Ahead of the game | Blades have Sharp start to the season

Second Yorkshire trip in seven days for the Royals

20 October 2017

Get the lowdown on all you need to know ahead of Saturday's trip to Bramall Lane...

Sheffield United vs Reading
Saturday 21st October 2017
Sky Bet Championship
Bramall Lane
3pm kick-off

Club News

Quiz | Test your knowledge of previous Sheffield United encounters!

19 October 2017

Following on from last weekend's successful trip to Yorkshire, the Royals will be hoping for a similar performance this time around as Sheffield United await Jaap Stam and his side.

Stam has been boosted by the imminent return to fitness of striker Yann Kermorgant, who is yet to play this season, as well as John Swift and Paul McShane nearing a return to the first team fold after their own injury setbacks.

With a strong showing at Elland Road last weekend culminating in a 1-0 victory, the Royals will have to be on their game once more against a Blades side that currently sit third in the Championship table.

Chris Wilder's side have settled straight back into life in the second tier after an emphatic promotion from League One last season, and they come into the game off the back of a 1-0 win of their own against Ipswich Town last weekend.

Chris Basham's header shortly after the interval was enough for Wilder and his squad to take all three points on the day, making it their third win in their last four matches.

Former Royal, Billy Sharp, has been leading the line for the Blades and currently sits on four goals, joint-top scorer with Leon Clarke for the South Yorkshire side.

Club News

iFollow: Tune in for our Blades battle!

20 October 2017

Travel

Supporters' Trust at Reading (STAR) offer travel to all away games, details of which can be found by following the link here.

We're delighted that so many fans have taken up our free coach travel option for Saturday's match at Bramall Lane, and we look forward to seeing an excellent away following at Bramall Lane.

Pre-match chat

🎶 "He's magic, you know..."@TiagoIlori4 is ready for the challenges that Sheffield Utd will bring tomorrow!

👉 https://t.co/NrMd6P7s5k pic.twitter.com/C8hDSS4Z6r
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) October 20, 2017

"We need to maintain that level."

The gaffer wants to build on the back of the Leeds win when we head to Sheffield: https://t.co/kZPFNYzJi4 pic.twitter.com/axAv27sunS
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) October 18, 2017

Odds

Championship sponsors, Sky Bet, price the hosts at Evens to earn all three points at Bramall Lane on Saturday, with the Royals out at 14/5 for the victory.

Mo Barrow came on to score against his former club last time out and he is priced at 11/4 to repeat the feat on Saturday.

Joey van den Berg provided the inch-perfect pass for Barrow to score last weekend, and he is 7/1 to notch his name on the scoresheet any time on Saturday.

Officials

Interviews

Marshall: "I’ve enjoyed working with the group, there’s a lot of potential"

19 October 2017

Nottinghamshire-based official David Coote will be in charge of proceedings on Saturday afternoon at Bramall Lane.

Coote is yet to referee the Royals this season, with his last match officiating Jaap Stam's side coming against Wigan Athletic last term, a 3-0 win at the DW Stadium.

He has averaged approximately four yellow cards per game so far this season. Coote will be assisted on the day by Tony Peart and James Mainwaring, with Graham Salisbury on duty as the fourth official.

Tickets

Academy

Loader’s England reach World Cup quarters in dramatic shoot-out

18 October 2017

We have sold more than 1,100 tickets for our trip to Bramall Lane at the weekend, with tickets off sale at Madejski Stadium but available on the day in Sheffield.

Anyone buying a ticket on the should be advised that tickets will cost an extra £2 on top of advance prices, and payment is CASH ONLY at the ground in the away ticket office, available from 1.30pm.

