Reading may be sat in third position in the Championship table and in promotion contention, but their defensive frailties could cost them a place in the Premier League.
Reading’s 3-2 defeat at struggling Nottingham Forest ended their slim automatic promotion hopes and they will have to settle for a place in the play-offs. The Royals just need to take one point from their remaining two regular season league games to confirm their participation in the Championship’s end-of-season lottery.
The majority of Reading supporters would have been pleased if a play-off place was offered to them at the start of the season. Despite this, they can be forgiven for thinking what could have been if their home form reflected their away form in any way.
If you were looking to use a real life example of Jekyll and Hyde then you should look no further than comparing Reading’s home and away defensive records.
Reading have the second best home record in the league that is only bettered by imminent league champions Brighton. They have won fifteen out of their 22 games at the Madejski, losing just twice in front of their home supporters and conceding just 16 goals. An +18 goal difference emphasises their strength at home.
It is a different story on the road. Whilst their form is the eighth best in the division, having secured nine wins out, Stam’s team have now conceded 46 goals in their 22 away games. Only bottom side Rotherham United have conceded more goals. Their -17 goal difference emphasises their defensive woes on the road.
All evidence points towards their defensive woes on the road to what has cost their chances of automatic promotion. When the play-offs do begin, Stam will need to find a way of stopping his side leaking so many goals at the back.
The play-offs are notorious for disregarding form when sides enter them. However one thing cannot be avoided and that is the two legs in the semi-finals.
Reading will need to play one leg away from home and with their nasty habit of conceding goals for fun on the road, it will not come as a surprise if their season unravels during that game away from the Madejski Stadium.
Reading have conceded 46 league goals away from home so far this season
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