In our match preview, we’ll be taking a look at the Royals’ season so far and hearing from newly-converted right-back Josh Giurgi on the fixture ahead. **The opposition** Taking seven points from a possible 12, it’s been a solid start to the season so far for Reading, having taken two wins, one draw and one loss across Premier League 2. Scoring six goals and conceding just four, the Royals have a positive +2 goal difference to highlight their attacking prowess and ability on the backfoot, emphasised in their 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in August. Nottingham Forest handed Reading their first and only league loss of the season last week, taking a 2-0 win over the Royals. The venue of the game will be of interest to the young Canaries, taking place at the Select Car Leasing Stadium with fans welcome, giving City another crowd to play in front of on the evening. The Canaries have had almost the dream run this far into the campaign, having only taken one loss to Stoke City in all competitions. With three wins placing them second in the league, and a 3-3 comeback draw against Derby County in the Premier League Cup most recently, City are flying going into this game against the Royals.

Goal! Hat-trick! Leveller! The ball is pinballing around the Derby box as City see their shots deflecting off players and woodwork alike, until Tom Dickson-Peters buries it!

🟡🟢 #NCFC 3-3 #DCFC 🐏 (90+2) pic.twitter.com/BlgYy3BRte
— Norwich City Academy (@NorwichCityAcad) September 13, 2021

**Josh Giurgi: “Our performances show we should be winning every game”** U23s right-back Josh Giurgi says the team are excited for the game against Reading, adding it's another opportunity for the team to show what they can do. "We've started the season really strong. With the win away at Southampton, Sunderland and Villa at Carrow Road, they've all been big confidence boosters for us. I think it's another game to look forward to and show what we're capable of. "It's not about being unbeaten, but our performances since the start show we should be winning every game. " Against Stoke, it was a 1-0 loss and the goal was a set piece, they can change the game. Our resilience, especially against Derby, we changed it up and came back to get the fought hard point." Having spent time in the Under-18s and last season with the U23s as a right-winger, Giurgi has spent the campaign in the more defensive wing-back position, a challenge the Irishman relishes. "It's been a very good start for me personally with my new position. I didn't realise at the start, when I got put into this role, that I would be playing like this. "I'm really enjoying it and seeing the game from a different perspective, it's a good challenge where I can develop in other areas. It's a positive thing, I'm getting minutes on the pitch with this new challenge." Finally, discussing the fixture's venue, Giurgi says the team are in a privileged position to play in yet another first-team environment on Monday night. "As a player, the venue shouldn't change the way you perform, wherever you play, you should perform to the highest level. "We're very fortunate to play at a stadium, it gives us the first-team experience. Fans being there gives us that as well. We're very fortunate and we're not going to take it for granted."

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