Reading FC's Trip To Brighton Moved For Television

Reading's trip to promotion rivals Brighton and Hove Albion has been brought forward a day for TV purposes. The game at the Amex was due to kick off on Saturday 25th February at 3pm, but will now start on Friday 24th February at 7.45pm.

The visit of Ipswich Town was televised earlier this season, as will the home match against QPR in the New Year.

This news isn't that surprising, considering that both teams are currently in the mix for automatic promotion. Although a collapse from either side is possible, you'd imagine that the match will be some kind of battle for promotion when it comes around.

The Seagulls currently sit in 2nd, one point off league leaders Newcastle United, and five ahead of the Royals. Also, they have a very impressive goal difference of +17, four goals behind the Magpies and a whopping 16 ahead of Reading.

Recent history

The two encounters this season have ended pretty well for us, with a draw and a win. Back in August, in Reading's second league match at the Madejski Stadium under Jaap Stam, goals from John Swift and Paul McShane earned a 2-2 draw, with Sam Baldock and Anthony Knockaert netting for the visitors.

In late September, the Royals came out 2-1 winners at the Amex in the League Cup via Stephen Quinn (of all people) and John Swift (again). Tyler Blackett, who was sent for an early shower, and Tomer Hemed, who netted late on, conspired to make the game as nervy as possible, but Jaap Stam's men held on.

We came out worse in 2015/16, chalking up a draw and a loss against the Seagulls. In October, the first 'post-Fulham 4-2' match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Matej Vydra opening his (not particularly big) Reading account.

Under Brian McDermott, in the first league match after crashing out of the FA Cup to Crystal Palace, a flat Reading were finished off by a James Wilson strike.