MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

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Sutekh
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MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by Sutekh » 14 Aug 2022 17:05




When : Wednesday 17 August 2022, 8pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

Blackburn’s team bus is scheduled to turn up next, be good if it didn’t contain any players but, sadly, that’s probably a little on the unlikely side. This is the first serious test of the season from a club that looks (at this early stage anyway) to be one that will be giving serious attention to at least the play off places so Reading will need to be well organised and on their game to get be able to anything out of it, especially after the utterly hopeless performance at Rotherham.

The last away trip for the Rovers saw them return from Swansea with 3 points after a very comfortable 3-0 win which caught the eye a little amongst some even with Swansea’s recent run of poor home form. Previous home games for the Ewood boys have seen them brush aside QPR by 1-0 before WBA arrived on Sunday and were beaten by 2 goals to 1 so Blackburn are now one of the only 2 remaining clubs in the FL with a 100% success league record (the other club is Leyton Orient). Deep joy to that then, just what you want hoving into view when you have practically double figure injuries and a defence that in each game can’t give away goals quickly enough.

The most serious threat seems to be Ben Brereton (now with added Diaz since making the Chile squad (his mother is Chilean)) who is a fine player at this level as the 22 goals (37 apps) last season shows and if Blackburn can hang onto him in this window then I reckon they will certainly be amongst those thinking of making a claim for an end of season promotion party. The summer also saw the Rovers acquire Sammie Szmodics from Peterborough and Callum Brittain from Barnsley while the continuing presence of Sam Gallagher shows a very useful squad indeed. Interestingly an early leader in the goal scoring stakes at Ewood is defender Lewis Travis which would immediately suggest some decent dead ball expertise at corners and free-kicks so would suggest Reading really don’t want to be presenting too many of those situations to Blackburn on the night.

It is rumoured Reading have a match fit outfield senior professional somewhere but obviously Paul Ince is keeping quiet about just who that player is to try and keep Blackburn’s new manager, Jon Dahl Tomassen, guessing about team selection.

Referee

Keith "5 years and 9 games since a Reading win" Stroud

Previously

02 Apr 2022 > Barnsley 1-1 Reading
19 Dec 2020 > Brentford 3-1 Reading
07 Nov 2020 > Reading 0-3 Stoke City
08 Jan 2020 > Millwall 2-0 Reading
28 Sep 2019 > Swansea City 1-1 Reading
05 May 2019 > Reading 0-0 Birmingham City
10 Apr 2019 > Norwich City 2-2 Reading
27 Oct 2018 > Swansea City 2-0 Reading
28 Apr 2018 > Reading 0-4 Ipswich Town
02 Dec 2017 > Sunderland 1-3 Reading
04 Nov 2017 > Derby County 2-4 Reading
01 Apr 2017 > Reading 1-0 Leeds United
14 Feb 2017 > Reading 3-2 Brentford
19 Nov 2016 > Reading 3-0 Burton Albion
28 Dec 2015 > Reading 1-2 Brentford
07 Nov 2015 > Cardiff City 2-0 Reading
03 Oct 2015 > Reading 2-0 Middlesbrough
14 Apr 2015 > Reading 0-1 Bournemouth
29 Mar 2014 > Reading 1-1 Huddersfield Town
11 Jan 2014 > Watford 0-1 Reading
13 Aug 2011 > Leicester City 0-2 Reading
03 Apr 2010 > Ipswich Town 2-1 Reading
06 Feb 2010 > Doncaster Rovers 1-2 Reading
29 Dec 2007 > Tottenham Hotspur 6-4 Reading
22 Sep 2007 > Reading 2-1 Wigan Athletic
25 Feb 2006 > Reading 2-1 Preston North End
23 Aug 2005 > Reading 3-1 Swansea City (League Cup)

Historically

Reading hadn't played a league game against Blackburn until a 1-1 draw on Saturday 1st December 1979. Since then there's been a further 12 visits from the Rovers and it's a case of 6 wins to Reading and 3 to Blackburn. Apart from one game, things have tended to be very close affairs with a goal deciding it or more than likely no goals happening whatsoever.

How to follow the game

  1. Ticket up and go
  2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
  3. Ring/text a mate for updates
  4. Use a RoyalTV subscription
  5. Red button
  6. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

Royal_jimmy
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by Royal_jimmy » 14 Aug 2022 17:21

0-2 defeat and 1 shot on target for us nailed on. At least Lumley should perform better than Saturday

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skipper
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by skipper » 14 Aug 2022 17:32

The worst time to be playing the team arguably tipped for playoffs at the very least. Let's hope for a reaction to Saturdays game. I'm still struggling to belive we have an injury crisis that's now lasted at least 2 seasons. What the hell is going on?

I cannot predict a team and honestly don't know who I'd want to put out right now anyway.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by Royal_jimmy » 14 Aug 2022 17:35

skipper The worst time to be playing the team arguably tipped for playoffs at the very least. Let's hope for a reaction to Saturdays game. I'm still struggling to belive we have an injury crisis that's now lasted at least 2 seasons. What the hell is going on?

