Match Previews

country flag The Championship Round 1
Reading vs. Derby County
Fri 03 August 2018 20:00
Referee
R Jones
Weather at KO
Travel Info
Distance
(Distance Matrix)

Reading

Last updated: Fri 03 August 2018 09:43
In Brief

Reading look for a much better start than last season. Andy Yiadom and David Meyler set for debuts. Tyler Blackett suspended. Chris Gunter, Omar Richards, Jordan Obita, Stephen Quinn and Garath McCleary still injured. Liam Moore will not play. Anssi Jaakkola, John O'Shea and Dave Edwards also out.

Looking Back

Reading have had a summer of contemplation after a difficult time of it last season. The Royals were involved in a relegation scrap having gone close to promotion the previous season.

Paul Clement has had time to make the squad his own over the summer. He has brought in Andy Yiadom and David Meyler, experienced Championship players, with both set for their debuts in this game. Additionally Marc McNulty is a goalscorer with plenty of promise while Sam Baldock is expected to join from Brighton.

Looking Ahead

Reading will have to do without Tyler Blackett for this one as the defender is still serving the final game of a three-match ban carried over from last season.

They also remain without several injured players in the shape of Omar Richards, Jordan Obita, Stephen Quinn and Garath McCleary. Injuries were a big problem last term so Clement will be desperate for his side to have more luck on that front this time around.

Reading have this week signed Sam Baldock from Brighton and he goes straight into the squad. They have also sold George Evans to Derby while Sam Smith has joined Oxford on loan.

Reading have been hit by the news that Chris Gunter will miss the first six weeks of the season. Fellow defender Liam Moore will also not play after handing in a transfer request. Further bad news has followed with Anssi Jaakkola, John O'Shea and Dave Edwards all ruled out too.

Points of Interest

The Royals had a desperate time of it on home soil last season winning only five times with eight draws and 10 defeats.

Derby County

Last updated: Fri 03 August 2018 09:48
In Brief

Frank Lampard takes charge of his first Derby game. Marcus Olsson still injured. Have doubts over Tom Huddlestone, Craig Bryson, Craig Forsyth and Chris Martin. Luke Thomas out.

Looking Back

It's all change at Derby. After more play-off heartbreak with a semi-final defeat to Fulham, Gary Rowett left the club. He was replaced by Frank Lampard, the former Chelsea and England midfielder in his first managerial job, and suddenly such a marquee appointment has lifted the gloom.

It is well known that FFP could be a problem at Derby. But Lampard has made some brilliant signings already, bringing in Mason Mount on loan from Chelsea while Harry Wilson, Florian Jozefzoon and Jack Marriott are other classy attacking talents.

Looking Ahead

Derby have also been trying to offload players to make up for the signings they have made. Matej Vydra, last season's top scorer, saw a move to Leeds fall flat and his future along with that of Chris Martin remains very much up in the air.

Martin, Craig Bryson and Craig Forsyth are all doubts for this trip to Reading while defender Marcus Olsson remains out having picked up an injury towards the end of last term. George Thorne is another doubt.

Derby this week signed midfielder George Evans from Reading and he ironically could line up against his former club in this one.

Derby have an additional problem over Tom Huddlestone who has a groin problem and is a doubt. Young winger Luke Thomas has been ruled out.

Points of Interest

Derby impressed on the road last term with eight wins, 10 draws and five defeats away from Pride Park. Games between these two were exciting last season with Derby beaten 4-2 at home before drawing 3-3 on their last Madejski Stadium visit.

Suspended Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability)
  • ---
Rested
  • ---
Suspended
  • ---
Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability) Rested
  • ---
Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench
Transfer in
  • David Meyler (midfielder, Hull), Andy Yiadom (defender, Barnsley), Marc McNulty (attacker, Coventry), John O’Shea (defender, Sunderland), Darren Sidoel (defender, Ajax), Sam Baldock (attacker, Brighton)
Transfer out
  • Tennai Watson (defender, Wimbledon, loan), Yann Kermorgant (attacker, released), Joey van den Berg (midfielder, NEC Nijmegen, loan), George Evans (midfielder, Derby), Sam Smith (attacker, Oxford United, loan)
Transfer in
  • Mason Mount (midfielder, Chelsea, loan), Harry Wilson (midfielder, Liverpool, loan), Florian Jozefzoon (attacker, Brentford), Jack Marriott (attacker, Peterborough), George Evans (midfielder, Reading)
Transfer out
  • Andi Weimann (attacker, Bristol City)
Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench
Transfer in
  • David Meyler (midfielder, Hull), Andy Yiadom (defender, Barnsley), Marc McNulty (attacker, Coventry), John O’Shea (defender, Sunderland), Darren Sidoel (defender, Ajax), Sam Baldock (attacker, Brighton)
Transfer out
  • Tennai Watson (defender, Wimbledon, loan), Yann Kermorgant (attacker, released), Joey van den Berg (midfielder, NEC Nijmegen, loan), George Evans (midfielder, Derby), Sam Smith (attacker, Oxford United, loan)

