It may have ended on a sour note, but how great is it to finally have the football season back? After a summer of financial concern and lack of transfers, we were fearing the worst. However, things are starting to look up again with new Thai owners lined up and a few signings being brought in. It is not an easy start though, as we travel up to Wigan to face Uwe Rosler’s team, who failed in the play-offs, after rampaging into the top six since the German took charge.
Vital Quotes:
Reading manager Nigel Adkins – ‘We know it`ll be a challenge but we have potential here, what we have to do is give ourselves every opportunity to extract all that potential from the group. They’re the home side and they will go into the game being favourites, they play various formations and the amount of players they`ve got to select from is phenomenal.’
Wigan defender James Perch – ‘The past doesn`t really mean anything in football but we did take six points off them last year. They will have learned their lesson from last year`s results, though, and they`ll come with a different game-plan, I`m sure. We`ll have more than enough hopefully to get the three points.’
Wigan Team News:
We have been moaning about our midfield injury problems, but Wigan are also suffering too. Ben Watson and Chris McCann have been recovering from long-term injuries, while Roger Espinoza, James McClean and key midfielder Shaun Maloney are all major doubts for the game.
Player to watch: Callum McManaman
The nifty winger caused us plenty of problems when we were drubbed 3-0 at the DW in April and I expect him to be a pain in the backside again.
Reading Team News:
Our injury plague seems to be carrying on into this season too, as we are missing six first teamers for this one. The central midfield duo of Danny Williams and Jem Karacan are both out, while Danny Guthrie trained all week after returning from a calf problem, but has not played any pre-season games. Stephen Kelly is also out injured, as is Hal Robson-Kanu, who still has a hamstring problem. New signing Simon Cox could feature from the start, after signing from Forest yesterday.
Player to watch: Simon Cox
Our new signing won’t be fully fit whether he starts or is on the bench, but is likely to feature in some shape or form. Cox will want to make an immediate impact and prove his worth to the manager and the Royals fans.
Match Facts & Stats
Wigan – 4-3-3: Carson; Perch, Boyce, Ramis, Taylor; McArthur, Cowie; Waghorn, McManaman, Riera
Reading – 4-2-3-1: McCarthy; Gunter, Morrison, Pearce, Obita; Akpan, Hector; Taylor, Cox, Blackman; Pogrebnyak
Ref Watch:
The referee for this one is Mark Brown, who last refereed the Royals back in 2011, when Blackpool beat us 1-0. The goalscorer that day was Callum McManaman, who now plays for Wigan – bad omen maybe?
Match Prediction:
The depth Wigan have in their squad is very good, despite having some injuries in midfield, and I’m sure they will be up there this season. I think we will give it a good go, but come up short in the end.
Vital Reading prediction: Wigan 2 – 1 Reading
Next Fixtures:
Wigan – Burton (A) – Tues 12th August – Capital One Cup First Round
Reading – Newport (H) – Tues 12th August – Capital One Cup First Round
