The last time Frank Lampard faced Reading, in 2013, the former Chelsea midfielder was on the scoresheet in a 2-2 draw. On Friday evening he returns to the Madjeski as Reading v Derby kicks off the 2018/19 Championship season.
Having reached the Championship play-off final in 2017, Reading ended last season in 20th place, just three points above the relegation zone. Paul Clement is the man in the dugout after taking over at the end of March to preside over the final eight league games of last season, of which the Royals won two, drew two and lost four.
Derby, meanwhile, reached the play-offs last season via a sixth-place finish but lost 2-1 across two legs in the semi-finals to Fulham. Gary Rowett left the club in the summer to take charge of Stoke, with former England international Lampard taking over.
These two sides met twice last season and both were high scoring games. February’s match at the Madejski ended 3-3 while their November meeting at Pride Park saw the Royals win 4-2. Mo Barrow found the back of the net in both these meetings, and the Reading man will want to add to his tally here.
Reading v Derby tip
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Bookmakers are having trouble splitting the pair, but the visitors are marginal favourites for victory.
Derby picked up three points just eight times last season on the road, though Reading did only manage to pick up only five wins at home themselves.
Eleven of Reading’s 23 home games last season were level at the break, and Clement is known to be ultra-cautious. This, therefore, looks a sensible approach.
Game to be level at half-time – 21/20
Odds correct at time of publishing (03/08/2018, 16:30)
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What can Derby and Reading expect from the 18/19 Championship season?
Bookmakers make the Royals fifth favourites for the drop, which reflects their poor season last time out. The Berkshire outfit will hope that a full summer working with the team for Clement can make a difference.
They need to find some help in front of goal, having netted just 48 netted last campaign. This was the joint-fourth lowest in the division and their hopes will be pinned on Mark McNulty, who joined from Coventry in League Two where he netted 23 league goals. Sam Baldock, meanwhile, presents another option up top.
At the other end of the pitch, Reading’s defence shipped 70 last season, but reinforcements have come in the form of John O’Shea from Sunderland and Andy Yiadom from Barnsley.
As for Derby, after finishing sixth and making the play-offs last season, bookmakers have the Rams as the joint-seventh favourites for the title.
The main difference is the man in the dugout. Lampard, in the first managerial role of his career, takes control of a side that were the fifth-highest scorers last season. They had the Championship’s top-scorer last season, Matej Vydra, to thank for 21 of their league goals and despite confirmed interest in him over the summer, Lampard expects the Czech striker to be in Derby’s first-team again this season.
The Rams have also strengthened by signing Jack Marriott from Peterborough while, in midfield, Florian Jozefzoon was brought in from Brentford. Loan deals for highly-rated duo Mason Mount and Harry Wilson, from Chelsea and Liverpool respectively, also represent exciting purchases.
At the back, they were a respectable eighth best but they will hope former Arsenal right-back Aaron Eyoma can make a difference here. Five of the last seven regular season games Derby played saw over 2.5 goals.
Derby v Reading team news
Axel Oskar Andresson, Garath McCleary (both ankle) and Jordan Obita (cruciate) are all doubts for Reading ahead of the opener while Chris Gunter (thigh) is out for the first few weeks.
As for Derby, Matej Vydra, Tom Huddlestone and Ikechi Anya (all groin) are doubts while Marcus Olsson (cruciate) is out until the new year.
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