MATCHWATCH : Hull City (h)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday 18 March 2023, 3pm
Where : SCL Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

Hull City next in town and another challenge to Reading’s recently lacking home form. At least the on the pitch activities picked up a bit at Blackburn on Wednesday and the club actually managed to score its first goal in over 3 games.

The Tigers are on a run of one win in 7 but that win was against WBA so can be organised and dangerous if you let them. They also have a habit of winning away against the toilet sides of the division having won at Cardiff, Wigan, Blackpool, Rotherham and Birmingham, so you’ll be in for a surprise if you think this one is going to be in any way the proverbial “walk in the park”.

The main threat that needs to be nailed down is Oscar Estupinan who has bagged 13 in the league and is a much better player than should be at Hull, his absence from the reverse fixture is quite possibly the main reason Reading managed to get the 3 points. Ozan Tufan is probably the next biggest threat while Jacob Greaves provides the issues at set pieces. More than ever though the root of the recent problems at the club is the fact that Reading can’t defend, though this should not really be a surprise to anyone given the defence is largely made up of the same bunch of noggins that couldn’t defend last season.

Both sides’ squads are riddled with countless injuries, Hull are likely to be without Lewie Coyle, Ryan Woods, Benjamin Tettah, Cyrus Christie, Salah Oulad M'Hand, Aaron Connolly, Nathan Baxter and Vaughn Colvil while Reading are possibly unlikely to see Andy Carroll, Sam Hutchinson, Baba Rahman, Scott Dann, Junior Hoilett, Yakou Meite, Tyrese Fornah and Andy Yiadom. On top of that, plonker Mamadou Loum is suspended for 3 games so won’t be back until the club go back up north to lose at Preston on Easter Monday.

Finally Reading will be looking for their first shot in target in over 100 minutes of football played at home while this will be the first time Liam Rosenior has returned to Reading as a manager. It’s a game crying out for a positive “have a go at them” attitude from the start rather than the standard negative slow “defend what you start with” tripe that the management seem to mainly set up for, also the absence of Carroll can only be good as it should stop the 1 dimensional game of “who can hit the ball at Andy’s head the most times”.

Referee

Gavin Ward

Previously

21 Jan 2023 > Stoke City 4-0 Reading
12 Nov 2022 > Hull City 1-2 Reading
30 Aug 2022 > Sheffield United 4-0 Reading
15 Apr 2022 > Sheffield United 1-2 Reading
08 Jan 2022 > Kidderminster Harriers 2-1 Reading (FA Cup)
02 Nov 2021 > Millwall 1-0 Reading
02 Mar 2021 > Reading 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
05 Dec 2020 > Reading 2-0 Nottingham Forest
03 Oct 2020 > Reading 1-0 Watford
04 Feb 2020 > Cardiff City 3-3 Reading (FA Cup)
22 Apr 2019 > Reading 0-0 West Bromwich Albion
12 Mar 2018 > Reading 0-3 Leeds United
01 Sep 2018 > Reading 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
25 Aug 2015 > Portsmouth 1-2 Reading (League Cup)
20 Dec 2014 > Reading 0-1 Watford
25 Oct 2014 > Reading 3-0 Blackpool
17 Apr 2012 > Reading 1-0 Nottingham Forest
01 Feb 2011 > Cardiff City 2-2 Reading
16 Mar 2010 > Reading 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
11 Aug 2009 > Reading 5-1 Burton Albion (League Cup)

Historically

There have been 27 previous league games in Reading against Hull City and it's not an especially good record either with 10 Reading wins compared to Hull's 7. On top of that Reading's recent run at home to Hull is not overly brilliant with two wins and six draws to show from the last 9 attempts. Defeats tend to be close affairs with just one goal deciding it (6 of Hull's wins have been by just 1 goal) while 8 of Reading's wins have been by at least a 2 goal margin. There has only been one 0-0 in those previous 27 games.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel to the Mad Stad
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)

[Snowflake Royal]

A game to go all out on trying to win. Hull are also a poor side and they've won just 1 of their last 6.

Bar defensively, we were much better against a very tidy Blackburn. Hull don't score a lot and they concede a few, so let's go with the old, 'we'll just outscore you' technique.

