Reading vs West Bromwich Albion

29th April

West Bromwich Albion travel to Reading on Saturday afternoon for their final away game of the 2021/22 season (ko 3pm).

The Baggies were held to a goalless draw by Coventry City at The Hawthorns in their most recent match.

Hosts Reading have had a disappointing campaign and sit 21st in the division ahead of this weekend's encounter.

The Royals will be hoping to produce a much better result back on home soil having suffered a heavy 3-0 loss at Hull City last Saturday.

Albion travel south to the Select Car Leasing Stadium this weekend

How to follow the game

Supporters in the UK can listen live as Albion take on the Royals.

Gez Mulholland and former midfield man Andy Johnson will provide live coverage from 2.45pm, with match passes available for £2.50.

Fans overseas can watch the encounter live on WBA TV Matchday with a match pass for £10.

Match passes can be bought online here.

Follow live on Saturday here or, alternatively, via the free-to-download WBA app.

Opposition

Reading have secured another season of Sky Bet Championship football with a few games to spare despite being hit by a six-point deduction in November.

The Royals, who finished seventh in 2020/21, are 21st in the table ahead of their final two games of the campaign, with Saturday's clash against Albion followed up by a trip to Luton on the last day.

Reading's tally of 12 points from their last eight matches helped ease relegation fears and interim boss Paul Ince will now be challenging his players to end the season on a high and with another six points on the board.

Ince was appointed in February after Veljko Paunovic left the club by mutual consent. The former England midfielder has won four and drawn three of his 12 matches, losing just five.

The Royals have struggled this season and will be hoping for better in 2022/23

Classic clash

Albion beat the Royals 2-1 the last time the two sides met in Berkshire back in February 2020.

George Puscas put the home side ahead from the spot early on but Matheus Pereira's strike meant the game was level at the break.

Kyle Bartley's looping header gave Albion an early lead in the second 45, and it was a lead they held onto as Slaven Bilic's men secured an important three points.

Did you know?

Reading hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the Baggies in recent years and Steve Bruce's men will be hoping that all changes this weekend.

Albion have only won one of their last 13 visits to Berkshire in all competitions, with that win coming in February 2020.

Conor Townsend in action during Albion's 0-0 draw at Reading in April 2019

Away kit colours

Albion will wear their black away kit at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday.

LV BET's latest odds

Albion come in as the favourites at 7/5 (2.40) to secure all three points against Reading.

The Baggies have scored eight times in their last five undefeated games against the Royals. LV BET have West Bromwich Albion at 41/20 (3.05) to score over 1.5 goals and win the game, and at 29/10 (3.90) to win without conceding.

Karlan Grant leads the LV BET anytime goalscorer market at 19/10 (2.90), with Andy Carroll at 39/20 (2.95) to find the back of the net and Callum Robinson at 23/10 (3.30) to get his name on the scoresheet.

Play on the WBA pitch! Register here, make a minimum £20 deposit, opt-in to the Play on the Pitch promotion and place an eligible bet for your chance to line up at The Hawthorns! 18+ begambleaware.org. Terms apply. Odds are subject to change.

30th April

Albion beat Reading 1-0 in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Karlan Grant’s 16th league goal of the season was enough to earn all three points for the away side.

The result, in the penultimate game of the season, lifted Albion to 10th - with Barnsley awaiting Steve Bruce's side on the final day of the campaign.

Matt Phillips was brought into the XI for his 200th Albion appearance as Bruce made both personnel and tactical changes at the Select Car Leading Stadium.

The boss switched to a 4-4-2 formation and named Kyle Bartley, Grady Diangana and Phillips in place of Matt Clarke, Taylor Gardner-Hickman and Andy Carroll from last weekend’s draw against Coventry.

The Baggies almost opened the scoring inside 16 minutes when Semi Ajayi met Adam Reach’s cross, but his header came crashing back off the post.

On the half-hour mark Reading then went close themselves - Lucas Joao nodding a corner narrowly wide in front of the 2,000 travelling Albion supporters.

It was goalless at half-time, though, with neither side doing much to trouble the goalkeepers other than a few long-range shots.

Zac Ashworth came on for his league debut at the break, however the beginning of the second period was disrupted by a Reading injury.

After controlling the game for long spells Albion did finally manage to find their goal 12 minutes from time. Substitute Callum Robinson fed the ball to Grant, and the Baggies’ top scorer evaded a few defenders before finishing confidently into the bottom corner.

Youngster Quevin Castro was given the final 10 minutes by Bruce – and the visitors would have extended their lead had Orjan Nyland not saved two Robinson efforts late on.

Albion: Button; Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend (Ashworth 45); Phillips (Castro 80), Livermore, Molumby, Reach (Robinson 72); Diangana, Grant.

Substitutes: Palmer, Clarke, Kipré, Gardner-Hickman.

Saturday 30th April 2022 - 15:00