MATCHWATCH : Burnley (a)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday 29th October 2022, 3pm
Where : Turf Moor, Harry Potts Way, Burnley, BB10 4BX
Capacity : 21,944

Off to Burnley next for probably the fourth longest away trip of the season that it’s going to be a real pleasure to get out of the way as it is such a long trek and also because, well they’re rather good (and starting to show consistency at being rather good).

On the upside Burnley played midweek while Reading had it off (oo’er missus) so Reading theoretically should be a bit fresher. On the downside a late Rodriguez penalty earned them 3 points and consequently Reading are now facing a trip to the new league leaders.

This is going to be extremely difficult, Burnley have now played 17 league games but they’ve only won 8, however they’ve drawn another 8 so their only defeat so far has been a 1-0 reverse at Watford way back in mid August therefore Burnley have won 7 and drawn 7 of their last 14 games. Reading though have been a regular paragon of invincibility away from home so this should be a real test for Burnley too.

After relegation from the PL Burnley lost around 13 players over the summer including Tarkowski, Hennessy and Pope but they brought 11 players from various levels of the game; Scott Twine and Luke McNally both arrived from division 3 for fees well in excess of a million while RoI international midfielder Josh Cullen returned to the U.K. from Anderlecht for £2.7m and some bright prospects also arrived for undisclosed fees from the continent - Anass Zarourey and Vitinho.

Biggest threats though are Jay Rodriguez (33 now but still leading the Burnley goal charts with 8 so far) and Southampton loanee Nathan Tella (6 goals). Josh Brownhill and Johann Gudmundsson are proving very useful in midfield and developing a decent combination with the aforementioned Zarourey. Defensively Vitinho and Harwood-Bellis are proving difficult to break down. Burnley tend to play a 4-2-3-1 formation and unfortunately, given Reading’s Swansea experience, are rather good at something called “ball possession” whatever that is.

Scott Twine, Darko Churlinov and Ashley Barnes are all injured for Burnley and Jack Cork was booked against Norwich so he will be suspended for this game. Reading’s squad hasn’t, as far we know, picked up any additional injuries following the Bristol game and may be able to boast the return of both Femi Azeez and Sam Hutchinson if all goes well. Loum needs to watch it though as another booking in the next 3 games will earn him an immediate 1 game suspension.

Referee

Jeremy Simpson

Previously

07 May 2022 > Luton Town 1-0 Reading
29 Jan 2022 > Queens Park Rangers 4-0 Reading
20 Oct 2021 > Reading 2-3 Blackpool
02 Jan 2021 > Huddersfield 1-2 Reading
28 Nov 2020 > Reading 3-1 Bristol City
29 Feb 2020 > Reading 2-0 Barnsley
30 Nov 2019 > Wigan Athletic 1-3 Reading
22 Oct 2019 > Queens Park Rangers 2-2 Reading
23 Feb 2019 > Reading 1-1 Rotherham United
22 Sep 2018 > Reading 3-0 Hull City
21 Apr 2018 > Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 Reading
14 Oct 2017 > Leeds United 0-1 Reading
31 Jan 2017 > Birmingham City 0-1 Reading
17 Dec 2016 > Blackburn Rovers 2-3 Reading
09 Sep 2016 > Reading 2-1 Ipswich Town (managed to book 9 players)
16 Apr 2016 > Leeds United 3-2 Reading
09 Jan 2016 > Huddersfield Town 2-2 Reading (FA Cup 3)
20 Oct 2015 > Rotherham United 1-1 Reading

Historically

Long away trip. Far reaches of Lancashire got to be a real graveyard for Reading this one right? Wrong! Reading usually do quite well at the “Turf” for some reason. Not always of course as there have some embarrassing moments such as the first ever visit which saw the home team deal an 8-1 stuffing out to the Biscuitmen but generally Reading seem to be a bit of a bogey team for Burnley.

For this fixture Reading gave trekked up to Turf Moor on 18 previous occasions (nearly all since 1980-81) and won 9 times while Burnley have only de-hooped the ‘ding on 6 occasions. However Burnley have been away from the plebs in the lower divisions for about 6 years and so have a rather decent squad so the bogeyness of Reading will probably be at its weakest effect this season (particularly given the ffp issues at the Berkshire end of things).

