The Royals are aiming for back to back league wins against Nottingham Forest today.
Reading manager Jaap Stam
Reading had to be extremely patient to claim an important three points against Rotherham last week. Although it was a scrappy 1-0 victory, when you are not in the best run of form they are the type of wins that can be the catalyst of your season. Today they put that logic to the test when they come up against a Nottingham Forest team that are in the midst of a poor run of their own, winning one of their last nine games.
Nottingham Forest’s Apostolos Vellios celebrates scoring
One of Forest’s main issues is their record away from home where they are still waiting for their first win, only picking up two points from seven games. Another issue is that they are lacking depth in their playing squad due to injury and suspension. Players of the quality of Nicklas Bendtner, Michael Mancienne and David Vaughan are on the injury table, while Hildeberto Pereira and Thomas Lam are suspended for this fixture.
One Forest player who is fit and has not left his form at the City Ground is their Greek striker Apostolos Vellios who has scored three of his five league goals away from home.
Reading’s Yann Kermorgant attempts an overhead kick
Reading will be looking to keep him quiet and in the process put some pressure on the Forest defence who have not kept a clean sheet in the league all season. Reading have not scored more than one goal in a league game since the middle of September which was their 2-1 win against Barnsley and have not scored more than two goals in a league game all season.
It is still to be seen whether the emphasis on the patient possession football that Royals manager Jaap Stam wants to see from his team is a factor in the reduction of goals for Reading.
Prediction
Nottingham Forest have won three of the last four games between the two teams but it is hard to see them continue that trend today. Reading need to have their minds on the job as they have thrown points away this season, but on their home ground it is a opportunity to regain some lost momentum.
Reading 2 – Nottingham Forest 0
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