Reading vs Charlton Athletic: Match Preview
How will the Royals fare against a very in-form Charlton at the Select Car Leasing Stadium this weekend?
Charlton Athletic are one of three teams in the league to have won all three games so far in the league this season, having beaten Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wonderers and Leyton Orient. They are said to have (arguably) the best manager in the league (Nathan Jones) who plays a very attractive style of football.
Reading have an even record of one win, one draw and one loss in the league so far.
With the loss against Wrexham beneath the ground now, it’s important for the players to pick up where we left off against Wigan. Although the scoreline was very against us, Reading played very well in the match last Saturday, especially in the first half. But it was always going to be a difficult game, more so the second half when the third goal went in.
But there is no better way to come back than a victory against a high-flying team... right?
Here is your pre-match preview.
What? League One matchday four
Season? 2024/25
Who? Charlton Athletic
Where? Select Car Leasing Stadium
When? Saturday August 31
Time? 15:00
Opposition manager? Nathan Jones
Nathan Jones
Nathan Jones spent his 21-year playing career as a left-back or midfielder, appearing 488 times for clubs such as Yeovil Town, Brighton & Hove Albion and Luton Town, scoring 12 goals.
He started his coaching career in 2014 as Brighton’s caretaker manager after Sami Hyypia resigned for nine days until Chris Hughton took over on December 31.
Jones then joined Luton Town in January 2016 and managed to keep the club from relegation in his first season. He then finished in fourth place the following season, being knocked out of the playoff semi-final by Blackpool. But the season after, he took Luton to a second-place finish, getting them promoted to League One.
In the first season in League One his Luton side took the league by storm, getting back-to-back promotions in second place, managing to have the highest points-per-game ratio in the club’s history.
His move to Stoke City then lasted eight months, winning just three of the last 21, and two of the first 14 in the following season.
Rejoining Luton, Jones guided them to safety and managed a playoff place in the following season and, despite losing to Huddersfield Town, he signed a contract that would have taken him to 2027 as the Luton Town coach while also being named Championship manager of the season.
But despite the long contract, Jones joined Southampton, becoming the shortest non-caretaker manager in Southampton’s history, joining on November 10, 2022, and being sacked January 14, 2023. He was replaced by the man himself Ruben Selles.
Jones then joined Charlton Athletic in February 2024 with his first match being a 2-0 loss to Selles’ Reading. But despite the loss he has done great things at Charlton since, securing their safety last season and managing three wins out of three so far this season, making them a very favourable team for the league this season.
Problems on the wing
Having lost Femi Azeez to Millwall last week, Reading have had struggles on the wing, and with the takeover progress seemingly coming to a halt, the Royals currently can’t replace him.
Selles has been changing who plays in that right-sided position in the past few games with Mamadi Camara, Adrian Akande and Andre Garcia all having played there so far. With them all being so young, it is a huge step up from being in the youth set-up to starting first-team football. So naturally they haven’t performed the best in these games.
The better has been Camara but he is currently injured. Akande played well against West Ham under-21s but wasn’t the best against Wrexham on Saturday. I have mentioned it quite a few times now, but I really do think that Garcia is the answer. On the ball he is excellent, off the ball he is willing to track back, and he has great vision going forward. If he were to start against Charlton this weekend them I really think he can prove why I am raving about him so much.
Another possibility is Jayden Wareham. Not necessarily to play on the wing, but having him in the centre and Sam Smith on the wing could work. Smith seems to have lost confidence this season so it is vital that he has every opportunity he can to gain it back. Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan is our top scorer and he is a striker playing off the wing. There are arguments to say that just because it worked with one it doesn’t mean it will work for the other, but surely at this point it’s worth a try? Let me know what you think.
The lineup
Four of the back five I think will stay the same in Joel Pereira, Michael Craig, Tyler Bindon and Amadou Mbengue. But at left-back Jeriel Dorsett was easily the worst on the pitch at Wrexham. He made way to many mistakes that directly led to goalscoring opportunities on Saturday. I think that Kelvin Abrefa will start there this weekend, allowing us a little bit more reassurance when defending and going forward.
Our midfield three will stay the same in youngster Charlie Savage, star boy Ben Elliott and stand-in captain Lewis Wing. These three have been performing decently well so far and with Harvey Knibbs still not back from injury, it’s not looking likely to change.
The front three is where it is looking spicy. For me there are two possibilities in a trio of Ehibhatiomhan, Smith and Garcia, or a trio of Ehibhatiomhan, Smith and Wareham. I think Selles will favour the latter with Wareham being the more likely choice.
Score prediction 0-0
Make sure to fill the stadium.
COME ON YOU ROYALS!