Let's hope Reading have one eye on the FA Cup semi-final

I suppose some AFCB fans will say that the Royals have not been able to hold this Cherries side of late and with the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal on the horizon it is likely that most of the Royal's first team will be sheltered from a run out in this fixture. Does that make it a simple task for the Cherries? I doubt it as AFCB have a habit of causing us all heartache and nail biting. Had AFCB been a few points clear at this point it may have seemed more of a formality, but an away game is far from that and Bournemouth have to turn up and put in a top performance if they want to keep ahead of the chasing teams.

4000 AFCB fans will be heading to the Madjeski stadium

It is hard to know exactly what team Steve Clarke will put out. In the last league game against Bolton before their quarter final away game against Bradford City he made four changes and for the replay he changed the whole team from the one which played Watford in the Championship two days earlier. Something similar might be expected against AFCB, but reading have three full days to recover before facing Arsenal so he could start with a strong side and see how it goes in the first half before making some changes. The FA Cup is Readings season now and it is likely that Clarke will put everything he has into the match against Arsenal at Wembley for that reason.

Just who will be in that Reading side?

The form of Reading has been inconsistent in the league of late. They have drawn their last three games and barring the FA Cup they have not won at home since 10 March, while during February they did not win at home all month when they played Leeds, Wigan and Nottingham Forest. Still they beat Derby and Ipswich away that month which means that they can perform on their day.

Simon Cox leads their goal stats on eight for the season and just behind him is Pavel Pogrebnyak and then Jamie Mackie on six.

Reading Home Form
LLWDD

AFCB Away Form
LWDDW

You can read Cherry Chimes' pre-match interview with The Tilehurst End Blog by visiting their site and you can catch up on the reverse interview here on Cherry Chimes' Rival Lines.

It looks like Matt Ritchie may be struggling to make this game with the stitches he had after the Brighton match, but I suspect that Adam Smith could well get a start in this game. Enjoy the game and remember to sing loudly at the Madjeski - I'll see you there - UTCIAD!

Can the Cherries trip up Nigel's Reading team?

If QPR's visit to Dean Court was a big game you would have to say that the Reading match now becomes almost a win or bust game for the Cherries. AFCB can't afford to leave anything on the pitch and must now give it their all against a Reading team who are in the box seat for a play-off place. Nigel Adkins will be sweating on this match as he knows even a point would still leave his Reading side as favourite's for the sixth place, but a defeat would not only open the door to Bournemouth but also, Brighton, Ipswich and Nottingham Forest any one of which could snatch that play-off place away from The Royals.

It's so close that goal difference could even come into play. So Bournemouth will need to do all they can in this game with what should be see as an opportunity and not a hurdle as they need a win and more goals. Having beaten Reading at the Madejski stadium earlier in the season, AFCB will be going for the double over The Royals.

But Reading have started to pick up points again a home draw against Huddersfield and an away win against Charlton Athletic has steadied the ship. They have some great players and among them the Cherries have to look to shackle Danny Guthrie who was at the heart of Reading's strong start against the Cherries when they played at Reading earlier this season. Royston Drenthe will be likely to have more minutes against AFCB than he did the last time the team met and Adam Le Fondre is now getting starts alongside Pogrebnyak.

As you will see from the form guide, Reading like playing away and that sends a signal to AFCB to be on their guard. It would be nice to have an extended season but things will need to go AFCB's way against Reading.  

I still feel that AFCB owe Nigel Adkins one for when he brought his Southampton side to Dean Court a couple of years ago (March 2011) and beating us 1-3 and scuppering our season a bit when we were doing so well. But let's face it, I think Harry Redknapp is the only ex-saints manager that most of us AFCB fans can like and we were not going to let his team win at Dean Court. So watch out Nigel - we're coming for you!

Reading Away form
WDWWW

AFCB Home form
DWDWW


It should be a good game tonight and a great atmosphere. Reading have a very strong team and I just hope we get an early goal to get us on our way. For more of my views ahead of tonight's game pop over to The Tilehurst End Blog who have kindly featured Cherry Chimes.  