Play some actual fullbacks, and more than one defender who can beat a toddler in a footrace and we should be gravy.

......................Lumley
Abrefa, Holmes, Mbengue, NGW
.............McIntyre, Casadei
...Azeez...........Ince............Long
........................Joao

And can we have a spread of positions on the bench please.

Bouzanis, Sarr, Abbey, Hendrick, Fornah, Carroll, Ehibhatiomhan

[leon]

Ignore what Ince and Rae tell you just go out and win the game you useless twats.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

A game to go all out on trying to win. Hull are also a poor side and they've won just 1 of their last 6.

Bar defensively, we were much better against a very tidy Blackburn. Hull don't score a lot and they concede a few, so let's go with the old, 'we'll just outscore you' technique.

Play some actual fullbacks, and more than one defender who can beat a toddler in a footrace and we should be gravy.

......................Lumley
Abrefa, Holmes, Mbengue, NGW
.............McIntyre, Casadei
...Azeez...........Ince............Long
........................Joao

And can we have a spread of positions on the bench please.

Bouzanis, Sarr, Abbey, Hendrick, Fornah, Carroll, Ehibhatiomhan

I don't mind that set up, although I'd suspect Mbengue would move to RB and Sarr in at CB, possibly even Moore depending on how close he is to playing and I can't see Ince dropping Hendrick. Other than that, a steady enough side that "should" be capable of winning.

Either way, it doesn't really matter what the side is, we need the points, I don't really care if it comes in similar fashion to the reverse fixture. 3 points and hopefully give ourselves a bit more of a buffer to the relegation zone during the International break.

[NathStPaul]

A game to go all out on trying to win. Hull are also a poor side and they've won just 1 of their last 6.

Bar defensively, we were much better against a very tidy Blackburn. Hull don't score a lot and they concede a few, so let's go with the old, 'we'll just outscore you' technique.

Play some actual fullbacks, and more than one defender who can beat a toddler in a footrace and we should be gravy.

......................Lumley
Abrefa, Holmes, Mbengue, NGW
.............McIntyre, Casadei
...Azeez...........Ince............Long
........................Joao

And can we have a spread of positions on the bench please.

Bouzanis, Sarr, Abbey, Hendrick, Fornah, Carroll, Ehibhatiomhan

What is your thinking behind McIntyre in central midfield? Not saying it is wrong, just need it sold to me.

[Snowflake Royal]

A game to go all out on trying to win. Hull are also a poor side and they've won just 1 of their last 6.

Bar defensively, we were much better against a very tidy Blackburn. Hull don't score a lot and they concede a few, so let's go with the old, 'we'll just outscore you' technique.

Play some actual fullbacks, and more than one defender who can beat a toddler in a footrace and we should be gravy.

......................Lumley
Abrefa, Holmes, Mbengue, NGW
.............McIntyre, Casadei
...Azeez...........Ince............Long
........................Joao

And can we have a spread of positions on the bench please.

Bouzanis, Sarr, Abbey, Hendrick, Fornah, Carroll, Ehibhatiomhan

What is your thinking behind McIntyre in central midfield? Not saying it is wrong, just need it sold to me.

Has recently played fairly well there. Hendrick is a wet flannel, Casadei lets people run off him too much and Fornah has been MIA and is probe to errors.

We need someone competent at defending to screen our porous defence. Plus McIntyre is quality and shouldn't really be left out, but can't play CB alongside Holmes and shouldn’t be at fullback because it makes defence too slow.

[NathStPaul]

A game to go all out on trying to win. Hull are also a poor side and they've won just 1 of their last 6.

Bar defensively, we were much better against a very tidy Blackburn. Hull don't score a lot and they concede a few, so let's go with the old, 'we'll just outscore you' technique.

Play some actual fullbacks, and more than one defender who can beat a toddler in a footrace and we should be gravy.

......................Lumley
Abrefa, Holmes, Mbengue, NGW
.............McIntyre, Casadei
...Azeez...........Ince............Long
........................Joao

And can we have a spread of positions on the bench please.

