With the football suspended indefinitely-thanks to the coronavirus- we looked back at the past 20 years, and seeing what Reading were up to ‘On This Day’.

6th April -Reading 2-0 Leeds United 2012
With just one defeat in 14, the Royals came into this as the form side.

A packed Mad Stad on Good Friday witnessed Brian McDermott’s side overcome old enemy Neil Warnock and his Leeds side.

Despite some disgraceful tackles and gamesmanship, the nice guys of Reading got the last laugh when two goals from Adam Le Fondre sunk the Yorkshire side.

The win lifted the team into the automatic promotion spaces, and the team would endure just one more defeat that season, a final day loss at St Andrews against Birmingham City, once the fate of the title had already been decided.

7th April - Reading 1-0 Preston 2018

The only Reading win to have occurred on this date since the turn of the Milennium, Reading have found a way to beat the Lilywhites at home since their return to the Championship in 2015 having lost just once.

An early Mo Barrow header was enough to gain the three points in Paul Clement’s second home match in charge.

This was to be the sides last win that season, drawing two and losing three to survive by two points.

8th April - Cardiff City 2-5 Reading 2006

With promotion and the title having been confirmed in the two consecutive weeks previously, many expected Steve Coppell to make a few changes and for his side to take the foot off the gas.

Well they were wrong!

Goals from James Harper, Dave Kitson, Kevin Doyle and an own goal from Glenn Loovens meant that the side had hit five for the second game on the bounce.

The Bluebirds did manage to notch two of their own through Cameron Jerome and Paul Parry, but it was a resounding result come the final whistle.

9th April - Nottingham Forest 3-4 Reading 2011

One of the best games involving Reading from the last decade- Brian McDermott’s men won the end-to-end game at the City Ground thanks to Simon Church’s stoppage time strike.

Ian Harte gave the side the lead after 20 minutes, only for Kris Boyd and Robert Earnshaw to turn the game on its head five minutes after half-time.

Goals from Jem Karacan and Jimmy Kebe saw Reading regain the lead just ten minutes later as it looked as though the side were going to see out a 3-2 win.

However on the stroke of 90 minutes the home side were awarded a penalty and Lewis McGugan levelled the game at 3-3 as the game entered injury time.

But McDermott teams never knew when they were beaten, and academy graduate Church stole a vital three points as Reading roared into the play-offs.

10th April - Norwich City 2-2 Reading 2019

A very recent addition, the importance of this game should never be forgotten.

Jose Gomes’ side were in mixed form as they travelled the East-Anglia to face the leaders at Carrow Road.

With three wins, two defeats and a draw in the previous six matches, the side were hovering dangerously above the drop zone- a gap cut to just one point following the previous Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Hull City.

Set up to frustrate the Canaries and hit them on the counter, the plan worked perfectly as Yakou Miete burst free and gave the Royals a shock lead on the half-hour mark.

Daniel Farke’s side continued to dominate the play, and forced some fine saves from Emiliano Martinez.

The plan worked until five minutes from time, but a long-range strike from defender Ben Godfrey broke Reading hearts as the lead was pegged back.

With momentum and confidence visibly lifting the home side, the turnaround was complete just two minutes later as Christoph Zimmerman powered a header past Martinez to give Norwich a 2-1 lead.

But with the last kick of the game, the ball fell to Andy Rinomhota, eventual winner of the Player of the Year award, who struck a stunning strike from the edge of the box to steal a point for the struggling side against all odds.

Reading went on to lose just one more game all season as Jose Gomes galvanised the club and lead them to comfortable safety, seven points clear of the bottom three.

11th April - Reading 0-0 Blackburn Rovers 2015

Incredibly the side have played just once on this day since the 1999/2000 season- a goalless draw with mid-table Blackburn.

Although dull on the face of it, the game is more remembered as an event.

It was named ‘Ryan’s Royals’ as Avenue School student, and huge Reading fan, Ryan Duval designed the special kit worn on the day, as well as leading the two sides out.

Reading had the better of the game, having both of the two shots on target in the game, including Hope Akpan seeing his effort cleared off of the line.

Fan-favourite Jem Karacan made his first start for 16 months- but the big game was the following week as Reading appeared in just their second FA Cup Semi-Final in the history of the club.

Unfortunately Ryan passed away last year, but he will never be forgotten by Reading FC fans.

A true Royal, deserving of a special day.

12th April - Reading 0-2 Fulham 2008

A hugely significant game which Reading were on the wrong end of, this is often thought to be one of the key games that sealed the clubs fate with their eventual final day relegation from the Premier League.

Fulham had not won in any of their previous 32 away matches until this game, but were fighting hard to move out of the bottom three.

Fulham were strong throughout, and even hit the woodwork three times on top of the two goals they scored at the Madejski.

Goals from Brian McBride and Erik Nevland secured the three points for the Cottagers, who went on to gain nine points from their final 12 available to stay up on goal difference- ahead of Coppell’s Royals.