Reading 7-1 Bolton

After Saturday's hard earned draw it's next stop Reading.
With Beckford missing it's up to Mr Ngog to step up to the plate as the prospective loan striker.
Keep a clean sheet, no pressure there, and we don't lose!!
A point is the best I can see once again I'm afraid.

Two or three nil defeat. Guaranteed. Nailed on certainty.

Real shame about Beckford, I think he's integral to our performances away from home. N'gog on his own again is a depressing thought but I don't see anything else happening. Probably be a good game to bring Eagles back to offer some extra support.

I'd play:


Dougie will play:

Everybody expects Davide to be the lone striker and it will probably happen, but seeing as Dougie is unpredictable he may well go for something else.

Confident prediction from Captain Kirk that we won't score. We'll see.

Whatever the setup,I think we'll lose 2 or 3 nil.

I can see us losing 2-0 as well.

So nobody can see us scoring?
I have a feeling Dougie will mix it up and that we'll score - not necessarily win, but score.

A 1-1 draw for me with Ngog leading from the front with a brilliant solo effort.   

I've gone for 2-1, for us.

Reading 1 Bolton 1

Lonergan

Baptiste---Mills---Knight---Ream

Spearing--Danns

Eagles---Mavies---Pratley

N'Gog

3-2 win. We'll start brilliantly, blow them away first 20 minutes giving us a 3 goal lead. Mills will then get sent off not long before half time, pogrebnyak will pull one back for them.

They'll dominate 2nd half, we'll lose another goal around 70 minutes but defend like madmen and grind out the 3 points.

I'm going for a 1 - 0 win to us. We'll nick it after they have sixty percent of the ball and ninety percent of the chances. Dunno why but that's how I see it. We do far better on the road than at home and I really do see a win here.  

Ref watch: Davies takes the whistle

Andy Davies will take charge of Wanderers’ clash with Reading this weekend.

Residing in Hampshire, Davies has been officiating in the professional game since 2009 and has overseen 18 games so far this term across the Championship, League One, League Two and the FA Cup.

Having handed out 69 yellow and three red cards during the current campaign, his last outing was Crawley Town’s rearranged FA Cup third round clash against Bristol Rovers last Wednesday which saw the Pirates secure progression into the last 32 with a 2-1 win.

Steven Plane and Dean Treleaven will run the line, while Graham Horwood will be the fourth official.

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Opposition watch: Reading

A fixture which has been a rarity in recent years, Wanderers will be hoping to replicate their efforts on their last trip to Berkshire almost six years ago when they come head to head with Reading this weekend.

With Kevin Nolan and Heidar Helguson earning the Whites a convincing 2-0 victory over the Royals in February 2008, Reading’s relegation in the same season ensured that the two sides would not meet again until five months ago in Bolton’s first home game of the campaign.

Despite Wanderers taking the lead that day, Nick Blackman’s penalty shortly after half time cancelled out Darren Pratley’s early strike to ensure that the points were shared at the Reebok.

A first away point of the season for the Berkshire outfit, Nigel Adkins’ side have certainly looked likely to challenge for a promotion push this term following a steady start to life back in the Championship after just one season in the Premier League.

Currently residing in seventh and a point shy of the play-off positions, the Royals slipped out of the top flight back in May after an ill-fated campaign which saw them finish 11 points short of safety and the departure of manager Brian McDermott after three years in the Madejski hot seat.

With the installation of Adkins at the helm however, the Berkshire outfit have enjoyed a solid start to the season, securing ten league victories so far including impressive away wins at Nottingham Forest, Derby County and most recently Watford.

The team’s inconsistency however has been a problem, with the Royals coming into this weekend’s clash having won just one of their last six games over the Christmas period.

Despite their drop in form of late, their performances at the Madejski Stadium have been solid with just two defeats suffered there since the start of August – reverses which have come in the past month against Wigan Athletic and Bournemouth.

