Reading FC vs Watford FC, FA Cup 2022-23 ROUND 3
Overview
Match Preview
Reading FC vs Watford FC — FA Cup at Select Car Leasing Stadium.
- Reading FC 0 games · 0 pts (2025/26)
- Watford FC 0 games · 0 pts (2025/26)
Head-to-Head
Recent Form
| Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Jan | Watford FC | H | 2–0 | W |
| 02 Jan | West Bromwich Albion FC | A | 0–1 | L |
| 30 Dec | Norwich City FC | A | 1–1 | D |
| 27 Dec | Swansea City AFC | H | 2–1 | W |
| 16 Dec | Birmingham City FC | A | 2–3 | L |
| 10 Dec | Coventry City FC | H | 1–0 | W |
| Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Jan | Reading FC | A | 0–2 | L |
| 02 Jan | Norwich City FC | A | 1–0 | W |
| 30 Dec | Swansea City AFC | A | 0–4 | L |
| 26 Dec | Millwall FC | H | 0–2 | L |
| 17 Dec | Huddersfield Town AFC | A | 2–0 | W |
| 11 Dec | Hull City AFC | H | 0–0 | D |
Key Stats
20%
Both Teams to Score
H2H (5 games)
H2H (5 games)
20%
Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
H2H history
0%
Clean Sheets
Reading FC this season
Reading FC this season
0%
Clean Sheets
Watford FC this season
Watford FC this season
Events
Match Events
- 0' The wait is over. Reading FC get us underway at Select Car Leasing Stadium.
- 5' Players seem to put ease on their energy level Spectators hardly appreciate such approach. Teams need to speed up the tempo.
- 10' The midfield battle is intense right now. Both Reading FC and Watford FC are fighting for every inch of the pitch.
- 13' Poor challenge from Amadou Salif Mbengue. The referee spots it immediately and shows the Yellow card.
- 18' Reading FC are deployed in a today, looking to exploit space against Watford FC's shape.
- 23' Reading FC have won 433 goals from 379 games. They will be desperate to add to that tally today.
- 28' The teams are not in a rush to score plenty of goals. It might look strange considering Watford FC that had 358 games and scored 391 goals.
- 33' A tactical chess match is unfolding here. The question is which manager blinks first.
- 38' has dominated the recent head-to-head record, winning 0 of the last 0 meetings.
- 43' The tempo has dropped considerably in the last few minutes. Paul Ince will be considering his options from the bench.
- 46' Leandro Bacuna gets the nod from Watford FC. He replaces Adrian Blake and will look to change the dynamic.
- 48' The Ghana Kelvin Abrefa breaks the deadlock on 45 minutes. 1-0!
- 53' The referee has had an easy afternoon — neither side has been overly physical in the tackle.
- 54' Another change for Watford FC made on 54 minute. Leandro Bacuna leaves to be changed by Jack Grieves.
- 59' We miss some good tackles and strikes. Is there anyone on the field to put the game back to action?
- 60' That looks like a foul for a Yellow card for James Morris.
- 65' The energy levels are beginning to show. Paul Ince might look to freshen things up shortly.
- 70' Femi Azeez makes way for Andy Carroll at the 70 minute mark. A tactical switch from Reading FC.
- 70' The referee calls foul for Amadou Salif Mbengue. He receives a Yellow card.
- 75' James Morris has certainly something to prove this evening. He made 1 appearances with only 0 goals this season.
- 79' A change in the Reading FC ranks — Lucas Joao exits the field as Michael Craig enters on 79.
- 84' Over 84 minutes have gone by without a meaningful attack. The supporters want more.
- 87' A tactical swap from Reading FC — Nesta Guinness-Walker on, Abdul Rahman Baba off on 87 minutes.
- It finishes all square. Reading FC and Watford FC share the spoils 2-0.
Lineups
Reading FC Lineups
Starting XI
- 6
- 7
-
4
Sam Hutchinson ↓ Loum Ndiaye 46'
-
9
Lucas Joao ↓ Michael Craig 79'
- 24
- 21
- 12
- 5
-
15
Femi Azeez ↓ Andy Carroll 70'
- 27
- 30
Bench
-
2
Andy Carroll ↑ 70'
- 1
-
22
Loum Ndiaye ↑ 46'
-
18
Nesta Guinness-Walker ↑ 87'
- 32
- 34
- 40
-
36
Michael Craig ↑ 79'
- 46
Coach
Paul Ince
Watford FC Lineups
Starting XI
- 3
- 5
- 31
- 32
- 35
- 36
- 15
- 42
- 18
-
50
Adrian Blake ↓ Leandro Bacuna 46'
Bench
-
25
Leandro Bacuna ↑ 46'
- 26
- 53
Coach
Slaven Bilic
H2H
H2H Top Scorers
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Ismaila Sarr | 3 |
| Joao Pedro | 2 |
| Ryan Porteous | 1 |
| George Puscas | 1 |
| Shane Long | 1 |
| Kelvin Abrefa | 1 |
| Jeff Hendrick | 1 |
| Tom Ince | 1 |
Head to Head
Reading FC Form
Predictions
Prediction accuracy
3 / 4
1.33
Reading FC xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
0.88
Watford FC xG
I would bet for:
Under 2.5 goals 62% + Under — clean sheet likely 56%
Match Result
✓ CorrectActual: Reading FC win
Both Teams to Score
✓ Correct
Avg goals/match: 2.21
Actual: No — clean sheet
Over / Under Goals
✓ O/U 2.5| Line | Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ± 0.5 | 87% |
|
13% |
| ± 1.5 | 65% |
|
35% |
| ± 2.5 | 38% |
|
62% |
| ± 3.5 | 19% |
|
81% |
| ± 4.5 | 8% |
|
92% |
Double Chance
Reading FC or Draw
77%
Draw or Watford FC
52%
Reading FC or Watford FC
71%
Half-Time Result
✗ WrongActual: Reading FC win at HT
Correct Score
✓ In top 12
1 – 1
13.7%
1 – 0
13.5%
0 – 0
13.2%
2 – 0
Actual
0 – 1
8.4%
2 – 1
8.3%
1 – 2
5.4%
3 – 0
4.1%
0 – 2
4%
3 – 1
3.8%
2 – 2
3.7%
3 – 2
1.8%
Asian Handicap — Reading FC
| Handicap | Reading FC covers | Push | Watford FC covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| -2.5 | 8% | — | 92% |
| -2 | 8% | 14% | 78% |
| -1.5 | 22% | — | 78% |
| -1 | 22% | 24% | 54% |
| -0.5 | 46% | — | 54% |
| +0.5 | 77% | — | 23% |
| +1 | 77% | 15% | 8% |
| +1.5 | 92% | — | 8% |
| +2 | 92% | 6% | 2% |
| +2.5 | 98% | — | 2% |
Clean Sheet
Reading FC keeps clean sheet
42%
✗
Watford FC keeps clean sheet
27%
✓
Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.