News and Views
Plenty Of Changes Expected For League Cup Game
14 August 2018
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading manager Paul Clement looks set to make plenty of changes tonight as Birmingham City visit the Madejski Stadium for a first round League Cup tie. The Royals might enjoy a break from the league after two straight defeats sees them bottom of the very early Championship table. Birmingham haven't done much better and have just a single point to show from their league games with a 2-2 home draw against Norwich and a 0-1 defeat on the road at Middlesbrough.
Last season Reading got through two rounds of the League Cup before a third round exit at home to Swansea City. This time around Reading have a tougher start against Championship opposition and will be looking to use the tie to give some match action to players who have been forced to wait their turn. The same will apply to the visitors who are certain to also mix up their starting eleven for a match that has little significance.
For Reading we should see players who have been on the bench make some starts and that could include McNulty up front, Richards in defence and both Swift and O'Shea will be hoping to get some game time to make a claim for a starting place in the league. New signing Sam Walker is likely to be given a chance in goal after signing from Colchester in the summer.
Last season Birmingham City were 2-0 winners against Reading in the league at the Madejski. So Reading will be hoping to repeat their away performance from the last campaign when goals from Bodvarsson and Evans secured an away win by the same score line. Our last cup game against City was way back in January 2007 whenre we were 3-2 winners on the road.
Recent Meetings With Birmingham City
| DATE | COMPETITION | OPPOSITION | SCORE | REPORT |
| 02 January 2018 | Championship | Birmingham (HOME) | L: 0-2 | Read report... |
| 26 August 2017 | Championship | Birmingham (Away) | W: 2-0 | Read report... |
| 31 January 2017 | Championship | Birmingham (Away) | W: 1-0 | Read report... |
| 13 September 2016 | Championship | Birmingham (HOME) | D: 0-0 | Read report... |
| 09 April 2016 | Championship | Birmingham (HOME) | L: 0-2 | Read report... |
| 08 August 2015 | Championship | Birmingham (Away) | L: 1-2 | Read report... |
| 22 April 2015 | Championship | Birmingham (HOME) | L: 0-1 | Read report... |
| 13 December 2014 | Championship | Birmingham (Away) | L: 1-6 | Read report... |
| 22 March 2014 | Championship | Birmingham (Away) | W: 2-1 | Read report... |
| 28 September 2013 | Championship | Birmingham (HOME) | W: 2-0 | Read report... |
| 28 April 2012 | Championship | Birmingham (Away) | L: 0-2 | Read report... |
| 06 November 2011 | Championship | Birmingham (HOME) | W: 1-0 | Read report... |
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