The last five opening day matches for Reading as fixture release day edges near

With players back in pre-season this week and the groups for the EFL Trophy already settled, preparations for next season ramp up in the coming days as the EFL announce League One fixtures for the new season.

Always an exciting day for supporters, finding out where they will spend key dates such as Boxing Day and Good Friday, the opening game of the season is one where each team will look to set the tone for the coming campaign.

Unfortunately for Reading, the last five opening day fixtures have done just that. Losing four of their last five opening-day fixtures, the Royals have finished in the top half of any division just three since 2014.

Take a look below at the last five opening-day fixtures and how Reading fared.

2019/20: Reading 1-3 Sheffield Wednesday

Lucas Joao went into the opening day of the season as an Owl and left it as a Royal. Kadeem Harris, future Reading midfielder Sam Hutchinson and the aforementioned Joao found the net on a warm day in August as Kieren Westwood was sent off and Yakou Meite netted for Reading.

Staying at the SCL Stadium hotel that night, Joao was announced as a Reading player by the time the next game came around, enjoying four years as a popular forward in Berkshire.

2020/21: Derby County 0-2 Reading

The only win on the opening day since 2016 and it came behind-closed-doors. Typical.

Another scorcher and the Royals ran the Rams ragged at Pride Park. Ovie Ejaria and Joao found the net in two well-worked goals, but the gap in quality was larger than the two-goal margin suggested.

Finishing seventh in the Championship under Veljko Paunovic, it would be the club's most recent top-half finish.

2021/22: Stoke City 3-2 Reading

A real humdinger to welcome full crowds back into stadiums for the first day of 2021/22.

Three goals in three minutes saw Stoke lead after the half-hour, with Nick Powell and Jacob Brown scoring within 60 seconds either side of Liam Moore's equaliser.

John Swift levelled the scores again on the hour-mark, but the Potters had the last say and Sam Surridge ensured it was the hosts who won in front of over 19,000 supporters.

2022/23: Blackpool 1-0 Reading

Less exciting but another away defeat on the opening day. Always a popular trip with supporters due to its nightlife, Blackpool has not been a happy hunting ground for the Royals in recent years.

Winning an FA Cup replay at Bloomfield Road in 2020, this is one of just two wins on the Fylde Coast since 2001.

Callum Connolly scored within the first 10 minutes and despite some huff and puff from Paul Ince's side, it was another opening day defeat.

2023/24: Reading 0-1 Peterborough United

After a summer of discontent off the field and a pre-season campaign in which Reading lost every game, it came to little surprise when the previous season's beaten play-off semi-finalists won in Berkshire.

Ephron Mason-Clark's dubious header beat Dean Bouzanis early on and that is how the game ended. Supporters remained behind to stage a sit-in as Sell Before We Dai built some momentum for fan action. It was not, and would not end up being, a welcomed return to the third tier.