In return Cherry Chimes invites you to see what the Tilehurst End thinks of tonight's match on Rival Lines.

Cherry Chimes talks to the Tilehurst End Blog

AFCB V Reading
Match Preview
Blogger Interview - The Tilehurst End

Cherry Chimes had the opportunity to quiz the The Tilehurst End about the Royals push for the play-offs and the thoughts of the blog's editor Dan Wimbush on his teams run-in.

CC: We are right at the business end of the season and Reading are in with a play-off shout, but do you think the team secure a top six place and what do you think about the run in of fixtures you have left - some games must stick out as very hard ones?

TTE: Well it's a mixed picture really but in my mind this game is going to be the hardest of our remaining six! After our trip to the South Coast we've got a home games with already promoted Leicester, and a probably promoted Burnley as well as games against teams with probably nothing to play for in Donny, Middlesbrough and hopefully Wigan. As an eternal pessimist I can still seeing us mess it all up but we're in a fantastic position to make the promotion lottery.

CC: Was the Barnsley game just a bad day at the office or do you think it's the pressure building up?

TTE: It was a horrendous day at the office but sadly was just one of a string of woeful home performances that have seen us win just two games in eleven. We really struggle against teams that sit back, which is why our home form is so bad but our away form has been so excellent. We really do have the ability to beat any team on our day and the more open the game the better!

CC: Would you say the majority of Reading fans are pleased with Nigel Adkins?

TTE: I think most fans sympathise with him at this stage because he was clearly sold a vision of the club that's very different to the reality. He set about trying to rebuild the side but the sudden departure of our owner left him with no funds and having to work with Brian McDermott's side who were used to playing a much different brand of football. Throw in a ridiculous injury list and keeping us in the top six has to be seen as a very good effort. Sure he's made the odd baffling decision but he's done well overall.

CC: If Reading get promoted what does Adkins need to do to make the team a stronger outfit at the top level?

TTE: A lot to say the least. The squad is largely made up of players who looked out of their depth last season in the top flight and few have taken significant steps forward. We'd need large scale investment across the pitch to be competitive but the likes of Crystal Palace show that with the right moves you can do it.

CC: Who would you say is the player that is your biggest goal threat at the moment?

TTE: Goal scoring hasn't exactly come easily in recent weeks, with Adam Le Fondre without a goal since January and Pavel Pogrebnyak also struggling in open play. Our midfielders are all chipping in with the odd goal which is nice and I suppose the real positive is that while no one player looks an outstanding threat, you can see just about any of the 10 outfield players scoring.

CC:  Royston Drenthe looked a great player when he came on against the Cherries at the Madejski. He seems to be getting more games for you now but it is surprising to see he only has two goals this season. How is he doing?

TTE: Drenthe had a fantastic August but an injury against Leeds in mid-September coupled with some undisclosed personal problems looked as if they'd see the Dutch winger out of the club with a whimper and without finding the net. Thankfully those issues seem to be behind him now and while he's still not dominating games the way many of us had hoped, he's become a lot more effective, especially away from home.

CC: You battered AFCB for the first 20 minutes or more at the Madejski but got caught with two quick breakaway goals, so what kind of game do you expect at Dean Court?

TTE: That game was typical of most of our home games this season, where we failed to make early pressure count before capitulating to sloppy defeats. We've one just once all season from going behind but likewise haven't lost when we've taken a lead. With that in mind the first goal is going to be absolutely crucial on Tuesday night and if we get it I think we'll have enough to hold on but if we go behind it could get ugly fast for the Royals.

CC: What do you think about your away form this season?

TTE: You can't be unhappy with a campaign that's seen 10 away wins including wins at QPR and Derby. We've not lost away since January and we've played some of our best football on the road this season, if only we could translate that to results at the Madejski Stadium!

CC:  Will it be easy to pick Reading's best player of the season?

