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Reading’s last season as a Premier League club came in 2012-13, and they have been in the Championship ever since, with their highest position in the second tier over the last nine seasons proving to be third in 2016-17.
The Royals were seventh in 2020-21 but finished 21st last term, just four points above the relegation zone, so the supporters would certainly have been demanding a huge improvement in the current campaign.
A total of 29 points from 21 matches has left the team in 13th position in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone and actually only two points off the playoffs, which is an indication of how quickly things can change in the Championship this season.
Paul Ince‘s side recorded a 2-1 victory over Hull City in their last match before the season was halted for the World Cup, which proved to be their first win since October 22.
Reading lost both matches against Coventry in the Championship last term, including a 3-2 defeat in the corresponding clash, while they have only beaten their opponents this weekend on two occasions since April 2010.
Reading will be missing Tom McIntyre, Naby Sarr and Scott Dann through injury on Saturday afternoon.
Mamadou Loum, Baba Rahman, Junior Hoilett have been away at the World Cup, meanwhile, so all three are doubts for this match, with Ince likely to make a late call on their involvement.
Should Hoilett miss out on a spot in the XI, then Shane Long could move into a wide area, with Lucas Joao potentially coming in to lead the line, although Andy Carroll is another option for the Royals.
As for Coventry, Fankaty Dabo, Martyn Waghorn and Matt Godden remain on the sidelines through injury.
The Sky Blues have not had any players away at the World Cup, though, so Robins has been able to work with the first-team squad during the winter break.
The same XI that took to the field for the clash with QPR last time out could again take to the field here, with Viktor Gyokeres, who has nine Championship goals this season, leading the line.
Reading possible starting lineup:
Bouzanis; Yiadom, Holmes, Mbengue, Abbey; Fornah, Hendrick; Long, Ince, Meite; Joao
Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Wilson; Doyle, McFadzean, Panzo; Eccles, Hamer, Sheaf, Bidwell; O’Hare, Gyokeres, Allen
In the week that the Bulls lost their most famous ex-player, FA Cup legend Ronnie Radford – 50 years on from his iconic match-winning goal against Newcastle – it briefly looked like there might be some left-over magic in the air.
For seven minutes, the sixth-tier outfit led after Miles Storey’s goal against the team 81 places above them in the English football pyramid in League One.
But Pompey hit back, with Reeco Hackett quickly levelling before second-half goals from Colby Bishop and substitute Joe Pigott earned the twice FA Cup winners a safe passage to Monday’s second-round draw
Making their first trip to Edgar Street in 38 years, Pompey were given a good first-half workout by the fired-up hosts.
Although home keeper Dale Eve had to keep out Hackett’s left-foot curler bound for the top corner, Pompey had a first real scare when Bishop’s challenge on Hereford’s former million-pound marksman Tyrone Barnett in the visitors’ penalty box went unpunished.
And there was worse to follow for Pompey when Hereford took the lead on 26 minutes.
Sean Raggett played a loose pass inside to Hackett, who was immediately closed down and robbed by Storey – and the former Pompey player raced away down the inside-left channel before keeping his cool to nutmeg on-loan West Bromwich Albion keeper Josh Griffiths.
Fittingly, just two days on from the announcement of the sad passing of Hereford’s legendary number 11, their modern-day number 11 emulated his predecessor.
There had already been a minute’s silence, which cascaded into applause from the whole ground, followed by chants of ‘there’s only one Ronnie Radford’ when the clock showed 11 minutes.
But this goal was destined not to prove so famous.
Ronan Curtis headed down Connor Ogilvie’s far-post cross for Hackett to bring down and fire home coolly from six yards.
On 63 minutes, Portsmouth took the lead when, from Clark Robertson’s in-swinging right-foot corner from the left, Bishop timed his run to get there first and head his 10th goal of the season.
And Pigott wrapped up victory 10 minutes from time when, again from a corner by skipper Robertson, Bishop won the initial header before Pigott reacted sharpest to sidefoot home
Hereford FC boss Josh Gowling told BBC Sport:
“I’m really disappointed because we should have got something out of it, but goals change games – and the quality of the delivery they have changes games.
“In the first half we were excellent. We were in the ascendancy and they looked nervous.
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“We were on top and looked like we could go on and win, but we’ve made one mistake, it has cost us a goal and that’s the difference in levels.
“We’ve given them a leg up and a little lift and you could see their performance raise after that.”
Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley told BBC Sport:
“I was so sad to hear the news about Ronnie Radford. He was such an iconic figure and he had that iconic moment. For a lot of people my age, his famous goal was their first memories of the FA Cup. But what a brilliant night to celebrate his life