When : Saturday 27th October 2018
Where : Liberty Stadium, Morfa, Swansea, SA1 2FA
Capacity : 21,088
Away Stand : North Stand
What might I see in the area : Sheep
This is one of those games, and there are probably a few of those this season, that most expect Reading to lose. Swansea are all freshly down from the PL and looking for a way back up quickly. They have a very useful squad with the likes of one time Reading target Jay Fulton, Kyle Naughton, Wilfried Bony, Leroy Fer etc. and are more than capable of dispatching the misfiring Royals.
However Swansea are misfiring themselves, though only 4 points off the play offs they have only 3 wins in 12 league games. However they won 3-1 v Blackburn on Tuesday and, apparently, turned on the style in the second half to come from behind. Graham Potter though likes to alter his formation to counter the opposition so quite what he’ll make of Reading’s unsettled squad and form remains to be seen.
This match will also see the return of Paul Clement to his employers of a year ago so he may get a rough ride but then at least he’ll have some knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of some of the Swansea squad. And, of course, Reading will have one time Swan Modou Barrow sitting the game out after a “breach of discipline”.
As usual it seems, Reading’s opponents are fairly free of injury with only Luciano Narsingh out. In contrast Reading’s injuries continue to give a headache with Eza, Obita, Richards, Clement and Edwards all out plus there will, no doubt, be the standard weekly mystery injury looking to claim it’s next victim.
Referee
Keith Stroud will have the pleasure of joining the Royals on the pitch to regale us all with his refereeing expertise
Previously
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
This will be the 33rd league visit to Swansea who have been consistent opponents stretching all the way back to 1920. In that time there have been 9 wins for Reading but 16 wins for the Swans. There have been only 2 goalless draws in that run but Reading have had a tendency to “come a cropper real good” on several visits, esp. in the 1960s when they conceded 5 goals on three consecutive visits. That said, though, the biggest win was Reading’s 6-1 hammering of Swansea back in 1989 of all seasons.
However Reading are still looking for their first league win at the Liberty Stadium being on a run of LDLD at the moment.
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel
- 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)