TTE: Not really because no one player has had a consistently good season, as lots of players have played well in patches or have been steady but not spectacular. Young full-back Jordan Obita is winning plenty of hearts after his conversion to left-back while goal keeper Alex McCarthy has been outstanding at times. Adam Le Fondre was awesome in January while his strike partner Pavel Pogrebnyak has plugged away all season long and has earned the respect of Reading fans after a difficult first season at the club.

CC:  Are you surprised that Burnley and Leicester are so far ahead of the other teams in the league?

TTE: Yes and no, I don't think either have been amazing to watch but both have just had the consistency to get results where as the rest of us just seem to slip up far too often. There's not much difference between the top eight in terms of ability and potential but the fantastic team spirit at Turf Moor and the ruthless consistency at the King Power look to have seen both of them back to the Premier League.

CC: I had better ask what you think the score will be tonight?

TTE: I'm going for a very nervy and edgy 1-1, I think Bournemouth will come at Reading full steam and we might just catch you on the break. From there it's a big defensive effort from Reading but we can't quite hang on.

CC: Thank you for giving some detailed answers Dan. I know this is a difficult game for both teams and will be one of the crunch fixtures this Tuesday that could define so much of the season, not only for our two clubs but for others as well. It is an eagerly anticipated game by fans of the Cherries and imagine it is equally so among Reading's fans. In many ways I think the match at the Madejski was key in Bournemouth's season and it helped give our side belief. It is fitting that this big match at Dean Court will be an evening fixture and I hope it is a good atmosphere with many travelling fans expected despite it being a mid-week game.

For more news and thoughts on how The Royals are shaping up for this fixture please have a read of the recent reports on The Tilehurst End. Cherry Chimes has also written some answers for The Tilehurst End blog so you could well see some more of my thoughts about tonight's match up on this site at some point later today.

You'll also see that we have put a short snap poll up in the right hand panel to see who just may be the Bournemouth player who is likely to walk off with all the player of the season trophies this year. I've narrowed it down a bit but if your favourite isn't there click the other box!

Roll on Reading - the Cherries are on their way

As one of the pre-season favourites Reading have done more than well enough to do justice to that tag. While the former Premiership club has had to slash its wage bill and squad size it has been rejuvenated with some talented players, as well by keeping a few of the Premiership stars. Nigel Adkins has great knowledge of the Championship having already taken Southampton up earlier in his managerial career, but he probably has more pressure on him to succeed with this team.

Adam Le Fondre has surprisingly not played as many games as you might expect in the team this season, but his successful antics as a late time sub in games last season still resonate in my memory, and there is surely not many more deadly finishers than him in the Championship. A player that has really been catching the eye is Pavel Pogrebnyak, who is a Russian international striker, who also had some games for Fulham in the Premiership last season. In the Royals' last game against Charlton though, it was Southampton-loanee Billy Sharp that got their winner in his first start for the club.

But Reading have a good mix with some young players as well. Hope Akpan in midfield was brought in from Crawley Town in the summer. Jordan Obita is a new star for the team who came on to score his first goal in the win against Forest just a week ago.

Further Premiership experience comes in the shape of  players like Hal Robson-Kanu on the wing and Chris Baird at full back who made many appearances for Fulham in the top flight and started out at Southampton. Wayne Bridge will also be a familiar name to most as the former England left back made a move from Brighton to reading in the summer, quite a coup for Adkins.

The man the Cherries will have to score against is Alex McCarthy. He has had a good season so far with the team only conceding 20 goals and Newcastle are said to be looking to make a move for him in January.

AFCB will have to do what no other team has managed this season, if they are to get three points at the Madejski stadium, because Reading are unbeaten at home. Still they have drawn four games at home so they haven't a perfect record.

Elphick is likely to lead the team out at Reading.

For those travelling to the game I saw an article that is just three years away from being very helpful to our travelling fans on the train although the BBC, like me, has trouble spelling Madejski. 

Reading Home form:
WWDDW

AFCB Away form:
LDLDL

If you have not already seen Cherry Chimes interview with Dan Wimbush (Wimb) of The Tilehurest End site, quickly clink on Rival Lines to see the article.

You will also find Cherry Chimes has given some answers in reply on the Tilehurst End Blog. So do visit this site as well.

