When : Wednesday 22nd July, 7.30pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161
At last the end of the season and we can all look forward to 4-6 weeks off for pre-season(!) training, speculation, rumour and surprises etc. before starting all over again - although hopefully without the podding awful home form.
You can see there's sort of something about Reading that is struggling to get out and could be quite successful but is just continually failing as the right mix obviously isn't quite there yet. The summer will see changes to the playing side that will hopefully enable that right mix to be pulled together, the most obvious requirement being to find the formula that enables consistent threat to be carried to all opponents as Reading have lacked so badly in this area for years.
Swansea are, unfortunately, the one side left outside the top 6 (and in the top 20) with something to play for however, even with their last game being a trip to Reading to claim what usually is one of the easiest away 3 points of the season, it will take a miracle for them to knock their arch rivals Cardiff out of the top 6 as Cardiff face a home game against the all but doomed Hull City.
Liverpool loanee Rhian Brewster is going to one of the main threats to stifle as he has hit 9 in 18 appearances since joining in January (perhaps he should be a loan target for Reading for next season) but Reading shouldn’t get complacent thinking that’s all they need to do as Andre Ayew is almost as big a threat with 15 goals in 42.
Form for the Swans is currently a bit up and down with 4 wins and 4 draws to show from the last 11 league games played while Reading have a terrific run of 1 win in 13 home games to try and lose. That said Swansea have only managed 2 more points than Reading over the last 11 league games so, theoretically, there shouldn’t actually be that much between them - least not until the players realise they’re playing at the Madejski Stadium.
Just for the record, Reading could finish as high as 13th if results go their way. 16th is the lowest finish possible (goal difference will save them from any lower) if results go against them (although that will become 15th if Wigan do have points deducted).
Referee
Referees for this midweek round of games are still to be confirmed. Given there’s something riding on it you would expect one of the more experienced officials to get the honour.
Historically
Reading and Swansea have played each at all 4 levels of the Football/Premier League over 33 previous seasons. Therefore this is the 34th league game played at the Reading end of things and so far it’s 18 wins to Reading and 9 to Swansea though Reading have failed to win any of the last 4 league games played in the town.
How to follow the game
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use an iFollow subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)