Bound for the City Ground

Your big preview of our Nottingham Forest fixture this Saturday…

A big week of games against promotion-hunting sides – we face Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth and Blackburn before the international break within an eight-day stretch.

But it’ll be one game at a time. Forest first; a visit to the East Midlands against a side looking to break into those play-off positions, as well as continuing on their FA Cup venture.

Unbeaten at home in 2022, we’ll be in for a tricky afternoon against the Reds… but we’re going headlong into the challenge and targeting a maximum return.

Tickets

We have an extended allocation for this fixture, which goes off sale at 3pm on Friday 11 March. These tickets are unreserved seating and must be collected from the Away Ticket Office after 1pm on matchday.

For more information, click here.

RoyalsTV

The following Match Passes are available to purchase for this fixture:

• Audio Match Pass – UK/Ireland and International | £2.50
• Video Match Pass – International only (not available in domestic territories: UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man) | £10

We also have seasonal and monthly subscriptions available for audio (UK/Ireland and Worldwide) and video (International only). Click the link below to see all available packages.

The Opposition

Seven games into the season, you would have been excused in thinking that Nottingham Forest were destined for a long slog to survive… just a single point on the board at that point.

But the advent of Steve Cooper in September, replacing Chris Hughton, sparked an upturn in results and has left Forest just five points shy of the play-off places with a dozen games left to go, and a game in hand over Luton and Sheffield United, who each sit above the dotted line on 57 points.

 Their side are fighting on two fronts, too. Twice winners of the FA Cup, the Reds are one match away from Wembley. Former Reading striker Lewis Grabban netted the only goal in a 1-0 home win against Arsenal in the Third Round, before they surprised their East Midlands rivals Leicester with a 4-1 win in Round Four. Fellow Championship side Huddersfield were defeated at the City Ground this week, earning them another Premier League visitor in the shape of Liverpool in the Quarter-Final.

One to watch: Djed Spence

In a team full of attacking quality, it is defender Djed Spence that has been attracting a lot of headlines in recent weeks – with a glut of clubs in the Premier League and across Europe reportedly interested in his services.

The Londoner made the long journey north to join Middlesbrough after departing the Fulham academy in 2018; since then, he has made a name for himself with his all-round ability in either full-back position.

He joined Forest on loan this summer, and has been a regular again – his last outing against Huddersfield in the FA Cup was his 100th senior game, at the age of just 21. On these shores, the likes of Leeds, Man City, Arsenal and Tottenham have all been linked with the defender; Bayern Munich are also alleged to have shown interest, where he could potentially partner with former Royal Omar Richards.

Head-to-head

50 times we’ve met; Forest have the edge, historically speaking. Their 6-3 win at Elm Park back in 1903 was the first of 20 victories over Reading to date; our 2-0 home win last season was our 16th and most recent victory against the Reds.

Our last two visits to the City Ground have ended in 1-1 draws; we’re winless in our last seven attempts at Forest. Our most recent victory game in 2013, when Pavel Pogrebnyak, Kaspars Gorkss and Jordan Obita were all on the scoresheet – two Royals Academy graduates, Simon Cox and Darius Henderson, were Forest’s scorers, while Reading defender Chris Gunter was sent off at his old stomping ground.

Ref watch

Thomas Bramall takes charge on Saturday; his third Royals meeting, in his first season as a regular official in the Championship. He debuted in this division last season in Luton’s win at Preston, but has become a regular this term. He was the man in the middle for our away wins at Cardiff and Birmingham this term… we’re looking to make it a hat-trick in games he has overseen.

In 25 games this season, he has booked 74 players… and of the five red cards he has shown, three came in the same game as West Brom duo Alex Mowatt and Sam Johnstone and Cardiff defender Aden Flint were all shown straight reds when they met in January.

Assisting Mr Bramall will be Nick Greenhalgh and Robert Merchant, and Benjamin Speedie is the fourth official.