Cherry Chimes talks to The Tilehurst End Blog - Reading v AFCB

Reading v AFCB

Match Preview

Blogger Interview

Cherry Chimes spoke to Reading blogger Dan Wimbush (Wimb) who writes on the Tilehurst End blog ahead of the Reading v AFCB match. Dan is not sure if the fans are yet warming to Nigel Adkins, but he is sure that Pavel Pogrebnyak is one of those making the right kind of impression at Reading FC this season. 

CC: What were you aiming to achieve when you started the Tilehurst End blog and have you been surprised by its growth, and what do you enjoy about writing on it?

TTE: I'm not sure I had many aims really!

To be honest it was just about setting up a website that I felt would be able to plug a gap in the online Reading FC landscape. When we started the Tilehurst End in early 2011 there really wasn't a place that Reading fans could go to read long-form analysis pieces, sure we had forums like Hob Nob Anyone and the Royals Rendezvous, but there wasn't a website or a blog that allowed people to write in depth.

So I did a bit of research and found a few fans that had tried to start blogs or websites before but had since dropped away and asked if they wanted to come on board. Together we started a website over on the Wordpress platform and after around 18 months we were fortunate to be picked up by an American based blog network called SB Nation that have really allowed us to grow and expand.

I never expected us to get to the stage where we had nearly 3,000 Twitter followers and up to 50,000 page views a month but that's a testament to the number and diverse range of writers we've been able to have on the website over the years.

Lately we're just launched a podcast and as somebody who used to love presenting on student radio, that's probably the area that I'm most fond of!

CC: How do you feel Nigel Atkins has done coming into the club and do you like what he says in his post match interviews?

TTE: Truthfully, I've not really warmed much to Adkins public persona. He's sadly typical of this generation of managers who have been through extensive media training and know what to say and not say. He doesn't have the history with the club that Brian McDermott had, nor has he had the successes that made fans warm to managers like McGhee, Pardew and Coppell.

What matters is how he gets the team playing and while I'm happy to write off last year's relegation, this season has been very much a mixed bag in terms of both style and substance.

You can certainly see that he's trying to change the playing style but sadly injuries and a lack of investment have meant that the transition period has been a bit more painful than many fans would like.

CC: No doubt you would like to be higher up the table but do you feel that your current league position is consistent with how your performances have been this season?

TTE: Yes and no....

If you looked at our performances across the campaign then it's not really a team you'd say deserves to be in the top six. We got thumped at Sheffield Wednesday, drew with Barnsley, Millwall and Bolton and only got out of jail against Yeovil thanks to a late penalty.

That being said we've thrown away plenty of leads late in games this season and with a bit of luck and help from referees (as I'm sure most fans say!) We could be a lot closer to the top two.

The most pleasing thing is that we're still in touch towards the top despite not getting out of second gear. If we're this high when we're playing badly, then hopefully the only way is up!

CC: Which players have you been pleased with this season?

TTE: Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy continues to show why he won an England call-up last summer and from what I've seen is the best goalkeeper in this division.

Winger Garath McCleary and fellow midfielder Danny Guthrie have also been in good form but recently it's the efforts of Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak that has been the most pleasing.

CC: Reading have only lost three times but you've had a lot of draws so do you think the team could be more attacking in its play or are you missing chances?

TTE: We're not really a team that creates tons of chances but we've done pretty well with the limited chances we've had. I think there was a stat recently that showed we had the best chance to goal conversion in the division so if we could get a bit more creativity we'd be a real force.

CC: Is Adam Le Fondre getting 90 minutes more often this season and does Adkins get more out of him than Brian McDermott did?

TTE: Alfie continues to divide opinion, because while his goalscoring record is impressive, his record as a starter is poor. In 37 starts for the club he's scored just 11 times but he's managed 19 in 43 from the bench, including setting a Premier League record for goals as a sub.

Sadly, Reading just don't create the volume of chances he needs to be a 90 minute player and with an increasing focus on ball retention and possession, he's not strong or dynamic enough to play up front on his own.

