Short Away Trip For Club and the Fans
What a great start to the season, after 14 games and with 10 wins and 4 draws our team are sitting top of the Championship with 34 points, 5 points more than the team in second place Fulham. This must be the highest number of points from that number of games for many a season in the Championship. The first half performance was one of the best I have seen from this side, dominating possession and outclassing the Huddersfield Town side who up to this game had gone three games with a clean sheet. Two early goals from Dominic Solanke and a second half one from Lloyd Kelly decided this game, that is 8 goals the Yorkshire side have conceded in their last two visits to Dean Court. No midweek game this time and our team are in action again on Saturday evening at 8 pm in front of the Sky cameras away at Reading, the shortest away trip for our club and fans in the League.
Last season Reading were the pacemakers and after 8 games were 7 points clear at the top of the Championship after 7 wins and a draw with 22 points. But they then lost their next 4 games including the last of the four at Dean Court. Then at the same stage last season after 14 games they had dropped down into 4th place with 26 points. The three teams that would eventually get promoted were in the top seven, two automatically promoted Norwich were top with 28 points, AFCB second 27 points and Watford third 26 points with Brentford seventh on 23 points.
The Reading manager Velijko Paunovic is in his second season with the club. Reading have signed six players, three free transfer and three on loan. Amongst their free signings is Scott Dann from Crystal Palace. Amongst a number who have left the club is 19-year-old midfielder Michael Olise who was Reading’s highest player with 12 assists in the league last season, he was also their third highest scorer with 7, he joined Crystal Palace for a reported £8 million.
Reading are known as the Royals, the nickname coming from them being in the Royal County of Berkshire, but they were previously known as the Biscuitmen as Huntley & Palmers biscuits were based there until their closure in the 1970’s. This season in their opening 8 games Reading have had a mixed start, winning 3, drawn 1 and lost 4. The last 6 games they have won 3, lost 3. At home they have beaten Preston, Peterborough, Middlesbrough and Barnsley. Drew with QPR and lost to Bristol City and Blackpool. Away they are the only team to have won at Fulham and also beaten Cardiff City. They have lost at Stoke City, Coventry City, Huddersfield Town, Derby County and Blackburn Rovers. Reading are 13th in the table with 19 points.
Over the years on our visits to play Reading we have had some very tight results, the last six games decided by the only goal or two, plus two draws, 2-2 and 3-3. Last season we were losing 3-0 by half-time and a goal with five minutes of normal time of the game to go, Junior Stanislas scored the only goal of the second half.
In all our league games away at Reading, AFCB have W 14, D 8, L 31.
All competitions, AFCB have W 45, D 24, L 43.
Reading Team News
They have a big injury list, this includes striker Lucas Joao their leading striker last season with 19 league goals, also 7 assists and the second highest scorer Yakou Meite who had 12.
Reading Player To Watch
John Swift is a strong midfield player, leading with 8 goals and 6 assists this season. He has been linked with a number of Premier League teams with a possible move in January.
AFCB Team News
Might be too soon for Adam Smith and Lewis Cook to be involved in the squad, but otherwise no new injuries/illness reported.
AFCB Player To Watch
Reading’s strength is in their midfield at the moment, so Kilkenny, Billing and Lerma being on form will be important to win the midfield ‘battle’, plus Christie’s assists and Solanke’s goals.
) and if we continue like that then an average of 2 goals per game should still be plenty !
