Reading's last trip to Oakwell saw Josh Laurent secure a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Barnsley.
Over 1,400 Royals made the journey to South Yorkshire as 21st-place Reading knew a win over 22nd-place Barnsley would go a long way to securing Championship safety with seven games remaining.
Ultimately, the point contributed as the Tykes were eventually relegated and Paul Ince's Royals kept their heads above water with a resurgent Easter weekend.
Take a look below at the starting side from that clash two years ago, and where they are now.
Orjan Nyland
Norwegian veteran Nyland became Reading’s fourth goalkeeper of the campaign when arriving in March after spells with Rafael; Luke Southwood and Karl Hein between the sticks. Vastly experienced with the likes of Ingolstadt, Aston Villa and Bournemouth, the keeper signed a short-term deal and made just 10 appearances for the Royals. Unfortunately, his most memorable moment came in his final match as Harry Cornick snuck up on a goal kick and won the game for Luton Town in embarrassing fashion.
Andy Yiadom
One of two remaining Royals who started the last match at Oakwell, the current club captain is a doubt for tomorrow’s meeting due to injury. A former Barnsley favourite immediately before moving to Berkshire, the 32-year-old recently celebrated his 200th league appearance for Reading.
Michael Morrison
Another vastly experienced performer before joining Reading, ‘Morrodonna’ had captained the likes of Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic in nearly 300 EFL appearances. A favourite with Reading in a three-season stint, the 36-year-old departed in 2022 after more than 100 appearances for the club. Still going strong as he approaches 20 years of a career, Morrison was back at the SCL Stadium last month for boyhood club Cambridge United, rejoining in January 2023.
Tom Holmes
The Academy graduate has made over 100 appearances for his boyhood club and impressed enough this season to earn a Premier League move to Luton Town. Rejoining the Royals on loan until the end of the season, the 24-year-old is yet to reappear for the first team since sealing a move to Kenilworth Road due to an injury lay-off but scored for the Under-21s side last week.
Tom McIntyre
Similar to Holmes, McIntyre made over 100 appearances for his boyhood club and must have impressed in the first half of this season as he sealed a move to League One champions-elect Portsmouth in January. Unfortunately, his injury curse followed him to Fratton Park as the 25-year-old was sent off and ruled out for the remainder of the season on his debut for Pompey. He is set to return to the Championship next season as one win is all John Mousinho’s men need to earn promotion.
Josh Laurent
A fan favourite who won Player of the Season in his debut campaign, the box-to-box midfielder departed at the end of the 2021/22 campaign and joined Stoke City.
Regularly captaining the Potters, the 28-year-old has continued to battle against relegation from the second tier as Stoke finished 16th last campaign and are currently looking over their shoulders this season too.
Danny Drinkwater
A loan signing for the campaign, the Premier League winner failed to earn a fresh contract after his 34-game stint in Berkshire and was released at Chelsea. Still only 34, the Leicester City legend officially retired from the game in October 2023.
John Swift
A modern-day club favourite, Swift was consistently one of the better performers in a six-year stay with Reading.
His final campaign was to be his best, scoring 11 goals from midfield as the Royals staved off relegation to League One for one more year.
Moving to Premier League hopefuls West Brom, the 28-year-old has continued to impress in the second tier, bagging nine goals so far this season for the Baggies.
Tom Ince
Joining on loan from Stoke in January 2022, the experienced winger scored twice in 15 matches under his father, Paul, and signed a permanent deal ahead of the 2022/23 season. Hitting nine goals and earning Player of the Season, Ince moved to Watford in a cut-price deal following relegation but has had to be content with a season spent predominantly on the bench at Vicarage Road this season- scoring twice.
Ovie Ejaria
The last decent season of Ejaria, the enigmatic midfielder scored twice in the whole season (both coming in the same game) and made just eight appearances the following year during which the club were relegated. Still under contract for this season, the club agreed to mutually terminate the deal in December as the 26-year-old marked over a calendar year without entering the field of play. A case of ‘what if’ as the uber-talented midfielder failed to reach his potential, the former England youth prospect is still yet to find a new club.
Lucas Joao
One of the few ‘big money’ signings that worked during the Dai Yongge era, Joao scored 45 goals in 119 appearances for Reading, unfortunately, all of which came in campaigns during which the club were not able to compete at the top end. Leaving the second relegation was confirmed, the striker has since won a title in China and now plays in Saudi Arabia aged 30.
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