MATCH THREAD: " CARDIFF CITY v READING " MATCH THREAD

CARDIFF CITY v READING
Saturday 26th September, 3pm
Sky Bet Championship
Cardiff City Stadium 


Match to be played in front of no supporters, for information on how to watch the match on TV or to stream it - see below


TEAM NEWS!

Cardiff City: Smithies; Osei-Tutu, Morrison, Nelson, Cunningham; Bacuna, Pack, Vaulks; Ojo, Moore, Hoilett

Subs: Day, Bamba, Bagan, Whyte, Tomlin, Murphy, Glatzel.





INJURY UPDATE: THURSDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 2020



NEIL HARRIS:

Tomlin, important to play under-23s?

“Yeah, I am really, really pleased. Last week I was a bit down, not with Lee, but because he came on against Sheffield Wednesday and had a tough few days physically.

“Then on the back of Forest last week, he felt great, played 70 minutes on Monday (for the U23s), which was really important and has been in today, looking good.

“We are hoping he is on an upward trend of getting on to the training pitch more and more.

“We are not rushing him, that’s key, but getting us much out of him as we can.”


NEIL HARRIS:

Joe Bennett injury latest

“Hopefully Joe is OK. He came off with a calf strain, so we will have to see how we go.

“If not, then Greg Cunningham and Joel Bagan are desperate to be involved.

“Great experience (Greg), good, solid, reliable lad. Been out a long time and really had to graft to get fit.

“It’s nice to see when players come back from recoveries.

“And Joel Bagan has impressed with the first team.”



Murphy?

“Josh has trained today and comes into the thinking for the weekend.

“It was a hamstring.

“Josh has missed a game but hopefully we will get him ready this weekend.”

Injury update Monday 21st September 2020


NEIL HARRIS:

“Joe Bennett, we don’t know the serious of the injury yet.”

"I'm hoping with Joe Bennett , and a couple of the other lads that looked very leggy at the end of the game, is just a continuation of where we are as a group at the moment - slightly behind where we want to be because of the short turnaround.


"We are hoping Benno is going to be fine but I wouldn't have thought we will see him on the training pitch at the start of the week.

"I'm guessing the physio will see him Sunday and Monday to assess whether there is any damage in the calf or not."

City have a great back-up, of course, in Greg Cunningham, but supporters will still hope Bennett's injury is not a serious one, because the defender is in fine fettle at the minute.

Harris is a bit worried as he now has an unfit Tomlin, Murphy injured, Bennett could be out for Reading home and long term injured Issacs Vassell.

"We might need to bring a couple of players in, but my hands are tied regarding buying anyone so we must look for more loan players."




How can I watch this match on TV?

For those who are season ticket holders, you can watch the match for free on Cardiff City TV.

For non-season ticket holders who want to watch the match, you can purchase a match pass from Cardiff City TV for £10.

About Reading

Reading Football Club is a football club based in Reading, Berkshire, England. The team play in the Championship, the second tier of English football. The current manager is Veljko Paunović.

Reading are nicknamed The Royals, due to Reading's location in the Royal County of Berkshire, though they were previously known as The Biscuitmen, due to the town's association with Huntley and Palmers. Established in 1871, the club is one of the oldest teams in England, but did not join The Football League until 1920, and first played in the top tier of English football league system in the 2006–07 season. The club competed in the 2012–13 Premier League season, having gained promotion at the end of the 2011–12 season after winning the Championship, but were relegated after just one season back in the top flight.

The club played at Elm Park for 102 years, from 1896 to 1998. In 1998, the club moved to the new Madejski Stadium, which is named after the club's former chairman Sir John Madejski.

The club holds the record for the number of successive league wins at the start of a season, with a total of 13 wins at the start of the 1985–86 Third Division campaign and also the record for the number of points gained in the professional league season with 106 points in the 2005–06 Football League Championship campaign. Reading then finished eighth in the 2006–07 Premier League, their first-ever season as a top-flight club.

During the 2014–15 FA Cup, the club reached the semi-finals, reaching the quarter finals the season after. They also reached the championship playoff final in the 2016–17 EFL Championship season.

