Hob Nob Anyone? News and Views

Run Of League Defeats Ends But Royals Still Bottom

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 09:05:24 +0000

Sam Smith scored a well-deserved first goal of the season with an excellent strike just before half time. Reading, as so often this season, were unable to hold on to their advantage for very long. Rovers levelled the scores twelve minutes into the second half. Both sides were given a helping hand in salvaging a point by a referee who turned down strong and justified claims for a penalty at either end in stoppage time. Although in a game littered with careless errors, neither could claim they deserved better. READ MORE: Reading 1 Bristol Rovers 1 - Report and Fan Opinion...

Reading To Face Eastleigh In Round Two

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 10:50:26 +0000

Reading have been drawn away to Eastleigh in the second round of the FA Cup. Despite a second half red card, National League Eastleigh thrashed league rivals Boreham Wood 5-1 this weekend to progress to round two. The tier five club are currently midtable but will certainly fancy their chances when they take on Reading at home on the weekend of the 2nd December. Meanwhile Reading, sitting bottom of the League One table, have actually had good cup form this season with big wins in the EFL Trophy and now an FA Cup victory after Saturday's 3-2 home win over Milton Keynes at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. Reading will expect to get a ticket allocation of approximately 600 for the tie, which is certain to instantly sell out to season ticket holders.

FA Cup Victory

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 10:43:37 +0000

Reading made an excellent start to this FA cup tie. A superbly weighted Wing pass sliced open the MK Dons defence in the third minute and Ehibhatiomhan's well-timed run put him in possession. The young striker still had a lot to do but his first touch took him inside the last defender before beating 'keeper Kelly at the near post with a crisp finish. In spite of taking an early lead through well taken goal, Reading failed to take control of the game largely due to the impact of Ruben Selles' policy of using cup competitions to rest key players and give his talented youngsters the opportunity to gain first team experience.
Reading 3 Milton Keynes 2 - READ MORE...

Reading Bottom After Dropping Two Goal Lead

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 10:00:02 +0000
Reading stunned the huge contingent of travelling Pompey fans into silence racing into a two goal lead midway through the first half with excellent strikes from Wing and Savage. A two goal lead usually provides a platform to control the game, but at no stage did Reading look in control. Startled by their unexpected success the Royals sat back and defended poorly. Portsmouth, unbeaten this season, were always going to take advantage of that situation. Gaping holes at the back and an absence of pressure on the ball resulted in an inevitable Pompey goal. Anjorin reduced the lead after thirty three minutes drifting unchallenged into the box to beat Button from ten yards.
READ MORE: Reading 2 Portsmouth 3 - Match Report and Fan Opinion

Royals In Huge Trouble After Home Defeat To Fleetwood

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 09:51:23 +0000
After falling behind to an early goal, Reading came back strongly in the second half to level the score through Ballard after fifty-six minutes. Dominating possession and creating sufficient good chances to win the game, Reading failed to convert pressure in to goals, and then almost inevitably allowed Fleetwood to take all three points with a stoppage time winner. The Royals have now gone six league games without a win and it is hard to see how they are going to end that sequence. Certainly a home game against table-topping Portsmouth on Saturday appears an unlikely fixture to end the current dismal run.
READ MORE: Reading 1 Fleetwood 2 - Match Report

Oxford Game Re-Arranged To 12 December

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 12:03:16 +0000
This weekend's League One fixture at home against Oxford United has been postponed and re-arranged to Tuesday 12 December 2023, with an 8pm kick-off at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. The game was postponed due to international calls ups, which included Charlie Savage making his full debut for Wales playing the full 90 minutes of a 4-0 victory over Gibraltar last night.

Reading will be hoping for a repeat performance of their latest victory over a local rival after smashing Swindon Town 4-0 on Tuesday night. Oxford are riding high in second place in the League One table after winning 9 of their opening 11 league fixtures - so should offer a tougher fixture.

Reading have won the last five fixtures played between the Royals and Oxford United.

Recent Meetings With OXFORD

DATE OPPOSITION COMPETITION SCORE REPORT

25 August 2004 Oxford (Away) League Cup W: 2-0 Report...

24 September 2003 Oxford (Away) League Cup W: 3-1 Report...

17 April 2001 Oxford (Away) Division Two W: 2-0 Report...

28 October 2000 Oxford (HOME) Division Two W: 4-3 Report...

07 March 2000 Oxford (Away) Division Two W: 3-1 Report...

07 November 1999 Oxford (HOME) Division Two L: 1-2 Report...

17 March 1998 Oxford (Away) Division 1 L: 0-3 Report...

13 September 1997 Oxford (HOME) Division 1 W: 2-1 Report...

28 December 1996 Oxford (Away) Division 1 L: 1-2

08 September 1996 Oxford (HOME) Division 1 W: 2-0 Report...

Reading Thrash Swindon In FL Trophy

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 11:57:38 +0000
A Harvey Knibbs hat-trick laid the foundations for a comfortable victory to send The Royals through to the next stage of the EFL Trophy. Reading took control of the game from the kick-off and were rarely troubled by the visitors. Knibbs gave Reading an early lead when allowed an extraordinary amount of time in the box to tee up his shot before rifling the ball past Town's ex Reading 'keeper Lewis Ward. Rushesha and Craig were busy in midfield and dictated play as Town struggled to retain possession rarely able to escape their own half.

