Reading vs Fleetwood Town: Match Preview 2023/24

It’s desperate times for Reading as they look to get a much-needed win on the board against Fleetwood Town tonight.

Following some torrid away trips to London, a return to the Select Car Leasing Stadium could help this evening’s home side to get themselves back on track.

This game won’t be an easy one though, with Lee Johnson’s side currently sitting above the Royals in the league table.

But if the hosts can’t get anything from this game, that will reinforce the terrible situation we’re currently in both on and off the field.

Ahead of tonight, we have your match preview.

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What? League One Matchday 13

Season? 2023/24

Who? Fleetwood Town

Where? Select Car Leasing Stadium

When? Tuesday 24th October

Time? 8pm

Opposition Manager? Lee Johnson

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The Royals

Saturday was great, but only because of what happened before and after the game. Meeting up with friends makes it worth going to the football and to be fair, we were reasonably decent before the first goal. But results matter more than performances at the moment.

The way we folded after the opening goal was unacceptable - and my patience with Ruben Selles is starting to wear a bit thin.

We need to be coming out on top in most of our games now and if he can’t start getting results, we’ll be heading down to League Two.

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The Opponents

Lee Johnson has a point to prove after being sacked by Hibernian.

He was a highly-rated manager - and will be looking to get his managerial career back on track in League One.

Johnson is clearly a talented coach at this level - and that’s why I’m a bit concerned about this evening.

On paper, they also have some good players in their squad. Toto Nsiala was previously at Ipswich Town, Danny Mayor was a good servant to Plymouth Argyle and Jayden Stockley and Jack Marriott are good strikers to have in this division.

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My Lineup

Starting XI: Button, Guinness-Walker, Abbey, Bindon, Yiadom, Craig, Elliott, Wing, Knibbs, Vickers, Smith

David Button starts between the sticks again and I believe you get a two-match suspension for dissent, so Andy Yiadom may be available tonight.

If he is, he should start alongside Tyler Bindon, Nelson Abbey and Nesta Guinness-Walker.

I still think Guinness-Walker is our best left-back at the moment - and having a natural right-back on the right-hand side would be good. Bindon is better centrally.

In the middle. Michael Craig starts as the deepest midfielder again, with Ben Elliott and Lewis Wing just in front. Wing can operate in a deeper role, but he can be a real threat going forward too.

I haven’t fully lost faith in Harvey Knibbs yet, but he needs to improve on his performance at the weekend and with Mamadi Camara seemingly not back, Caylan Vickers gets a chance to shine.

Up top, Sam Smith comes in for Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan. Smith wasn’t brilliant against Charlton, but he wasn’t decent enough and showed enough promise to be included in the first 11 this evening.

If we put out a lineup like this, surely we’ll get the three points?

Score Prediction: Reading 2-1 Fleetwood Town

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Other League One Fixtures

Barnsley vs Shrewsbury Town

Blackpool vs Cheltenham Town

Bristol Rovers vs Stevenage

Cambridge United vs Portsmouth

Carlisle United vs Burton Albion

Derby County vs Exeter City

Lincoln City vs Charlton Athletic

Northampton Town vs Leyton Orient

Port Vale vs Peterborough United

Wigan Athletic vs Oxford United

Wycombe Wanderers vs Bolton Wanderers

All of these games get underway at 7:45pm