Previous Meeting 

We drew with Reading 3-3 in the FA Cup in February, with the Royals winning 4-1 on penalties.

Team News - Predicted Line-Ups

Cardiff City: Smithies, Osei-Tutu, Morrison, Nelson, Bennett, Bacuna, Pack, Ralls, Hoilett, Ojo, Moore

Reading: Cabral, Hoffmann, Morrison, Moore, Richards, Rinomhota, Laurent, Olise, Swift, Ejaria, Joao

Form - Last Three Games

Nottingham Forest 0-2 Cardiff City
Cardiff City 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday
Northampton Town 3-0 Cardiff City

Reading 2-0 Barnsley
Reading 0-1 Luton Town
Derby County 0-2 Reading

Match Odds

Cardiff City - 21/20
Reading - 12/5
Draw - 13/5

Predictions

Post your predictions below 

Injury update Monday 21st September 2020



NEIL HARRIS:

“Joe Bennett, we don’t know the serious of the injury yet.”

"I'm hoping with Joe Bennett , and a couple of the other lads that looked very leggy at the end of the game, is just a continuation of where we are as a group at the moment - slightly behind where we want to be because of the short turnaround.


"We are hoping Benno is going to be fine but I wouldn't have thought we will see him on the training pitch at the start of the week.

"I'm guessing the physio will see him Sunday and Monday to assess whether there is any damage in the calf or not."

City have a great back-up, of course, in Greg Cunningham, but supporters will still hope Bennett's injury is not a serious one, because the defender is in fine fettle at the minute.

Harris is a bit worried as he now has an unfit Tomlin, Murphy injured, Bennett could be out for Reading home and long term injured Issacs Vassell.

"We might need to bring a couple of players in, but my hands are tied regarding buying anyone so we must look for more loan players."

Think we will win 3-1

3-0.

NEIL HARRIS:


Reading haven’t conceded a goal yet…

“If you can win two or three games in a row it shoots you up the division, the same as losing three or four, that’s where consistency becomes key.

“Consistency over a period of time is vital. We didn’t have it in our first game, second game we were very good.
Every team has good players, it’s about how you deal with their strengths and exploit their weaknesses.”

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NEIL HARRIS:


Reading haven’t conceded a goal yet…

“If you can win two or three games in a row it shoots you up the division, the same as losing three or four, that’s where consistency becomes key.

“Consistency over a period of time is vital. We didn’t have it in our first game, second game we were very good.
Every team has good players, it’s about how you deal with their strengths and exploit their weaknesses.”

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

INJURY UPDATE: THURSDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 2020

NEIL HARRIS:

Joe Bennett injury latest

“Hopefully Joe is OK. He came off with a calf strain, so we will have to see how we go.

“If not, then Greg Cunningham and Joel Bagan are desperate to be involved.

“Great experience (Greg), good, solid, reliable lad. Been out a long time and really had to graft to get fit.

“It’s nice to see when players come back from recoveries.

“And Joel Bagan has impressed with the first team.”



Murphy?

“Josh has trained today and comes into the thinking for the weekend.

“His was a hamstring.

“Josh has missed a game but hopefully we will get him ready this weekend.”

Injury update Monday 21st September 2020


NEIL HARRIS:

“Joe Bennett, we don’t know the serious of the injury yet.”

"I'm hoping with Joe Bennett , and a couple of the other lads that looked very leggy at the end of the game, is just a continuation of where we are as a group at the moment - slightly behind where we want to be because of the short turnaround.


"We are hoping Benno is going to be fine but I wouldn't have thought we will see him on the training pitch at the start of the week.

"I'm guessing the physio will see him Sunday and Monday to assess whether there is any damage in the calf or not."

City have a great back-up, of course, in Greg Cunningham, but supporters will still hope Bennett's injury is not a serious one, because the defender is in fine fettle at the minute.

Harris is a bit worried as he now has an unfit Tomlin, Murphy injured, Bennett could be out for Reading home and long term injured Issacs Vassell.

"We might need to bring a couple of players in, but my hands are tied regarding buying anyone so we must look for more loan players."

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

NEIL HARRIS:

Tomlin, important to play under-23s?