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket 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 RoyalsTV subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[Mr Angry]

Thanks as always Sutekh.....

Going to Turf Moor, there is a roundabout that looks over the town before you drop down to the ground; the view over the acres of terraced, back to back houses from that roundabout always made me mentally hear the Coronation Street theme playing in my head - and in black and white!

Back to the game; a point here would be great - 3 points would be up there as result of the season!

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Thanks as always Sutekh.....

Going to Turf Moor, there is a roundabout that looks over the town before you drop down to the ground; the view over the acres of terraced, back to back houses from that roundabout always made me mentally hear the Coronation Street theme playing in my head - and in black and white!

Back to the game; a point here would be great - 3 points would be up there as result of the season!

Yep. Absolute backwards place is Burnley, awful place with awful people.

Will be a tough game but fancy us to give them a game. They tend to draw a few games, even with their current 14 game unbeaten run. It could be one of two things for me, either a resounding 4-0 defeat or a 1-1 draw.

[Whore Jackie]

Thanks Sutekh. I'm finally knocking Turf Moor off the list this weekend, some 30+ years since Mrs WJ attended, with her then boyfriend. He didn't last the distance.

[windermereROYAL]

Similar but better possession based side to Swansea, if we sit deep again we will get murdered. very impressed with them last night.

[Norfolk Royal]

Similar but better possession based side to Swansea, if we sit deep again we will get murdered. very impressed with them last night.

They did look very good but you can see why they've drawn eight games. For all their possession and good pass and move last night they created very few, if any, clear openings. The best chance of the game fell to Norwich.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Ince said in today's press conf that Hutch had an outside chance but no one else who's injured was due back before the world cup break

No idea what's going on with Azeez, original injury at the end of pre-season was 6-8 weeks

[Sutekh]

Burnley midfielder Josh Cullen is also doubt for the game having missed their game on Tuesday.

[Stranded]

First of 4 away games in the 5 before the WC, need to pick up some points away, so this is as good a place as any to do so.

[Hound]

Expecting a comfortable defeat here. Burnley look on decent form

[Franconian Royal]

Is there a prediction league for this?

[Orion1871]

Expecting a comfortable defeat here. Burnley look on decent form

I'm expecting a pasting if they play like they did in the first half against Norwich.

[Hendo]

Expecting a comfortable defeat here. Burnley look on decent form

Obviously a bit different as this is away, rather than home, but I was expecting the same from Norwich and I was pleasantly surprised

[Stranded]

Whatever happens I hope we are a lot less passive than we were at Swansea - I know it "nearly" worked in the sense we got a two goal lead but we had no way to counter things once the tide turned. I don't mind smash and grab but need to stop them from being camped around our box.

[wally bassoon]

Looking forward to ticking this one off on Saturday, best place to park anyone?

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Looking forward to ticking this one off on Saturday, best place to park anyone?

Plenty of car parks in the area that usually charge £5 to stay there. Haven't been in a while so can't remember the names of the car parks, but there are a couple of good car parks available that are a 5–10-minute walk from the ground.

I'd avoid any back alley or side streets though, if possible, don't trust the folk from Burnley.

[Hendo]

Looking forward to ticking this one off on Saturday, best place to park anyone?

Plenty of car parks in the area that usually charge £5 to stay there. Haven't been in a while so can't remember the names of the car parks, but there are a couple of good car parks available that are a 5–10-minute walk from the ground.

I'd avoid any back alley or side streets though, if possible, don't trust the folk from Burnley.

Might be able to park in the cricket club? I know you can drink in there and it is just round the back of the football ground.

IIRC they have a decent amount of Jimmy Anderson memorabilia in there.

[Sutekh]

Looking forward to ticking this one off on Saturday, best place to park anyone?

Plenty of car parks in the area that usually charge £5 to stay there. Haven't been in a while so can't remember the names of the car parks, but there are a couple of good car parks available that are a 5–10-minute walk from the ground.

I'd avoid any back alley or side streets though, if possible, don't trust the folk from Burnley.

Been to Burnley 3 or 4 times and I’ve always found street parking without any issues.

[Sutekh]

Is there a prediction league for this?

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=189856

[Cuppliance]

Looking forward to this one, I live a very short train ride away in Accrington (and despise Burnley) so I’ll be well up for this game. A goal from Hoilett will really get the Burnley fans blood boiling.