Not playing at the weekend gave the Royals some rest and allows them to fully focus on this game. New signings through the door, a potential change in formation and a win in the last game, Reading are potentially going to be the team to watch this mid-week.
A brilliant midfield display from Jonathon Russell saw Mansfield Town put five past Luton Town on Sunday, with neither of their strikers getting in on the goals. Their three-at-the-back formation tore the Hatters apart and they will be looking
to do the same against the Royals.
This fixture has turned around in the past few years. In what started with Reading winning by big score lines, Mansfield have improved massively and the last result saw them beat the Royals 1-0 at home. With a win, the Royals could rise to mid-table.
It will be a cloudy day at the Select Car Leasing on Wednesday September 2, potentially reaching 19 degrees in the day time. However, an 8pm kick-off under the floodlights on Sky Sports + may be what Reading need to start getting some wins in the new season. Referee Tom Reeves will be the one to officiate this fixture.
In this preview I will talk about a potential change in formation to accommodate new signing Jamie Reid, discuss the opposition and give my predictions.
Jamie Reid
Reading have signed Jamie Reid from Stevenage. The 5ft 11 striker has taken the number 9 shirt and he scores goals. Making 248 appearances for Stevenage, he scored 68 goals.
Having started out at Exeter City, Reid had loans at Dorchester Town, Truro City and Torquay United (three times) before signing for the latter club permanently. 165 appearances after signing for Torquay, having scored 57 goals, he did one season at Mansfield. He has also featured for Northern Ireland on 16 occasions, scoring twice.
What does the striker bring to the club?
Reid is a good dribbler who has a banger of a long shot. His hold-up play is good and he likes to drop into the space between the two centre-backs. He likes to play short passes and cut inside onto his stronger right foot.
What does this mean for the team?
He was likely brought in to play alongside Jack Marriott and not as a backup for the striker, as we have one of those in Jacob Brown. This could mean a change in formation. I recommend a 3-5-2.
A change to the usual back-four system Reading play could be what is needed for the wins to start coming in.
It would be a back three of Benn Ward, Paudie O’Connor and Conor Masterson. A midfield five of Kyreece Lisbie, Lewis Wing, Charlie Savage, George Earthy and Daniel Kyerewaa. And a front two of Marriott and Reid. Obviously with Joel Pereira in goal.
It does mean a lack of full-backs. but Kyerewaa’s defensive contribution is second to none and Savage is another who can be everywhere on the field at once. However, he can be intertwined with Rinomhota, who is a naturally defensive player anyway.
Ward is the key to this formation for me. He has been our best defender this season and is definitely the quickest of the centre-backs. If he doesn’t play well, this formation won’t work.
The opposition
As said earlier, Mansfield come into this game after putting five goals past a Luton side that Reading lost to on the opening day of the league season. But what makes them tick?
Midfielder Louis Reed is at the heart of everything they do, and alongside man-of-the-match Russell and Liam Thompson, they have a very strong midfield three. Ex-Burton Albion duo Ryan Sweeney and Adedeji Oshilaja partner Kyle Knoyle at the back to make a strong defence.
Three of their eight goals this season have come from set-pieces, with three of their midfielders outscoring the strikers. In all of their games so far, they have both scored and conceded, so it is likely that Reading will get at least one goal in this game.
Mansfield have not yet won on the road, with their one and only away game being a loss to Peterborough United, coming in the 93 minute.
It will be a battle of the midfield in this one. Whoever’s midfield performs better will win the game.
My predictions
Pereira will start in goal.
Ashqar Ahmed performed well in the cup game and I think he will be accompanied by Ward, O’Connor and Haydon Roberts at the back.
It will be a defensive midfield two of Wing and Rinomhota.
In front of them will be Lisbie, Earthy and Kyerewaa.
Marriott will be the lone striker in this one.
Score prediction: 2-1 Reading!
This will be tighter than people expect but goals from Kyerewaa and Wing will be enough for Reading to get the win.
Good luck to those going to the game!
Come on you Royals!
