'They're a great side' Shrewsbury boss on Reading test and experience living in Berks
Shrewsbury Town boss Gareth Ainsworth has spoken highly of Reading ahead of this evening's meeting at the SCL Stadium, a local encounter for the popular resident.
Best-known for his decade at the helm of near-neighbours Wycombe Wanderers, Ainsworth lives in the town and has regularly been touted as a man for the Royals whenever the role has become available.
READ MORE: Wycombe Wanderers boss on future of Reading FC
A popular personality in the game, Ainsworth took over the Shrews in November as they sat bottom of League One.
Typically making them hard to beat, Salop have won their last two matches, the first time they have won consecutive games for over two years, and are four points adrift of safety heading into their first meeting with the Royals of the season.
"It will be very tough. They're a great side and Rubén Sellés did wonders with them. He had a young squad with all sorts of financial issues going on in the background.
"I live in the Reading area and I know a lot of Reading fans who were very frustrated with the club, rather than the players and managers.
"Noel Hunt has taken it on and he's again got experience and had some really good results; they beat Bolton last week. They've got some good players.
"We will have to change our style slightly to play against them, but I always look at the opposition and try to come up with a plan for what will work best for us on the day."
Salop have been something of a bogey side for the club since their return to the third tier, winning both matches against Reading 3-2 last season.
Infamously, Shrewsbury scored twice in stoppage time at Croud Meadow last November to overturn a deficit and pick up a dramatic victory which left Ruben Selles' side 10 points adrift at the bottom of League One.
However, 15 months on Reading are just two points outside the play-offs and are aiming to hit form as a run of home matches come on the horizon.
Ainsworth's only win as a manager against the Royals came as Wycombe won 1-0 at Adams Park in 2021 as Veljko Paunovic's side missed a penalty and eventually missed out on a play-off spot in 2020/21.
