'Fun, exciting and unpredictable' - What Bristol Rovers can expect from Reading at the Mem

Bristol Rovers will once again take to the pitch in an attempt to put an end to their recent woes in front of goal when they host Reading tomorrow evening with the Gas now 671 minutes without a goal, a new club record.

It was a spirited display against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon despite the 2-0 defeat in which Rovers created more than enough chances to win the game, let alone take a point. However, it's not the first time during this recent six-game winless run where we've highlight squandered opportunities after either a defeat or a draw.

Next up at the Mem are Reading who have faced a plethora of difficulties this season, mainly off the pitch, with the Royals still not quite over the finishing line of securing their League One status for next term. Like Bolton, they're a team who are still fighting for something in way of the league table, albeit at the other end, while the Gas' biggest motivation currently seems to be personal pride.

If they take confidence from the way in which they ended the first half and started the second on Saturday as well as their bright spell in search of an equaliser before Aaron Morley's penalty with virtually the final kick of the game then you would hope that there's enough to put an end to this recent turgid run.

However, what is it exactly that we can expect from tomorrow evening's visitors? Bristol Live spoke to the Reading Chronicle's Digital Reading FC Journalist James Earnshaw to get the lowdown on everything regarding the Royals.

I don't think many football fans can even come close to understanding what Reading supporters have gone through this season. If you can, just summarise this campaign and the general mood amongst the fanbase at the moment.

On the field, it's been a season of two halves. Throwing away a two-goal lead at Shrewsbury in stoppage time appears to be the turning point, with the club in play-off form since then. Fun, exciting and unpredictable, it's been a fun year despite the lowly finish on paper. Off the field, there aren't enough words to describe how it has been. Fingers crossed we are through the worst.

After Saturday's draw against Lincoln City and other results, Reading are six points clear of the relegation zone with four games to go. How much confidence is there that the Royals will now stay up?

Everyone is very confident that on the field the players are good enough to stay up, and should do from this position. The fear will always be that off-field issues bite the club again, but fingers crossed things stay as they are and Reading can look forward to another trip to the Mem next year.

Obviously two tough recent away games for the Royals. How has their away form generally been this season?

Away form has generally been pretty horrific in general for the last few years. Going 385 days between away wins in December 2022 until November 2023, handy results in Stevenage and Carlisle have followed as well as decent draws. Compared to home form, which is among the best in the division, it is chalk and cheese.

It seems as though Bristol Rovers have very little to play for now except personal pride. How are Reading looking at this one?

Reading are looking at this game as a game that is very winnable and could be the three points needed to secure safety. With trips to Burton and Barnsley coming up next, both of which have something to fight for, this game was circled for quite a while as potentially significant.

It sounded as though Harvey Knibbs was one player that Rovers may have had some level of interest in in the January window. Who are some of the players to keep a particular eye out for?

Harvey Knibbs; Sam Smith; Lewis Wing and Femi Azeez are the heartbeat of Reading offensively. If any two of those are on song, the Royals should have an enjoyable evening. If Rovers keep them quiet, it’s hard to see Reading creating enough to win against the Gas.