Stevenage make the sixty-three mile trip to Berkshire to face Rubén Sellés’ Reading in another tough test in Sky Bet League One…
Steve Evans’ men have enjoyed a dream start to life in the third tier, picking up three victories in three, conceding just one goal, as well as overcoming Championship side Watford in the Carabao Cup. On Tuesday evening, Boro got the better of Cambridge United, with Jamie Reid netting the winner just one minute after Cambridge’s equaliser. The side are one of just three clubs in Sky Bet League One to have won their opening three games.
Stevenage will be familiar with the Select Car Leasing Stadium after their impressive victory over the Royals in last campaign’s Carabao Cup when the sides were two leagues apart. The clubs now meet a year later in the same league with an important three points on the line.
Opposition Lowdown
Reading suffered relegation to the third tier at the end of last season for the first time since 1998 and will now be looking to bounce back. So far, they’ve had an unsatisfactory start, losing two of their three opening games in the league as they fell to defeat against Peterborough and Port Vale.
The first round of the Carabao Cup proved that the Royals are more than capable of holding their own. They travelled to Championship side Milwall and picked up an astounding 4-0 victory against a strong eleven. Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan scored a brace, with Charlie Savage and Mamadi Camara also getting on the scoresheet.
On the following Tuesday, Reading got their first three points on the board through a 1-0 home victory over Cheltenham. The side now sit eighteenth in the table after three games.
Ruben Selles took over as The Royals’ boss in July and has brought in plenty of new faces to freshen up his squad. Perhaps most notably, Lewis Wing signed from Wycombe after having a phenomal campaign in midfield. Attacking duo Harvey Knibbs and Sam Smith both signed from Cambridge United and young midfielder Charlie Savage joined from Premier League giants Manchester United.
The Stadium
Reading play their home fixtures at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, which has a capacity of 24,161. The stadium was opened in 1998 and replaced Elm Park as Reading’s home ground. Away supporters are typically housed in one half of The South Stand behind the goal.
The Officials
Anthony Backhouse has been appointed Match Referee for this weekend’s fixture with Alex James and Abbas Khan as Assistants and Daniel Middleton as Fourth Official. Backhouse’s most recent Boro fixture was the 0-0 draw at home to Mansfield last campaign, with the only yellow card of the game going to Carl Piergianni.
Fan Behaviour
Supporters are reminded at all times that the throwing of objects, taking drugs, tragedy abuse, using pyros and discriminatory behaviour all risk a criminal record and a club ban, dangerous and illegal behaviour will not be tolerated by Stevenage Football Club.
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