The two teams clash at the AESSEAL New York Stadium today.
Reading manager Jaap Stam
On face value Reading couldn’t pick a better side than Rotherham to play as they aim to get back onto a winning run of form. The Millers are currently sitting in last place in the Championship table with six points, they have not won for nine games and this week sacked their manager Alan Stubbs after just 13 games in charge.
Kenny Jackett
However, Football is never so clear cut and today’s clash shapes as being one Reading should approach with extreme caution. It is symptomatic in sports that when a manager gets the sack, the players seem to raise their performance for the next few games as they try to impress the new man in charge, which in this case is former Wolves and Millwall manager Kenny Jackett.
The other side of the coin is the Royals’ own recent form. When they beat Huddersfield in late September, Reading were flying high on the back of a unbeaten six game run and sitting fourth in the table. Fast forward a month later and Reading are coming off a game against Aston Villa where they lost their unbeaten record at the Madjeski Stadium and in the process became the first opponent Aston Villa has beaten away from home in over a year.
Reading’s Garath McCleary celebrates scoring their first goal
It is now four games without a win for Reading and while their game against Brentford was a 50/50 proposition, the following three fixtures against Derby County, Queens Park Rangers and Villa were a clear chance to consolidate a top six position which could have helped set up their season. Two points from those three fixtures have seen them slide towards mid table, undoing a lot of their previous good work.
The good thing for Jaap Stam and his team is that we are only a quarter of the way through the Championship campaign. They may have stumbled in the past few weeks, but there is plenty of time to dust themselves off and regain confidence. That is why today’s game is crucial as the first victory after a winless run is always the hardest to achieve. Their opponents will be just as desperate for the three points, and that is why this will be a great test of their mettle.
Prediction: Rotherham 0-1 Reading
Games between two out of form teams are usually scrappy affairs and this will be no different. That extra bit of quality that Reading have in their squad will be the difference on this occasion.
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