After holding Manchester City to a goalless draw at the John Smith's on Saturday, we now have a top of the table clash to look forward to. Even writing the previous sentence seems utterly surreal, considering where we were as a club this time twelve months ago.
Wagner rung the changes for the cup clash against City, and many of the squads understudies stepped up to the plate and performed admirably. The risk with Wagner's team selection was that we would take a hiding on Saturday and therefore be low on confidence for the visit of The Royals. This wasn't the case, in fact the entire squad, management and club should take enormous confidence from their achievements at the weekend. I expect the team to be back to full strength today, refreshed and ready to get at Reading from the very off.
As is the case with every game from now on, tonight is massive, win and we reaffirm our ambitions to catch the top two, lose and that becomes a tad more difficult. In Reading we are facing a strong team, perhaps buoyed by their very own last-gasp comeback last week at home to Brentford. Danny Williams and Roy Beerens sealed a stunning comeback for the The Royals on Valentine's day, and as we are high on the crest of a wave following Tommy Smith's last minute winner, they will be too.
Reading's last five games highlight their strength, after slipping up at home to QPR and narrowly missing out against Derby they have won 3 of their last 5, drawing the other 2 against Barnsley and Ipswich respectively. Although they are in good form, they haven't been beating the best teams in the division. Also, their away record at some of the better teams makes for interesting reading (no pun intended!);
Derby 3-2 Reading
Leeds 2-0 Reading
Fulham 5-0 Reading
Newcastle 4-1 Reading
Add into these, their cup performances and their heavy defeat to Brentford, they seem shaky against better opposition, out of their comfort zones and under pressure from the off. Whilst we also took a tonking at Craven Cottage, Reading seemed to struggle enormously with the high press employed by Fulham that day. On their trip to Elland Road, their propensity to keep possession without any real purpose saw them countered ruthlessly twice by Leeds. At Newcastle, their defence completely surrendered and fell to the relentless pressure. All of this makes good reading for Town fans, if we get at them from the very beginning with our usual pressing style and the crowd creates a good atmosphere then Reading could buckle quite substantially, a view shared by many of their supporters.
My feeling on this game however is two-fold, looking at the form of the teams, their styles and past results this season I feel there is only one winner and that Town will prevail, however there is a part of me that knows our recent good run can't go on forever, and tonight could be the night that it ends. If Jaap Stam is looking for any inspiration he may study the approach of Sheffield Wednesday earlier in the season. The Owls came to Huddersfield, were strong, organised and penetrating on the break. They bullied us that day and took their opportunity when it arose. If Stam sets up a team in his own image, with a solid defence and two holding midfielders they may well frustrate us and come away with the win.
Until next time UTT
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