Let's talk about the Reading game

[EasyforDennis]

Kerry Dixon

Or Ian Snodin.

[roversdude]

Fair point I went with the bittersweet comment

[selby]

  If Pearson is fit I would definitely go Pearson and Bailey as starters in central defence.

[Ldr]

After the horror show at Exeter I wouldn’t put Bailey anywhere near defence

[Bentley Bullet]

Remember their keeper Steve Death always seemed to have a blinder against us

The extraordinary story of Steve Death, once the shortest goalkeeper in the Football League – at just 5ft 7in. He was good enough to keep Peter Shilton out of the England Schoolboys side, yet spent his career in Divisions Three and Four and became a lower-league legend.

[TilehurstViking]

Lived and taught in Reading for 30 years, and have had to put up with some right ribbing over the years. The few years they had in the Prem have given their fan base an over inflated opinion of what they are. I think they are pretty much at their level at the monent. Would love to walk into the INSET day on Monday with my Rovers shirt on after a win. Will make up for all the long journeys to watch us not perform at home this season. After the Mansfield and Exeter performances I just can't see it happening. The pitch will be a factor again, so looking forward to 90+ minutes of hoofball  and head tennis. Would take a draw now.

[Fal]

Not good news for Saturday

Pearson and Byrne may not make it but if one of them will it’s likely to be only Pearson as as a severe dead leg. Byrne has an hamstring issue like what Hanlan had so probs won’t make this week.

McGrath has tonsillitis and has had it all week and declared himself okay to play against Exeter but it explains why McCann didn’t put him on initially but he hasn’t been in or trained all week.

Likely to either be Bailey/grehan or Bailey/Pearson if he’s back.

[Ldr]

Not good news for Saturday

Pearson and Byrne may not make it but if one of them will it’s likely to be only Pearson as as a severe dead leg. Byrne has an hamstring issue like what Hanlan had so probs won’t make this week.

McGrath has tonsillitis and has had it all week and declared himself okay to play against Exeter but it explains why McCann didn’t put him on initially but he hasn’t been in or trained all week.

Likely to either be Bailey/grehan or Bailey/Pearson if he’s back.

Think Grehan is injured too, senior at cb with maxwell at lb?

[Alan Southstand]

Graham has ‘trained well’ all week, according to GM. Byrne hamstring not too serious?

[Ldr]

Graham has ‘trained well’ all week, according to GM. Byrne hamstring not too serious?

I’m not sure if that’s good news on Grehan or not lol

[Chris Black come back]

Not good news for Saturday

Pearson and Byrne may not make it but if one of them will it’s likely to be only Pearson as as a severe dead leg. Byrne has an hamstring issue like what Hanlan had so probs won’t make this week.

McGrath has tonsillitis and has had it all week and declared himself okay to play against Exeter but it explains why McCann didn’t put him on initially but he hasn’t been in or trained all week.

Likely to either be Bailey/grehan or Bailey/Pearson if he’s back.

Think Grehan is injured too, senior at cb with maxwell at lb?

Not good news for Saturday

Pearson and Byrne may not make it but if one of them will it’s likely to be only Pearson as as a severe dead leg. Byrne has an hamstring issue like what Hanlan had so probs won’t make this week.

McGrath has tonsillitis and has had it all week and declared himself okay to play against Exeter but it explains why McCann didn’t put him on initially but he hasn’t been in or trained all week.

Likely to either be Bailey/grehan or Bailey/Pearson if he’s back.

Think Grehan is injured too, senior at cb with maxwell at lb?

I thought that also. Admittedly it as in League Two but Senior had some impressive performances previously as centre back in a back four. Would be minded to start with him. McCann likes a left footed centre half.

[Donnywolf]

Remember their keeper Steve Death always seemed to have a blinder against us

The extraordinary story of Steve Death, once the shortest goalkeeper in the Football League – at just 5ft 7in. He was good enough to keep Peter Shilton out of the England Schoolboys side, yet spent his career in Divisions Three and Four and became a lower-league legend.

Yes he did though I remember him as Steven D'eath .

Better still how about the keeper that played for both Teams but who I remember better as a keeper for them than for us

World & British Football in 1970/80 | English professional footballer and goalkeeper with Chesterfield football club, John Turner pictured standing on a railway track in front of the crook... | Facebook https://share.google/mxsDvMYUuDRnYhex7

[ncRover]

For anybody that likes a bet a cannot see us getting a thing out of this then you can get 14/5 on a reading win.

We are 5/6 favourites.

Dont know how they have come to those odds

Reading still at long odds (12/5) to win.

The bookies must know something.

[normal rules]

Rovers even money which I was surprised at

[Barmby Rover]

Reading fans not terribly confident. Just looked on their fan site "With LR's tactics, they might as well put carboard cut outs in defence, We still wouldn't worry them"

Maybe we have more of a chance than I thought!

[Chris Black come back]

Grehan starts today alongside Pearson. Looks like:

TLT
Sterry
Grehan
Pearson
Senior

Gotts
Bailey
Clifton

Molyneux
Lee
Adelakun

[i_ateallthepies]

No Hanlan, injured?

[Chris Black come back]

On bench.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Very strange Grehan starting after so much faith was put in McGarth he no looks way down the pecking order. For me I’d rather play Bailey back there than either of those two who I think are both weak links

[IDM]

Very strange Grehan starting after so much faith was put in McGarth he no looks way down the pecking order. For me I’d rather play Bailey back there than either of those two who I think are both weak links

Hasn’t McGrath been ill recently?

[Bills view]

Grehan not been near a squad in how long and goes into the starting line up with McGrath on the bench again.

?

[Upton Rover]

Best keeper we have is on the bench and no striker,

[Chris Black come back]

Very strange Grehan starting after so much faith was put in McGarth he no looks way down the pecking order. For me I’d rather play Bailey back there than either of those two who I think are both weak links

Hasn’t McGrath been I’ll recently?

Tonsillitis.

[ChrisBx]

Blackpool lead already.

[Chris Black come back]

Peterborough equalised.

[Chris Black come back]

We are currently on a winless run against Reading home and away of 13 games dating back to 8 September 1984, consisting of 11 defeats and 2 draws. We have only ever beaten them 4 times in the league in our entire history and needed to score 5 goals and 4 goals to secure 2 of those wins.

What a win. 42 years since we last beat them. Fantastic performance and result. Get that in the history books!

[Metalmicky]

TFFT

[GazLaz]

TFFT

x2

[GazLaz]

Pearson and Grehan solid as a rock. The fact Pearson was out of the team for an extended period this season is mystifying.

[jmt23]

Although Senior AGAIN was my MOTM, Grehan was really good and won almost every header against someone a foot taller than him. Sublime pass to set up Jack for the eventual goal.

Have to say, I thought Mansfield were the worst to visit the ground, but take a bow Reading. They were poor.

Forgot to add - Clifton is getting better and better with the ball, clever passing and bits of skill coming out. He could be a strong player if he carries on like this.