“Yeah, I am really, really pleased. Last week I was a bit down, not with Lee, but because he came on against Sheffield Wednesday and had a tough few days physically.

“Then on the back of Forest last week, he felt great, played 70 minutes on Monday (for the U23s), which was really important and has been in today, looking good.

“We are hoping he is on an upward trend of getting on to the training pitch more and more.

“We are not rushing him, that’s key, but getting us much out of him as we can.”

Cardiff City boss Neil Harris posts positive injury update ahead of Reading clash as Lee Tomlin continues comeback -


Thursday 24th September 2020



Cardiff City manager Neil Harris says he's 'really pleased' with Lee Tomlin's recent progress as the playmaker bids to return to full fitness.

Tomlin came off the bench against Nottingham Forest for his second cameo in as many games last weekend, but is yet to start a league game this season as he works his way back from injury.

The 31-year old played 70 minutes for the under-23s in their recent defeat to Bristol City, and Harris has been impressed by his progress.



NEIL HARRIS:

"I am really, really pleased. Last week I was a bit down, not with Lee, but because he came on against Sheffield Wednesday and had a tough few days physically.

“Then on the back of Forest last week, he felt great, played 70 minutes on Monday (for the U23s), which was really important and has been in today, looking good.

“We are hoping he is on an upward trend of getting on to the training pitch more and more.

“We are not rushing him, that’s key, but getting us much out of him as we can.”

Harris is also hoping there will be good news on Josh Murphy and Joe Bennett, both of whom are bidding to overcome their own injury setbacks.

Bennett limped off during the win at the City Ground, while Murphy missed out completely due to a hamstring problem.

“Hopefully Joe is OK," Harris said. "He came off with a calf strain, so we will have to see how we go.

“If not, then Greg Cunningham and Joel Bagan are desperate to be involved.

“Great experience (Greg), good, solid, reliable lad. Been out a long time and really had to graft to get fit.

“It’s nice to see when players come back from recoveries.

“And Joel Bagan has impressed with the first team.

“Josh has trained today and comes into the thinking for the weekend.

“His was a hamstring.

“Josh has missed the game [at the City Ground] but hopefully we will get him ready this weekend.”

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Head-to-Head

The sides have met 72 times, with Reading winning 26, losing 23 and drawing 23.

2-0 city

What are the odds?

Cardiff City win: 11/10
Draw:12/5
Reading: 5/2

Goes a little against the grain but a very hard fought draw. 0-0

What's the team news?

There is encouraging news in terms of fitness updates this week, with Neil Harris delighted about Lee Tomlin's fitness progress.

The playmaker played for the under-23s in the 2-1 defeat by Bristol City during the week, chalking up around 70 minutes of football to aid his recovery to full fitness.

Josh Murphy, too, is back in contention for the clash with the Royals, having missed last weekend's win over Nottingham Forest with a hamstring injury.

Joe Bennett is still touch and go, having hobbled off at the City Ground with a calf issue, but the manager is hopeful he will be fit enough to take part this weekend.

Isaac Vassell is still a long-term absentee through his quad injury.

As for Reading, experienced full back Andy Yiadom will be missing after aggravating a knee injury against Derby County. It is a concern for the visitors as Yiadom is the only senior right back at the club.

Two changes - @Cunningham_17 & @WillVaulks comes in.

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The teams are out


Come on, we need to start winning at home

Both teams took the knee

Scrappy start from both teams.

Cunningham loses possesion

First 5 mins even stevens

Millwall players dont take the knee


At mom Millwall 1 Brentford 0

Will Vaulks launches a throw-in into the box and Morrison, as ever, flicks on

Kieffer Moore takes a lovely touch, back to goal, eight yards out, swivels and shoots, but a Reading defender gets in the way bravely.

Moore looking already dangerous again

10 mins 0-0

Cardiff getting the better of the opening exchanges.

Derby 0 Blackburn 1

Reading now in control of the game, but Cardiff still look the most threatening

Derby 0 Blackburn 2

Cunningham does well to stand up Meite in the Cardiff box and he is dispossessed and the Bluebirds reset.