Match Preview
Reading vrs Fulham
Championship Match Day 10 19/20 at Madejski Stadium
Tuesday 1st October 2019 KO: 19:45
Referee:
Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire)
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Life back in the Championship started well for Fulham, though slowed down as August ended and September began.
A Semi Ajayi goal denied them all three points in a 1-1 draw with West Brom at Craven Cottage after the international break, before a sucker-punch from Atdhe Nuhiu deep into stoppage time a week later produced the same result.
The Whites got back to winning ways on Friday, when Joe Bryan and Tom Cairney netted in a 2-0 win over Wigan.
Jose Gomes' Royals seem to be missing the killer touch in front of goal of late - they haven't won a game since August 24 and just managed to salvage a point against Swansea last weekend, thanks to Andy Yiadom.
Last month, they were ousted from the Carabao Cup on penalties by Wolves, beaten 2-1 at home to Blackburn, while Middlesbrough crept past them 1-0 after the international break.
Fulham boss Scott Parker: "They've been a little bit up and down, I think that's clear.
They got a very good result against Swansea, a last minute equaliser, which will obviously bring them some big confidence.
It's a team that I think can cause anyone, on their day, some problems. Certainly going forward they've got some very good individuals.
No doubt it will be a tough game for us. I think we know what's in store for us.
"It's a strange league in the sense that you can go and put some back-to-back wins together and before you know it you're right up there.
I feel we're on a good run and that we're going in the right direction.
There have been moments where we've been disappointing, but I think overall we've shown some real quality and control in games."
Reading boss Jose Gomes: "Hopefully we will get the three points back at Madejski Stadium.
We will face a very strong team, a good squad and some very good players.
They have a top striker - who is very strong and who battles - and a good offensive dynamic. So we will see what happens.
"We need to recover now, after a long trip back from Swansea.
Fulham played a day before us, so they have 24 hours more than we do to recover.
But our medical staff and fitness coaches will help our players to recover properly.
As I have said before, with the way that we have been working,
I trust that my players can get the points we need to think about higher goals."
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Including play-offs, Reading are unbeaten in their last six home league matches against Fulham (W3 D3 L0) since losing 2-0 in the Premier League in April 2008.
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The last two Fulham managers to win away at Reading in a league match also managed England - Kevin Keegan in April 1999 and Roy Hodgson in April 2008.
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Reading has won 35% of their last 20 home league games and Fulham has lost 75% of their last 20 away league games.
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Fulham have lost each of their last four league games in the month of October, conceding 14 goals in those games.
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Aleksandar Mitrovic has gone 270 minutes of league football without a goal or an assist to his name and is still top scorer out of the two teams.
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Reading have lost three of their four home league games this season (W1), having lost just one of their last 10 in 2018-19 (W5 D4 L1).
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John Swift has been directly involved in 60% of Reading's 10 league goals this season, scoring two and assisting four.