For all ticketing enquiries, follow the link to our Ticket Office page or contact the Ticket Office by phone on 0118 968 1313. Our official online ticketing service www.readingfcdirect.co.uk sells seats for home and away games, and email enquiries can be sent to ticketing@readingfc.co.uk

Reminder

We wish to politely remind supporters that the football club is responsible for their conduct at all matches (home or away) and any person committing a football-related offence or involved in serious misconduct at any match will result in a club ban. Examples of serious misconduct include discriminatory, offensive or abusive chanting, entering the pitch, persistent standing and throwing a missile. Supporters witnessing any incidents of serious misconduct are encouraged to report this to the football club by texting 80800, beginning your message with the word SAFE.

iFollow

Sky Bet Championship

Sheffield United

Saturday 21st October 2017, 3pm (Bramall Lane)

Match Reports

Royals fall just shy of a point after late Beerens goal

Two first half goals condemn Royals to defeat in Yorkshire

21 October 2017

Subscribe to watch

Extended highlights: Sheffield United 2-1 Reading (Sky Bet Championship), 21st October 2017

Action from Bramall Lane as the Royals were defeated by the Blades.

Sheffield United 2-1 Reading

Coutts curls stunning effort to give Blades the lead after 20 minutes
Sharp doubles the lead with simple tap-in after Duffy's cross
Beerens replies late on for Royals to set up tense finish
John Swift and Paul McShane return after injury absences

The hosts pressed high early on to try and see plenty of the ball against the Royals.

Jaap Stam's side broke, though, through Dave Edwards and Mo Barrow linking up on the right. The winger burst forward and cut back, but it ricocheted off a defender and out to safety.

The Blades kept up the tempo and forced a corner, which was whipped towards the back post. Jack O'Connell prodded at goal but Vito Mannone was equal to the effort to save.

Enda Stevens then broke away on the left for the hosts, putting a teasing ball into the six-yard box, and Leon Clarke blazed over from close range in a lucky escape for the Royals.

Unfortunately for Reading, the Blades would get their breakthrough from a moment of real quality.

Following a half-clearance in defence, Paul Coutts was on hand to pick up 20 yards out and curl an unstoppable effort into the top corner.

The goal seemed to make the Royals kick up a gear, stringing together longer spells of possession and forcing the initiative in the Sheffield United half.

However, they got caught out on the break as Mark Duffy was played through in space on the right, sliding across goal for skipper Billy Sharp to tap in and double the lead.

The Royals responded again afterwards, Roy Beerens taking a pot-shot from 25 yards but it caught the goalkeeper by surprise and only edged wide of the post by a matter of inches.

Despite further forays forward towards the end of the half, Reading couldn't claw a goal back before the break.

Half time | Sheffield United 2-0 Reading

The second half started in the same vein as the first, with the hosts on the front foot. Mannone had to be alert as a cross from Duffy was met by Sharp, with his effort saved by the reactions of the Italian.

Mannone initiated a quick counter with Beerens on the run, switching for Leandro Bacuna, but his cross was straight into the path of goalkeeper Blackman.

Paul McShane and John Swift were introduced in the second half following injury absences, with the latter driving on into the area, taking it past two Blades but getting put off balance at the crucial moment.

Swift's introduction brought a renewed impetus going forward, and the Royals looked increasingly threatening in the Blades' half as time ticked on, Chris Gunter crossing from wide left and finding McShane's head, but it bounced just wide.

The Royals were then thrown a late lifeline as Barrow got in behind the defence, crossing low to the back post and finding Beerens for a tap-in, setting up a grandstand finish at Bramall Lane.

Swift danced past three United defenders to get into the area, but it was well cut out by the last man. This was quickly followed up by Dave Edwards sliding a through-ball to Barrow, whose cross was cleared.

At the other end, Clarke beat the offside trap and went one-on-one with Mannone, with the goalkeeper standing his ground and saving superbly with his legs.

Despite their late flourish, it wasn't to be for the Royals on the day.

Full time | Sheffield United 2-1 Reading

Sheffield United: Blackman, Baldock, Stevens, Fleck, O'Connell, Basham, Clarke, Sharp (c) (Lundstram 81), Coutts, Carter-Vickers, Duffy (Brooks 73).
Subs: Moore, Donaldson, Wright, Lafferty, Carruthers.
Yellow: Brooks
Goals: Coutts 19, Sharp 37

Reading: Mannone, Gunter (c), Ilori, Moore, Blackett (McShane 55), Van den Berg, Bacuna (Clement 77), Barrow, Edwards, Beerens, Aluko (Swift 66).
Subs: Jaakkola, Kelly, Richards, Smith.
Yellow: Van den Berg, McShane
Goals: Beerens 85

Att: 26,265 (1,150 away)