It’s Dragons vs Royals, taken-over vs waiting for a takeover.
After a strong performance against West Ham United under-21s in midweek, the Royals travel to Wales to face back-to-back-to-back promotion favourites Wrexham. With news of the takeover confirmation still up in the air, Reading fans need to see some light at the end of the tunnel, and having just lost a key player in Femi Azeez, it may need to be a big performance from the Royals to keep the atmosphere alive.
Wrexham share the same record as Reading currently with both teams having one win and one draw, with both being knocked out of the League Cup. Will the result be a fair one or will ex-Reading legend Phil Parkinson’s team be too much for the mighty Royals?
What? League One matchday three
Season? 2024/25
Who? Wrexham
Where? Racecourse Ground
When? Saturday August 24
Time? 15:00
Opposition manager? Phil Parkinson
Phil Parkinson is currently the manager of Wrexham. However, he is very well known to Reading fans. The ex-midfielder had an 11-year career at Reading, making 361 appearances and scoring 20 goals.
Parkinson was a key player in the Royals’ second-division win in 1993/94 to get them promoted, and then captained the side that won promotion in 2001/02. He then retired in 2003, taking the managerial position at Colchester United, before managing Hull City, Charlton Athletic, Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland and now Wrexham.
He managed to win four honours during his time at Reading. The second-division title in 1993/94, Reading player of the season twice - in 1997/98 and 1998/99 - while also being voted Reading’s best-ever central midfielder, gaining a whopping 60.3% of the votes in 2005.
In his spell at Wrexham, he has taken them to back-to-back promotions, managing 168 games, winning 61.9% of them (104 matches). As shown in the Welcome to Wrexham documentary, Parkinson is dearly loved at the club and his style of management is excellent.
Two of the most in-form strikers are playing against each other this weekend in Jack Marriott and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan.
Marriott signed for Wrexham this summer from Fleetwood Town and scored a worldie in the first game, against Wycombe Wonderers. The 29-year-old has been consistently playing in League One and the Championship over the course of his career, averaging 17 goals a season. He brings experience to the Wrexham squad and could be pivotal in where they finish towards the end of the season.
Ehibhatiomhan has made 61 appearances for Reading over his career, scoring 15 goals, and has already netted two in two this season, looking double the player he did last term. The 6ft 3 21-year-old is in the form of his life - part of the reason that Reading are at the moment sat fifth in the league standings, despite not making any transfers of yet.
Playing off the left wing, he has terrorised defences with his excellent footwork and his passion to get forward, something he was missing last season. If he can have an injury-free season (touch wood) he will definitely be up there for the top goalscorer.
Wrexham usually line-up in a 3-4-3 formation with Marriott, Ollie Palmer, Elliot Lee and (when fit) Paul Mullin interchanging between the front three. But the worry in the Wrexham squad in my opinion is James McClean. He is a workhorse in the midfield and is not afraid to dive in for a challenge. He makes the midfield his own and very rarely makes any mistakes when doing it.
It’s difficult to talk about Wrexham and not discuss their owners: Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The success they have bought (pun intended) the club has worked wonders. It is very difficult for a side to achieve promotion but to do it back-to-back, and then be favourites again the next season, shows the club is going in the right direction.
People outside Wrexham frowned upon the takeover, questioning if it was real, or if they were making a mistake by doing it. But for people who have never owned a football club before, they’re definitely doing it right.
Wrexham were in dire need of a takeover and Rob and Ryan came to the rescue to provide the money to sign players such as Mullin and Palmer in the first two seasons of owning the club.
Hats off to them, but Reading are here this weekend to show that money won’t buy happiness.
As usual, big Joel Pereira will start in goal, commanding a defence of Michael Craig, Tyler Bindon, Amadou Mbengue and Jeriel Dorsett. This has been our starting back five for the first couple of league games of the season and I don’t intend for it to change until captain Andy Yiadom returns from injury.
The midfield will consist of Charlie Savage, Lewis Wing and Ben Elliott. The trio have performed well since Harvey Knibbs’ injury and I feel that they will continue to do so against Wrexham. Elliott has taken the league by storm this season so far and I feel like he will run rings around the Wrexham midfield this weekend.
Up front there will be a change with the loss of Femi Azeez, and with Mamadi Camara potentially out injured, it could mean a start for Andre Garcia alongside Sam Smith and Ehibhatiomhan. The bright 16-year-old could be what the Royals are missing on that right-hand side. He has performed exceptionally well in the games he played, and I feel this could be the breakthrough of a brand new star. If he does get the start, I can see him getting a goal contribution at Wrexham.
With the tickets being sold out so quickly, I expect a loud crowd and the Royals to out sing the Red Dragons.
Score prediction- 2-1 Royals
Make some noise, come on you Royals!
