Reading FC blog run by fans, for fans.
Reading Women put in one of their performances of the season to pick up a valuable point yesterday, with a 1-1 draw against title-chasing AFC Portchester at the Onsite Group Stadium. A first-half goal from Reading striker Georgia Hayes was cancelled out within two minutes after the referee awarded a penalty to the home side […]
You can probably count on one hand the number of genuinely good afternoons out we’ve had watching Reading this season. But Saturday was definitely a new low. It was so bad it was almost funny. The emotions in the away end started with impatience, moved through to frustration, then all-out anger and ended in open […]
The Royals fell further away from the playoffs with a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Doncaster Rovers at the Eco-Power Stadium on Saturday. Owen Bailey gave the home side the lead in the 58th minute to secure the points. The defeat for Reading now leaves us five points away from the playoffs with the Royals in […]
Well, that’s that then. Not mathematically, but it doesn’t take a savant to see we’re out of the playoff hunt. What makes it worse is the manner of it – drifting out of the race with a jarring set of bumps and whimpers. No drama, no fight, just a slow slide into irrelevance. For much […]
Joel Pereira: 7 Caught in a communication mixup with O’Connor at the back that had Pereira scrambling back into his net with Doncaster in the box. Opened the second half with a pretty good low save on the rugged terrain of the Eco-Power stadium, but spilled the rebound and needed the linesman’s whistle and Dez […]
In many ways, today was the biggest game of the season for Reading. I am mindful that I feel like I’ve been saying that a lot, but when you view this through the lens of the negativity that has emanated towards Leam Richardson after the Easter weekend’s failings, it was imperative that Reading served up […]
Form Doncaster Rovers secured promotion back to League One last season after finishing as League Two champions, four points clear of runners-up Port Vale. Promotion ended their three-year spell in the fourth tier, having been relegated from League One in 2022. They currently sit 17th in the table and could yet get drawn into the relegation battle, sitting four places […]
Reading suffered yet another late goal against Lincoln City on Monday. The two games over Easter should have been four points for the Royals, cementing their playoff hopes, but just one point being taken due to two 96th-minute goals is a massive sting in the teeth and ends the playoff run, in my opinion. However, […]
On reflection, the following article ended up more negative than I’d originally intended, so I had thought about spiking it (I typically prefer positive vibes, especially on the eve of a match!). That said, it’s an honest reflection of where I’m at right now, it helped me collect my somewhat disparate thoughts, I don’t think […]
Reading Women suffered another narrow cup defeat in their Combined Counties Cup quarter-final tie at Maidenhead United on Wednesday night, with the Magpies’ Katie Akerman scoring the only goal of the match to secure a 1-0 win at York Road. The United midfielder struck a fierce long-range effort in the 70th minute to earn the […]
The Easter schedule was probably the biggest weekend of football for Reading this calendar season, coming up against playoff-battling Huddersfield Town and a Lincoln City side romping its way to the title. Tough games, but ones where our playoff credentials could be tested. Picking up four points would have been the confidence-booster to show we […]
There’s not a huge amount I can say in this intro that hasn’t already been said on the Reading FC hashtag over the last day or so. It seems Monday afternoon was a bit of a breaking point for most. I need to be careful here, as I could very easily find my way down […]
The Royals concede late twice over Easter weekend and leave themselves with a lot to do to make the playoffs. Ben and Ross dissect the duo of games with fairness… and a little frustration. The mailbag leads the boys into a discussion of whether Kamari Doyle should return next season after his loan spell, and […]
There’s a photo somewhere of me at Elm Park as a mascot, grinning like I’d just signed for the club. I was eight at the time, so around 1987. I’ve attached it, mainly because if I don’t, this probably sounds like one of those stories that gets less believable every time it’s told. I’m 47 […]
The Royals conceded another last-minute goal to lose ground on the playoffs after a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Lincoln City at the SCL on Easter Monday. Lincoln scored within the first five minutes through Ryan Oné. Lewis Wing netted a rocket to make it 1-1 in the 92nd minute, but the Imps went on the […]
In his post‑match interview, Leam Richardson looked furious, anxious, feisty – pick your adjective, they all fit. And honestly, good. He should’ve been. Most of us felt the same, if not worse, after that timid, quarter‑hearted loss to a promoted Lincoln City side who barely had to break sweat. Up until now, I’ve been… fine. […]
Joel Pereira: 5 Got a hand onto Lincoln City’s early opener, but couldn’t quite push it around the post. The dive was a little odd, and Pereira may have wanted to go early but got held up by the late redirection. Made a decent block on a cross/shot into the box at one stage, keeping […]
106 Day has arrived! 20 years (and 10 days) after promotion to the Premier League was confirmed for the first-ever time, it felt right to celebrate a wonderful achievement, a wonderful team and the peak of being a Reading fan. 20 years is a long time in all walks of life, but possibly none more […]
Form Lincoln City finished 11th in League One last season, four places and 14 points below Reading. This season marks their seventh straight season in the third tier, having secured promotion back to League One in 2019, after finishing the season as League Two champions. However, their run in the third tier will end this season, with the […]
Never have I seen a match end so disappointingly. 15 seconds: that is all Reading had to hold out for. But no. A ball played through our entire defence, which was out of place anyway, and straight to right-back Lasse Sorensen, who slotted it into the back of the net. It was so annoying to […]
The Royals conceded another last-minute goal to drop points, this time against Huddersfield Town at the Accu Stadium on Good Friday. Lewis Wing gave the Royals a first-half lead with a penalty just before the break. Huddersfield threatened and got the equaliser in the 96th minute through Lasse Sorensen. The draw keeps us in the […]
Before 2017, all we really had in common with Huddersfield Town was the fact we both played in blue and white. However, since then they’ve probably had more of an effect on our destiny as a club than any other. Obviously, there was the playoff final. Then it was Huddersfield’s win against Sheffield United that […]
Joel Pereira: 6 Struggled with his long kicks today in the first half, particularly with the wind against him. Often seeing them go out of play. Wasn’t quick enough to adapt to the conditions of the first half. Saved an unjustly awarded free-kick in the 67th minute, which nobody will be more relieved about than […]
Form Huddersfield Town finished last season in 10th place in League One, three places and 11 points behind Reading. This season marks their second straight season in the third tier, having been relegated from the Championship during the 2023/24 campaign after finishing 23rd. The Terriers still hold hopes of challenging for a playoff place, currently sitting […]
Bolton Wanderers (3rd) Bolton have by far the toughest run-in of the playoff teams. Travelling to Plymouth Argyle and hosting Stockport County over the Easter weekend precedes a run of games against Cardiff City, Bradford City (both away) and Stevenage, Huddersfield Town and Luton Town (all at home). The interesting aspect here is Bolton usually […]