bolton, will be exactly the kind of preparation the Royals will benefit from.
<Br/><br/>
A certain member of the opposition, who Reading fans will be well aware of,
will definitely make life difficult for the Royals. Adam Le Fondre, who for
financial reasons was part of the cull at the end of last season following three
seasons at Reading, originally signed for Cardiff. In January Le Fondre was then
loaned out by Cardiff to Bolton for the remainder of the season. Since joining
Bolton, Le Fondre has scored three goals in seven games, most recently in their
games against Nottingham Forest and Watford in February. Scoring against
some tough opposition so far this season, and having scored fifteen goals in his
last season with the Royals, Reading fans are fully aware of the kind of threat
Le Fondre will pose for Bolton. Along with 19-year-old Zach Clough, who has
scored six goals in nine games, Bolton have a strike force that is fully capable of
easing to victory.
<Br/><br/>
The statistics are not on Reading's side going into the game. At Bolton, Reading
have won only one of the last twelve meetings in all competitions and that was
back in 2007. This season, Bolton have also only lost one of their last eleven
matches at home. Reading have also only won one of the last five meetings
between the clubs, their last victory since 2007 being the memorable 7-1
victory at the Madejski in 2014. It is worth mentioning, however, that in that
victory Le Fondre scored a first half hat-trick to help the Royals to victory.
<Br/><br/>
With Reading seemingly performing better away from home, hopefully this can
be the match to turn things around and get back on track. Losing another game
to opposition in a similar league position will not help Reading confidence in
the slightest. The Royals will definitely have their work cut out for them tonight
and it will soon be seen if their minds are already focussed on Saturday's cup
match.
<br/><br/>
<b>See Also:</b>
<ul>
<li><a href="/history/Bolton">Reading -v- Bolton - Previous Meetings</a></li>
<li><a href="/matdoc/061214.html"><b>6 December 2014:</b> Reading 0 Bolton 0 - Report</a></li>
<li><a href="/matdoc/180114.html"><b>18 January 2014:</b> Reading 7 Bolton 1 - Report</a></li>
<li><a href="/matdoc/100813.html"><b>10 August 2014:</b> Bolton 1 Reading 1 - Report</a></li>
</ul>
<br/>
<table border="0" class="fixtures" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="2" style="border:0">
<tr>
<td class="fixturesh" colspan=2><strong>Reading and Bolton - Head to head record (since August 1994)</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="fixturesh" align="right">Games Between Reading and Bolton</td>
<td class="fixtures graytext">12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="fixturesh" bgcolor="#E4E4FF" align="right">Reading Wins</td>
<td class="fixtures bluetext">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="fixturesh" align="right">Bolton Wins</td>
<td class="fixtures burgtext">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="fixturesh" align="right">Draws</td>
<td class="fixtures graytext">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="fixturesh" bgcolor="#E4E4FF" align="right">Reading Goals</td>
<td class="fixtures bluetext">21</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="fixturesh" align="right">Bolton Goals</td>
<td class="fixtures burgtext">18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="fixturesh" align="right">Average Goals Per Game</td>
<td class="fixtures graytext">3.25</td>
</tr>
<!--tr>
<td class="fixturesh" align="right">Average Score</td>
<td class="fixtures">Reading 2 Bolton 2 </td>
</tr-->
</table> <br/>
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