Alongside just a handful of losses, just 12 goals have been conceded in as many games on home soil with four clean sheets to their name in front of their own supporters so far.

With Wanderers coming into the game unbeaten in the calendar year and looking for their fifth win of the season on their travels however, Saturday’s clash looks set to be an exciting one as both sides go all out for victory.

Anthony Smith – Sports Editor at the Reading Chronicle

“Any Reading fan who can remember the pre-Madejski Stadium days associates Bolton Wanderers with only one thing - Wembley heartache.

“It’s nearly 20 years since the Royals plucked heart-breaking defeat from the jaws of historic victory in that 1995 Division One play-off final.

“But if the Trotters won the day on that occasion, both clubs have since enjoyed spells in the top-flight.

“Reading dropped out of the Premier League last season and are in with a chance of going straight back up.

“Nigel Adkins’ men have rarely looked convincing, but remain just outside the play-offs despite taking one point from 12 over Christmas and New Year followed by a swift FA Cup exit at Brighton.

“Admittedly, Royals have been plagued by injuries to key players including Wayne Bridge, Jason Roberts, Jem Karacan and now Danny Guthrie so Adkins has rarely had a settled side to pick from.

“And while some Reading fans have been quick to criticise their team’s performances, they are not in bad shape and I’m sure Trotters supporters would swap places right now.

“The biggest challenge facing Reading is finding a swift resolution to the takeover saga before the end of the January so that Adkins can recruit reinforcements.

“If that doesn’t happen, I fear Reading’s promotion challenge could fizzle out towards the end of the campaign.

“For now, Adkins will keep squeezing the best out of his squad and give the likes of youngster Jordan Obita - a revelation this season - their big chance.

“What is certain is that Reading’s team this Saturday will bear little resemblance to the one which drew 1-1 at the Reebok in the second game of the season.”

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Freedman - Lonergan to start

Dougie Freedman has confirmed that Andrew Lonergan will retain the starting goalkeeper’s jersey for the weekend’s game at Reading, despite Adam Bogdan’s return to full fitness.

The Hungarian international had been sidelined since late October after injuring a knee in training.

And after returning to training and successfully coming through a full game for the under-21 side midweek, Bogdan is now back fit and eligible for selection.

But speaking in his pre-match press conference, Freedman stated that the spot between the sticks ahead of the trip to the Madejski Stadium will currently remain with Lonergan.

“I think Andy Lonergan has been sensational for us,” the manager said in his pre-match press conference. “He’s been our best player for the last couple of months.

“There’s no doubt that he holds that position right now, but Adam, like any other player has got to fight for his place and work hard in training.

“When the time is right, I’ve got to make the best decision for the team and for the football club, but right now Andy Lonergan is the number one goalkeeper at this club because of his recent performances.

“It’s hard for everybody if you’re not in the team, because we’re playing quite well right now. I’m not suggesting for one moment that we’re at our peak, but we’re performing very well at the moment.

“There are always going to be players who are disappointed.”



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from 7-11 seconds is awesome!!   

Crickey 74 if Dougie reads that there's no way Lee will get a game   

bwfc1874 wrote:Reading v Bolton
The Royals have scored exactly one goal in each of their last six home games in the Championship.
Bolton Wanderers are unbeaten in three league meetings with Reading; conceding just once.
Bolton have scored 63% of their goals in the first half this season; a league-high share.
The Royals have gone three matches without a win at home in league competition, losing twice (D1).
No Bolton player has created more chances (inc. assists) this season than Lee Chung-Yong (51).


Thought the last one was quite interesting, although I'd guess he's played more minutes than anybody in that 3 behind the striker? 

Beckford has a "Glut" injury? That's just asking for a homophobic remark so here you go...

First time I've heard of a player being out with a sore arse since Justin Fashanu retired. Boom boom.

Freedman came across really well in his interview, i like the getting on the front bit best.