I cannot predict a team and honestly don't know who I'd want to put out right now anyway.


As I've said many times the medical team needs replacing with a new bunch. Surely they can't do any worse. Im a marketer and if my strategy led my company to lose more money than it made over several years then I'd be shown the door. Bad luck happens but this is a persistent problem and the club need to get a grip on this now.
Last edited by Royal_jimmy on 14 Aug 2022 17:36, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by blythspartan » 14 Aug 2022 17:36

Cheers for for another great write up. I am looking forward to going to this one but dreading it at the same time. If T Ince is injured we might have 9 senior players and the rest from the under 18/23s.

I can only see another heavy defeat but I just want to see the players give everything on the pitch and to cut out the stupid errors.


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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by Royal_jimmy » 14 Aug 2022 17:37

Depressing where we are we a club when we only expect a defeat in a home game vs Blackburn who haven't been close to getting promoted to the premier league since their relegation in 2012

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by Zip » 14 Aug 2022 17:38

We need a boost before Wednesday with incomings or players fit to play otherwise it’s going to be another grim game

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by blythspartan » 14 Aug 2022 17:39

Do people on here think we have got our recruitment right? Personally I am happy with it but I am surprised we have been left in the position where we need to offload player/s before we can make another signing.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by Snowflake Royal » 14 Aug 2022 17:58

Cheers Sutekh

I think we need a change of approach. I think our shape and our start are far too negative.

......................Lumley*
Yiadom, Holmes, McIntyre, NGW
Hoilett, Loum, Hendrick, Ince
...........Long, Ehibhatiomhan

Ince and Hoilett can both play as traditional wingers and Yiadom and NGW are both good getting forward. All of them are fairly athletic and can get up and down the pitch well. Having proper wingers will help giving the fullbacks a partnership down the flanks and proper defensive support to avoid beig exposed.

Long and Kelvin E can press from the front or drop in and pack midfield as needed. Also gives someone for Long to feed with flicks.

Ideally, it wouldn't be a Holmes-McIntyre partnership, but we're low on options there. Lumley needs this chance to redeem himself, and Blackburn is not the time to throw in Bouzanis or Andresson and risk having two different keepers having a 'mare inside a week.


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Snowflake Royal
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by Snowflake Royal » 14 Aug 2022 18:00

blythspartan Do people on here think we have got our recruitment right? Personally I am happy with it but I am surprised we have been left in the position where we need to offload player/s before we can make another signing.

Not particularly. But we haven't seen enough of everyone to tell, and we've been very limited in options.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by Cuppliance » 14 Aug 2022 18:30

Blackburn have a few injuries recently. Bit of a defender crisis with Wharton injured for a few weeks, Ayala being injury prone in general and Carter still out. Still haven’t really replaced Nyambe and Lenihan yet either.

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NathStPaul
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by NathStPaul » 14 Aug 2022 18:32

Keith Stroud is a massive crook, we are doomed.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by SCIAG » 14 Aug 2022 18:37

blythspartan Do people on here think we have got our recruitment right? Personally I am happy with it but I am surprised we have been left in the position where we need to offload player/s before we can make another signing.

I’m not sure what “got right” means in this context.

NGW, Fornah, and the keepers all seem to me to be desperation signings. In normal times we might have signed one keeper to be a back-up to a Rafael/Mannone type.

Jury out on the rest.


Stranded
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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by Stranded » 14 Aug 2022 20:05

Blackburn just like us at start of 20/21, not really conceding when under pressure and scoring from every shot.

As we seem to now be conceding from every shot, who the hell knows what the score will be.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by windermereROYAL » 14 Aug 2022 20:11

Stranded Blackburn just like us at start of 20/21, not really conceding when under pressure and scoring from every shot.

As we seem to now be conceding from every shot, who the hell knows what the score will be.


They`ve scored 6 goals from 10 on target efforts this season.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by Hound » 14 Aug 2022 21:17

Didn’t they do exactly this last year?

Brereton is quality though, fair play to him. Seems to have been pretty central to their Victories so far. Can’t see us keeping him quiet

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by windermereROYAL » 14 Aug 2022 21:52

I`ll take a clean sheet after 10 minutes has a positive.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by NathStPaul » 15 Aug 2022 09:44

Hound Didn’t they do exactly this last year?

Brereton is quality though, fair play to him. Seems to have been pretty central to their Victories so far. Can’t see us keeping him quiet

I know it's not ideal but I'd really like us to employ some "dark arts" against him and kick him to pieces. We are still such a soft touch, almost afraid of any sort of conflict. If we can't outplay teams then why not try and out fight them?

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by Royals and Racers » 15 Aug 2022 09:47

Surely with Lumley unable to play on Saturday it will be sensible to play someone else for 2 games.

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Re: MATCHWATCH : Blackburn Rovers (h)

by Gus the teenage cow » 15 Aug 2022 09:49

Have we got what it takes?

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