Derby County

Last updated: Fri 03 August 2018 09:48
In Brief

Frank Lampard takes charge of his first Derby game. Marcus Olsson still injured. Have doubts over Tom Huddlestone, Craig Bryson, Craig Forsyth and Chris Martin. Luke Thomas out.

Looking Back

It's all change at Derby. After more play-off heartbreak with a semi-final defeat to Fulham, Gary Rowett left the club. He was replaced by Frank Lampard, the former Chelsea and England midfielder in his first managerial job, and suddenly such a marquee appointment has lifted the gloom.

It is well known that FFP could be a problem at Derby. But Lampard has made some brilliant signings already, bringing in Mason Mount on loan from Chelsea while Harry Wilson, Florian Jozefzoon and Jack Marriott are other classy attacking talents.

Looking Ahead

Derby have also been trying to offload players to make up for the signings they have made. Matej Vydra, last season's top scorer, saw a move to Leeds fall flat and his future along with that of Chris Martin remains very much up in the air.

Martin, Craig Bryson and Craig Forsyth are all doubts for this trip to Reading while defender Marcus Olsson remains out having picked up an injury towards the end of last term. George Thorne is another doubt.

Derby this week signed midfielder George Evans from Reading and he ironically could line up against his former club in this one.

Derby have an additional problem over Tom Huddlestone who has a groin problem and is a doubt. Young winger Luke Thomas has been ruled out.

Points of Interest

Derby impressed on the road last term with eight wins, 10 draws and five defeats away from Pride Park. Games between these two were exciting last season with Derby beaten 4-2 at home before drawing 3-3 on their last Madejski Stadium visit.

Suspended
  • ---
Unavailable
Doubtful (chance of availability) Rested
  • ---
Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench
Transfer in
  • Mason Mount (midfielder, Chelsea, loan), Harry Wilson (midfielder, Liverpool, loan), Florian Jozefzoon (attacker, Brentford), Jack Marriott (attacker, Peterborough), George Evans (midfielder, Reading)
Transfer out
  • Andi Weimann (attacker, Bristol City)

Key

Key players
Regular players
Support players
75% - Chance of availability
Artificial Pitch
Universal Player Grid
Squad Confirmed
Played in Cup fixture
New Information

Team Strength*

Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Just Adequate
Poor
*Based on Available Players
Game Score
Round 1
Reading - Derby County 1 - 2
Hull City - Aston Villa 1 - 3
Round 4
Derby County - Ipswich Town 2 - 0
Round 11
Hull City - Leeds United 0 - 1
Round 12
Leeds United - Brentford 1 - 1
Round 15
Middlesbrough - Derby County 1 - 1
Round 16
Aston Villa - Bolton Wanderers 2 - 0
Round 17
Sheffield United - Sheffield Wednesday 0 - 0
Round 18
Leeds United - Bristol City 2 - 0
Round 20
Sheffield United - Leeds United 0 - 1
Round 21
West Bromwich Albion - Aston Villa 2 - 2
Round 22
Derby County - Nottingham Forest 0 - 0
Round 24
Leeds United - Blackburn Rovers 3 - 2
Round 25
Leeds United - Hull City 0 - 2
Round 26
Derby County - Middlesbrough 1 - 1
Round 27
Leeds United - Derby County 2 - 0
Round 28
Norwich City - Birmingham City 3 - 1
Bolton Wanderers - West Bromwich Albion 0 - 2
Round 31
Aston Villa - Sheffield United 3 - 3
Round 34
Nottingham Forest - Derby County 1 - 0
Round 35
Leeds United - West Bromwich Albion 4 - 0
Round 39
West Bromwich Albion - Birmingham City 3 - 2
Round 42
Leeds United - Sheffield Wednesday 1 - 0
Round 46
Derby County - West Bromwich Albion 3 - 1
Round Play-Off 1/2 Final (1)
Aston Villa - West Bromwich Albion 2 - 1
Derby County - Leeds United 0 - 1
Round Play-Off 1/2 Final (2)
West Bromwich Albion - Aston Villa 1 - 0
(3 : 4 AP)
Leeds United - Derby County 2 - 4
Round Play-Off Final
Aston Villa - Derby County 2 - 1