Bouzanis, Sarr, Abbey, Hendrick, Fornah, Carroll, Ehibhatiomhan

What is your thinking behind McIntyre in central midfield? Not saying it is wrong, just need it sold to me.

Has recently played fairly well there. Hendrick is a wet flannel, Casadei lets people run off him too much and Fornah has been MIA and is probe to errors.

We need someone competent at defending to screen our porous defence. Plus McIntyre is quality and shouldn't really be left out, but can't play CB alongside Holmes and shouldn’t be at fullback because it makes defence too slow.

Yeah good points. Lets go with it.

[windermereROYAL]

Home town boy I know, but Tom Mac just is not a midfielder.

[Snowflake Royal]

I agree, but when your options are limited, you make do.

[NathStPaul]

I would say that for all his faults at least he genuinely gives a shit. Might not be the best but I think at this stage I would rather have him in over Fornah or Hendrick.

[leon]

The remaining games of the season are about effort and courage for that reason id be questioning who are really up for the fight.

[morganb]

The remaining games of the season are about effort and courage for that reason id be questioning who are really up for the fight.

The one player who looked up for the fight last night was Loum...

[tidus_mi2]

If we play like we did yesterday I think we'll win this, would like to see proper full backs, Blackburn really rinsed us down the wings.

[Hound]

Liked the way we came forward last night. Joao, Long, Ince, Casadei - then Azeez and Ehibhatiomhan all looked sharp

Need to get Casadei on the ball as much as possible near the Hull goal and things will happen

At a loss for what to do about the hopeless defence though. May be back 4 with Mbengue, Moore, Holmes, NGW? Thought McIntyre was v bad at LB so hopefully not that, and Holmes and Sarr just seemed in full on panic mode for the whole 90 mins

[Snowflake Royal]

Liked the way we came forward last night. Joao, Long, Ince, Casadei - then Azeez and Ehibhatiomhan all looked sharp

Need to get Casadei on the ball as much as possible near the Hull goal and things will happen

At a loss for what to do about the hopeless defence though. May be back 4 with Mbengue, Moore, Holmes, NGW? Thought McIntyre was v bad at LB so hopefully not that, and Holmes and Sarr just seemed in full on panic mode for the whole 90 mins

Did you notice how often Holmes was engaged into midfield or stepping up to hold a line while Sarr was playing 3 to 5 yards deeper on his own.

I really don't know what people see in Sarr, he's poor.

[tidus_mi2]

Due to terrible results and no faith at all away from home, Ince has turned this into a must win.

[One8Seven1*]

A must win! Ince can't keep hiding being the same excuses. It's a tough job. It's a threadbare squad. But he got far more out of them early doors and needs to do so again, otherwise we're going down and can add another dismissal to his CV!

[Stranded]

Of the games left the home games v Hull, Brum and Wigan are our best chances to get 3 points on the board - though not the only there are potentially 5 games where we are good enough to win them if we perform and set up correctly.

Hull is big as going into the break on the back of 5 straight defeats with the potential to lose 6 pts before the Bristol game is not a good place to be.

Hull did kick on for a little bit but have regressed to mean now with 1 win in 6 and no win away from home since a 4-1 win at Wigan on 2nd January.

We honestly couldn't ask for a better opponent up next and after 2 tougher home games, we now have a chance to improve the, still very good home record.

[Snowflake Royal]

Of the games left the home games v Hull, Brum and Wigan are our best chances to get 3 points on the board - though not the only there are potentially 5 games where we are good enough to win them if we perform and set up correctly.

Hull is big as going into the break on the back of 5 straight defeats with the potential to lose 6 pts before the Bristol game is not a good place to be.

Hull did kick on for a little bit but have regressed to mean now with 1 win in 6 and no win away from home since a 4-1 win at Wigan on 2nd January.

We honestly couldn't ask for a better opponent up next and after 2 tougher home games, we now have a chance to improve the, still very good home record.

I'd be very confident of us beating Reading. They're proper shit.

[Orion1871]

Lumley

Abrefa
Holmes
Moore
NGW

Hendrick
Mbengue
Casadei

Ince
Joao
Azeez