How long have you been a Reading supporter and what was the hook for you?
My dad and his side of the family are from Reading and they’re lifelong fans so I probably wasn’t going to be supporting anybody else and was forced into it! I must have been supporting since the age of 5 or 6 and got my first Reading shirt around that time.
Living in Cambridge, I don’t get to every home game but the family WhatsApp group helps to keep me in touch with what’s going on and talking about either how dire, or great, performances have been.
Who’s your favourite all time Reading player?
For me, I would have to say Adam Le Fondre. He was a marvellous striker. I remember him scoring a last-minute equalising penalty against West Brom in a miraculous game at the Madejski where we amazingly went from 2-0 down in the 82nd minute to winning 3-2. It was a dire performance but the stadium went wild when we got the winner. I’ll never forget that.
From the outside looking in, Reading look like they've had a cracking season so far. How are things going under Veljko Paunović and what’s the ultimate aim for the season now?
We are having a good season so far and much better than normal. I must admit when Paunović came in I was like: ‘Serbian manager from the American MLS with a 30% win record - what is he going to bring to the second tier of English football’? But he’s proved the doubters wrong. I think he inherited a squad of underperforming players so the credit has to go to Paunović for getting the best out of them. He’s definitely brought something new to the club, has got the players on side and I’m very happy to see us pushing up the table rather than looking down it.
I think automatic promotion would probably be a bit unrealistic for us but now we’re in the play-off places, I would definitely say for us to stay in there and why not?
What has your form been like coming into this game?
We had been slightly inconsistent but we have since won our last three games. We lost to ten-man Wycombe in a really bad performance but since then we’ve come through a tough patch and look full of confidence. We managed to grind a couple of 1-0 wins out against Rotherham and Blackburn but to get a big 3-0 win at home to Sheffield Wednesday was a real boost for the team.
What should Forest expect from this Reading side?
We’ve pretty much played a 4-2-3-1 formation this season with two holding midfield players in Josh Laurent and Andy Rinomhota but playing with wingers. We’d been looking really good with Yakou Méïté (now injured) and Michael Olise on either flank and Lucas João up front. However, injuries have upset us and so we’ve played a narrower diamond midfield with two strikers up top.
Forest had Alfa Semedo on loan last season, how has he been getting on for you?
I’ve criticised Semedo a little in the past but he scored a pretty good goal with a first-time 30 yarder against Millwall. He seems to get in the right areas but his end product is a bit hit and miss and he’s not as good as others playing in the same position as him. He’s been pretty good on the ball, looks lively and wants to get in the box so he does have plenty of potential.
Which players should Forest fans keep an eye out for at Reading and why?
Lucas João has given us some of the best striker performances I’ve seen in a very long time supporting Reading. He’s been incredible and the fact that he’s stayed injury free is massive for us. With his precision in front of goal, I’d say that he’s our best player.
If we are playing with wingers or an attacking midfielder, Forest fans will need to watch out for Michael Olise. At just 19 years old, he looks a really bright talent for the future. He’s quick, agile and he’s another that can really cause damage when he’s on the ball. Josh Laurent, a free transfer from Shrewsbury, has been an absolutely brilliant signing in the defensive midfield role too.
What would you say the are chinks in Reading’s armoury?
We've had a few shaky defensive performances this season and whilst our keeper Rafael Cabral has had an outstanding season, he’s been a bit shaky of late. I couldn’t be overly critical though being a slightly biased Reading fan!
Which Forest players will you be most wary of and why?
Glenn Murray had a spell at Reading a few years ago and scored eight goals in 18 games for us. Murray’s never really relied on pace throughout his career but his striker’s instinct has always brought goals. With his wisdom, he can definitely punish us. Anthony Knockaert has obviously been a good player in the past and if he can hit form, he’ll be a player for us to watch out for. I’d also be saying the same too if Lewis Grabban is fit. The old cliche applies to those players that form maybe temporary but class is permanent.
What’s your score prediction with scorers?
I think it’ll be a tough one for us. We’ve been having the kind of season though where we should be able to win. I’m going optimistic for a 2-0 away win with George Pușcaș and Michael Morrison getting the goals.
How has the experience of pandemic football been going for you personally? What are you missing the most?
I’ve probably ended up watching more of Reading than I would in any other season as I can’t get to every home game. It's been good that the games have been accessible to watch on a Saturday afternoon as I’d normally be listening on the radio.
To think that just over a year ago, I was in the away end at The City Ground going mad after we got an equaliser in the 1-1 draw seems a long time ago now. Forest fans had been giving it the large one after going a goal up but then we scored and gave you the ‘calm down lads - the game’s not over yet’ afterwards. That’s one of the things I’ve missed the most from not having fans in the stadium. At the very least though, football has still been going ahead which has been the main thing.
What do you call a bacon cob in Reading?
I wasn’t born in Reading so I’m not sure I can speak on behalf of them. I’d call it a bacon sandwich or a bap in Cambridgeshire. I asked a big group chat of Reading fans though and they agreed on bacon roll, as they thought a bacon bap was from London.