Reading made it 343 days since their last away league win following a 4-0 defeat away to Charlton on Saturday. Despite being supported by over 2,500 travelling fans and showing some early signs of promise, they failed to make any of the chances count. So yet again the staff and players were left to clap 2,500 glum faces following the full-time whistle. Fortunately, scenes at the end did not replicate that seen at Leyton Orient a fortnight ago when players and fans engaged in a quite toxic exchange of words.
A 2-1 win over Hull City at the KC Stadium was the last time Reading’s travelling fans saw a win, with goals from Yakou Meite and a 92nd-minute own goal from Ryan Longman under former manager Paul Ince. Starting a winless streak stretches 19 games, in which time Reading have been beaten 5-0, 4-0 twice and 4-1. The run without a win has seen the Berkshire side pick up only two points on their travels with draws against Bristol City and Norwich last season, both coming under Paul Ince. While also being relegated to League One for the first time since 1998.
Current manager Ruben Selles has fared even worse as he is yet to pick up any points away from home. Under Selles, the Royals are yet to take the lead in an away league game this season and only equalising twice, every other goal has only been a consolation. As a result, his rather open and dynamic 4222 formation is being questioned by many fans who he would rather resort to a more solid formation to prevent Reading from leaking goals the way they have done so far this season.
Seven losses from seven means Reading have the worst away record in League One, even worse than Cheltenham who are yet to score an away goal this season. Selles’ side have only scored four (just below the league average), but the more damaging fact is that they have conceded 17 which is unsurprisingly the most in the league.
However, fortunes away from home in the cup have not been as bad for Reading, a young Royals side won 4-0 away to Millwall in the EFL Cup in early August. While also recording a historic 9-0 win at Exeter City in the EFL Trophy, the club’s biggest win in 122 years.
As it edges onto a year without an away league victory for the Royals, it doesn’t get any better knowing that in that time they have been deducted 10 points by the EFL. Some more things that have happened since their last away league win are the King’s coronation, Santa coming and Erling Haaland scoring 47 competitive goals.
Reading do have a chance to avoid making it a year winless on the road, which comes on the 11th of November when they travel to Shrewsbury. The Salops currently sit 15th in League One but their home form is strong earning 13 points from 7 games at New Meadow this season.
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