When : 4th September 2022, 12 noon
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161
After normal service was unsurprisingly restored at Sheffield on Tuesday, Reading have the chance to make things not quite so bad by getting the better of Alex Neil’s new charges in the shape of Stoke City.
Stoke have had a poorish start to the season but the dismissal of one time Reading loanee Michael O’Neil seems to have lifted things in the five towns being that they promptly visited Blackburn and collected 3 points. So not only are they seemingly on the up but the arrival of Alex Neil makes it extremely hard to know what to expect from the Potters when they rock up at the SCL on Sunday.
One thing we do know is that Stoke are very much in transition with a fair amount of change happening to their squad in the close season. Out went Benik Afobe, Tom Ince, Joe Allen, Alfie Doughty, James Chester, Steven Fletcher, William Forrester, Adam Porter, Tommy Smith, Christian Norton and Kieran Coates to be replaced by four permanent deals; Josh Laurent, Liam McCarron, Dwight Gayle and Aden Flint and five loanees in Harry Clarke, Will Smallbone, Gavin Kilkenny, Tariq Fosu-Henry and Liam Delap.
Existing players, Lewis Baker and Jacob Brown have been providing the main threat having bagged 4 of Stoke’s 5 league goals so far. Youngster D’Margio Wright-Phillips is also starting to show real promise so there’s going to be plenty for Reading to have to get to grips with in this one.
Injuries are still an issue for Reading with Sarr a doubt after picking up a calf injury and Dann once again back in the treatment room after he did his hamstring (and to think the club could have promoted Dorsett instead
) and thus rejoins Azeez, Moore, Meite and Ejaria.Stoke though have 5 players out so no Harry Souttar, Josh Laurent, Harry Clarke, Josh Tyson or Nick Powell to trouble Reading this time.
Lastly it’s on Sky which is a problem given Reading’s “on as the main live game game on Sky” record of 7 wins from the last 30 attempts.
Referee
David Coote
Previously
27 Oct 20 > Blackburn Rovers 2-4 Reading
22 Jul 20 > Reading 1-4 Swansea City
07 July 20 > Reading 0-0 Huddersfield Town
05 Oct 19 > Bristol City 1-0 Reading
13 April 19 > Reading 2-1 Brentford
13 Feb 19 > Reading 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
22 Dec 18 > Reading 0-1 Middlesbrough
14 Apr 18 > Reading 2-2 Sunderland
27 Feb 18 > Nottm Forest 1-1 Reading
11 Dec 17 > Reading 2-2 Cardiff City
23 Sep 17 > Reading 1-1 Hull City
26 Aug 17 > Birmingham City 0-2 Reading
24 Jan 17 > Reading 1-0 Fulham
15 Oct 16 > Queen's Park Rangers 1-1 Reading
15 Mar 16 > Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Reading
23 Jan 16 > Reading 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday
19 Sep 15 > Bristol City 0-2 Reading
25 Mar 14 > Reading 1-3 Barnsley
Historically
This will be the 27th league visit by Stoke City to Reading. Of the previous 26 games Reading have won 11 and lost 5. Reading have only lost once in the last 17 home games (9 wins, 7 draws) and have only failed to score in two of those games so this fixture has been a bit of a ‘mare for the Potters generally.
However the issue now is that Reading have only beaten Stoke once in the last 11 games played in all competitions.
How to follow the game
- Buy a ticket and go to the game
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Live on Sky
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use a RoyalTV subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
