LIVE: READING v PETERBOROUGH UNITED: Three second half goals from Reading sees off Posh
Posh need a positive result and performance to erase the memory of Saturday’s 6-2 drubbing at Sheffield United.
Follow the action as it happens on the PT Blog below...
LIVE BLOG: Reading vs Posh
Key Events
- 3-1 FT
- Posh still looking for first away points of the season and stay 23rd
- 0-0 at the break with Posh having the better of the play
- Two goals in three second half minutes sees Posh trail 2-0
- Thompson header from a Ward free-kick gives Posh hope
- Dele-Bashiru kills off the game late by making it 3-1
Reading transfers in
Alen Halilovic (AM) from Birmingham (free)
Scott Dann (CB) from Crystal Palace (free)
Junior Hoilett (LW) from Cardiff (free)
Baba Rahman (LB) from Chelsea (loan)
Tom Dele-Bashiru (CM) from Watford (loan)
Danny Drinkwater (CM) from Chelsea (loan)
Some impressive signings on paper certainly. Plenty of Premier League experience, a title winner in there and Baba Rahman, who Chelsea signed for a fee of up to £22m in 2015! At 34, a match-fit Scott Dann could star at this level.
Injury crisis
Reading’s poor from can be in part explained by an injury list that must have Velijko Paunovic tearing his hair out. First choice goalkeeper Rafael became the latest casualty on Saturday, suffering a broken hand.
George Puscas is the only fit forward at the club as Yakou Meite and Lucas Joao are out long term and other forwards Femi Azeez and Tom McIntyre are not expected to be seen before the new year. On deadline day they were in discussions with Andy Carroll for a deal but those broke down right as the deadline approached.
Defender Felipe Araruna and midfielder Andy Rinomhota are out while new signings Scott Dann and Danny Drinkwater are severely lacking match fitness.
Reading sit level on points with Posh in the table and are ahead by virtue of their -6 goal difference compared to Posh’s -8. It’s a meeting of the two worst defences in the league. Even with the 6 goals on Saturday Posh (14) have still let in less than Reading (16). If an away game was ever going to feel winnable for Posh, this is it.
Last 5 in the league: DLLLW
Reading 3-3 QPR (Were 3-1 up)
Huddersfield 4-0 Reading
Coventry 2-1 Reading (Were 1-0 up, Matty Godden 97th minute winner)
Reading 2-3 Bristol City
Reading 2-1 Preston
Match preview
Reading suffering a nine-player injury crisis ahead of meeting with Peterborough United, two leakiest defences to collide, a midfield goal machine, big match odds and no wins in this fixture for 53 years!
Reading’s preparations for tomorrow’s Championship fixture with Posh at the Madejski Stadium have been wrecked by an injury crisis (September 14, 8pm).
Some good news on the Posh injury front
Nathan Thompson set to play for Peterborough United at Reading and why Jonson Clarke-Harris is angry with Darren Ferguson
Peterborough United expect to welcome experienced defender Nathan Thompson back into their starting line-up for the Championship fixture at Reading tomorrow (September 14, 8pm).
Tim Robinson is tonight’s referee. His last Posh match was a 1-0 home defeat to Burton in 2016. He was promoted not long after. Saturday at Bristol City vs Preston was the first time he’d given out less than 4 yellows cards this season.
Follow all of the action tonight here on the PT blog. Probably best to not make too much of a single fixture just six matches in but this feels big. Posh will be looking for an instant response after the Sheffield United mauling and Reading have also started the season in a similar poor fashion and sit on four points. They are ravaged by injuries and this feels like a chance to get on the board away from home.
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