Under-23 preview | Reading vs Wolves

Wolves under-23s face the first match of a Reading double-header on Friday afternoon as the Premier League 2 Division 2 season approaches its climax.

With just two matches of the campaign remaining, both against the Royals, James Collins’ development side firstly head to the Bearwood Park Training Ground, for a 1pm kick-off, with the aim of maintaining their third position in the table.

The under-23s moved up the Division 2 standings with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Norwich City last time out, with Luke Cundle, Owen Hesketh and Jack Scott getting on the scoresheet, as the team scored their eighth goal in three matches - despite changing formation due to a lack of a recognised striker following injuries to the forward line.

Reading have fallen out of the play-off push in recent weeks, having gone the entirety of April without a victory in PL2, with the last time they picked up three points coming in a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on March 12th. Since then, the Royals have twice fallen to Sunderland, and once to Burnley and Middlesbrough – all sides who are aiming to extend their season and reach the play-offs.

Friday’s fixture is the first of two meetings between the sides to end the season, after the original home tie against Reading earlier this year was postponed. After this game, the teams will then go head-to-head on Monday 10th May at Aggborough, bringing the league campaign to an end.

With the game to be played behind closed doors, supporters can still catch all the action live from Reading on Wolves TV.

The match will be streamed online from 1pm, with the full match stream and commentary available to watch on wolves.co.uk, the Wolves App or the Wolves YouTube channel.

The live Wolves TV match stream can be found here, or click here to watch on YouTube, while supporters can also catch download the Wolves App now on iOS here and on Android here.

WHEN

Friday, 1pm

WHERE

Bearwood Park Training Ground, Reading

LAST THREE

Wolves

3-0 vs Norwich City (H)

1-1 vs West Bromwich Albion (H)

4-0 vs Newcastle United (H)

Reading

2-1 vs Sunderland (A)

0-2 vs Burnley (H)

2-4 vs Middlesbrough (H)

WHAT THE BOSS THINKS

Head coach James Collins is pleased his players are hitting form at the right time and beginning to find their stride with the play-offs in sight.

“What’s great is that we’re playing football and I’m enjoying watching us play,” Collins said. “We’ve had a decent season whatever happens, but of late, we’ve really found our footballing stride.

“I think in possession during the last three games, we’ve been excellent and probably should have had three wins.

“But it’s always a plus when you can stand on the sidelines and enjoy the football your teams play.”

REMAINING FIXTURES

30/04 Reading (A)

10/05 Reading (H)

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