He really excels when the team is surging forward looking for goals in the final 20 minutes, when defences are tiring and his movement gets the better of a weary defence. I'm sure Le Fondre wants to start every week and he's not an awful forward, but sadly he's not proved himself in three years that he's worth an automatic start.

CC: Billy Sharp has only played in a couple of matches from what I can see - is he injured, he still hasn't scored for you yet has he? (the question was put prior to the mid-week game when Billy scored against Charlton - he just might get a warm reception from AFCB fans)

TTE: Nope! Sharp has played about 20 minutes for the club in 2 months and while he had to deal with a niggling injury, he's been fit enough to be on the bench in recent weeks but has just been overlooked.

Pavel Pogrebnyak has been in inspired form so there's no justification to drop him, while as mentioned we tend to go more 4-5-1 than 4-4-2. That's meant limited chances for Sharp and with the Southampton man due to go back to his parent club in five games time, there's suggestions that with funds to sign him permanently in question, maybe Adkins doesn't want to change the style to accommodate a player that might not be with us come 2014.

CC: Who are likely to get the goals for you at the moment and what are the strengths of your attackers?

TTE: As I've said, Pavel Pogrebnyak is in good form and has five goals in his last ten games. The Russian is big and strong and has added fitness and commitment to his list of attributes since the close of the transfer window.

Le Fondre and Sharp have both got goals at this level and if we do go 4-4-2, both will be hoping to partner the big man up front. Danny Guthrie has found the net a fair few times as well this season, while both former Bournemouth man Alex Pearce, plus Kaspars Gorkss are both threats from set pieces.

CC: Was the Nottingham Forest result the other night the best Reading have played away from home?

TTE: It's certainly up there. I think the second half at Derby was probably the best performance as a whole but when you factor in quality of opposition, injuries and recent form, the Forest game probably nicks it.

CC: You have been defending well but who has been the star defender for the team?

TTE: There hasn't really been a star defender but as mentioned Alex McCarthy has been sensational in goal and has kept us in plenty of games this season.

The men in front of him have been rotating all season due to injuries and suspensions so we're still yet to find a really settled back four.

CC: It's still close in the top half of the table, can you see Reading catching Leicester, Burnley and QPR by the New Year?

If our injury list clears up then certainly but right now we're missing a key cog or two that'll let us really compete with that top three. I don't expect Burnley to stay up there but QPR and Leicester look very strong and so it'll be tough for anyone to keep up with them.

I think we'll give automatic promotion a good crack but really I'd settle for a play-off place and hope we can make it sixth time lucky in the end of season lottery.

CC: What will AFCB fans enjoy about visiting the Madejski stadium - are the views good and is it a good atmosphere?

TTE: Despite being 15 years old now, the Madejski Stadium still holds up very well when compared to other new stadiums that have been built since the Taylor Report.

The facilities in the stadium are good and you'll get a great view from wherever you happen to be sat. If you're bringing young fans along then there's also a family area towards the front of the stand which stewards monitor, while away fans recently voted us the fourth best away day in the Championship. The only drawback is a lack of pubs in the direct vicinity of the ground but if you're travelling by train then the Three Guineas beside the train station is a designated away pub.

Atmosphere wise and sadly like most new stadia it does suffer from being quiet at times, especially if there's a few thousand empty seats. However, I do remember our battles with Bournemouth in Division 2 a decade ago attracting decent crowds and good atmospheres and fingers crossed we see that again!

CC: Thanks for answering all those questions Dan. I have heard that AFCB have an increased allocation for the game so it looks like we will bring a big crowd. We had 1400 at QPR and for this match we'll have 2000 supporters, so the noise should be good. With Nigel Adkins, Chris Baird and Billy Sharp at the Madejski it will be like taking on part of Southampton, so it could be quite lively on Saturday.

Please take a look at The Tilehurst End and why not have a listen to their latest podcast for some inside information. I have also given some answers to Dan's questions about AFC Bournemouth, so if you visit the The Tilehurst End you should see a story on Cherry Chimes at some point today.