FL Trophy: Reading 5 Swindon Town 0 - Read More...

Reading Disappoint In Game They Should Have Won

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 10:30:52 +0000
Once again Reading fans demonstrated loyalty to their team and club, and their anger at owner Dia Yongge and the EFL in no uncertain terms. For the second game in succession play was held up to allow ground staff to remove a deluge of tennis balls hurled on to the pitch by home fans. The ten minute delay drew attention to current shortcomings off the pitch holding the club back, but probably didn't help their team gather any momentum in a match which really should have yielded three points.
Reading 0 Burton Albion 0: Match Report and Fan Opinion

Reading Stage Late Comeback To Defeat Bolton

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 10:09:02 +0000
A stunning long range strike from Charlie Savage, and a sharp near post finish from the lively and energetic Vickers, completed a brilliant comeback by the current youthful and talented Reading team. It was the perfect response to the most recent EFL points deduction setback earlier in the week. The home fans, showing solidarity in their support for the players, were right behind the team from start to finish spurring them on to a morale-boosting win and a valuable three points. At the moment the club seems to be treading water in terms of building the season's campaign, but there is an undoubted spark of energy and enthusiasm within the club in spite of the apparent shortcomings from the club's owner.
Reading 2 Bolton Wanderers 1: Match Report and Opinion

Three More Points Deducted

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 09:13:25 +0000
Reading have been deducted three more points to bring the total to four points removed this season so far. The latest points deduction sees Reading drop into the bottom four in the table with just two points, despite picking up two league wins this season. Reading were required to pay 125 percent of their monthly wage bill into an account by Tuesday this week to avoid a suspended points deduction, but failed to do that. The Royals have now been docked 10 points in total in 2023.

Button Arrival Confirmed

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 15:08:45 +0000
Reading have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper David Button who arrives on a free transfer having left Championship club West Bromwich Albion. Thirty four year old Button comes with mixed reviews but there is no doubting his experience in a career that saw his first appearances out on loan at Grays Athletic while on Tottenham's books in 2008. Button has played for 17 different clubs, mostly out on loan from Spurs before a move to Brentford where he came their number 1 in 2013.

He impressed at Brentford to earn a two million pound transfer to Fulham three years later. In the summer of 2018 Brighton paid four million pounds for Button but he went on to make just four League appearances for the side over two years. Button joined West Brom three years ago but only made 24 league appearances - including 13 last season in the Championship. Button could shortly be Reading's third goalkeeper to make a start after Boyce-Clarke playing in our League Cup victory and Bouzanis was in goal for Reading's opening day defeat at home against Peterborough. Button has signed a two year contract with the Royals.

Surprise Win As Young Royals Thrash Millwall

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 10:04:01 +0000
Reading are through to the second round of the League Cup after a huge 4-0 win awau at Millwall. The win was earnt by a very youthful Reading side that averaged just over 20 years of age, and came as a huge surprise. It was Ruben Selles first win, or anything other than a defeat, as Reading manager and only the third of his managerial career. Reading's first win since February 2023 came completely out of the blue after Selles swapped out a large number of first team players and opted to give game time to fringe players.

New signing American 18-year old Tyler Bindon was handed his first start immediately after signing and fellow 18 year old Caylon Vickers was impressive in his first starting appearance. Ehibhatiomhan put Reading in front inside the first minute after being supplied by Vickers and Reading's young team never looked back. In the second half Ehibhatiomhan scored his second and Reading looked comfortable when Charlie Savage scored his first Reading goal and his second ever competitive goal. Late on Mamadi Camara made his four with his first career goal.

League Cup Round One: Millwall 0 Reading 4 - Fan Opinion - Read More...

DATE	OPPOSITION	COMPETITION	SCORE	REPORT
25 August 2004	Oxford (Away)	League Cup	W: 2-0	Report...
24 September 2003	Oxford (Away)	League Cup	W: 3-1	Report...
17 April 2001	Oxford (Away)	Division Two	W: 2-0	Report...
28 October 2000	Oxford (HOME)	Division Two	W: 4-3	Report...
07 March 2000	Oxford (Away)	Division Two	W: 3-1	Report...
07 November 1999	Oxford (HOME)	Division Two	L: 1-2	Report...
17 March 1998	Oxford (Away)	Division 1	L: 0-3	Report...
13 September 1997	Oxford (HOME)	Division 1	W: 2-1	Report...
28 December 1996	Oxford (Away)	Division 1	L: 1-2
08 September 1996	Oxford (HOME)	Division 1	W: 2-0	Report...