MATCHWATCH : Stevenage (h)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday March 15 2025, 3pm
Where : SCL Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

Well after Tuesday Reading are back on the play offs trail and face another tricky but winnable home game.

Stevenage have been mid table all season and generally seem to have been yo-yoing between 10th and 16th so, all in all, a totally non descript season for the Hertfordshire outfit. Currently in 12th place on 48 points, Stevenage’s form has became erratic once again and after managing 3 straight away wins in late January (including a 3-2 at Wrexham and a 1-0 at Barnsley) things have returned to “not quite all that” with just 2 wins in the last 9 league games. However, again, both wins were away from home which rather highlights where Stevenage’s problems have been this season and shows why Reading will have to tread carefully in this one.

15 goal marksmen Dan Kemp and Jamie Reid are the threat to nullify and if that can be done there doesn’t appear to be much else to worry on as Stevenage have only scored 34 all season (same as Shrewsbury) and only Wigan have managed less. The real issue will be finding a way through as the Boro’ have only conceded 37 (only Huddersfield and the top 5 have a better defensive record) so they keep it mean at the back.

Stickland is now suspended for a game so the central defensive merry go round will move on to Dean as Bindon’s partner. Dorsett, Holzman, Kanu and Mbengue are all out, Elliott may conceivably make the bench but will probably remain sidelined until after the international snooze next week.

Referee

Lee Swabey

Previously

16 Sep 23 > Reading 1-0 Bolton Wanderers

Historically

Just 1 previous league home game against the Boro’ and that was last season’s unremarkable 1-0 win. Stevenage gave knocked Reading out of the cup in RG2 however when they won 1-0 back in 2011 or whenever it was. So don’t expect much by the way of goals based on this.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel to the game
2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
3. Ring/text a mate for updates
4. Use a RoyalsTV subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[Hound]

Probably same team as Wrexham except the enforced change of Dean/Stickland

I liked how we set up, Garcia was excellent (love how he was in the #9 position on our second goal), Abrefa had a good game and helps us coming forward

Forward line looked better balanced than recent games as well

Be great if Elliott made it to the bench but not expecting that this weekend

[WestYorksRoyal]

It would be very in keeping with recent weeks for this to be a dire 0-0.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Their boss has highlighted our midfield as the key threat. If their gameplan is built around stopping them, and is effective, we will find it tough.

That's why I think we're playing better against the better teams. They back themselves to win playing their own game, but if you let our midfield play we can match anyone. Whereas have a special gameplan to stop us, and we don't have an effective plan B.

[Sutekh]

Their boss has highlighted our midfield as the key threat. If their gameplan is built around stopping them, and is effective, we will find it tough.

That's why I think we're playing better against the better teams. They back themselves to win playing their own game, but if you let our midfield play we can match anyone. Whereas have a special gameplan to stop us, and we don't have an effective plan B.

Don’t think you can really blame Noel for not having a plan B when, given the circumstances, he’s barely got a plan A.

[Snowflake Royal]

Let's face it, we can't keep this unbeaten run forever. Stevenage are a physical side and yet to beat us since we returned to L1. It's going to be an L isn't it.

Assume the side will be just the one change, Dean for Stickland, hope to see Elliott make the bench. But Hunt could cycle through his forward options bringing in Bodin or Camara or even Akande

[Snowflake Royal]

Incidentally, a win combined with other results being favourable at the bottom could make us mathematically safe from relegation today, barring further points deductions, with time running out for them to be applied this season, as per stranded.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Their boss has highlighted our midfield as the key threat. If their gameplan is built around stopping them, and is effective, we will find it tough.

That's why I think we're playing better against the better teams. They back themselves to win playing their own game, but if you let our midfield play we can match anyone. Whereas have a special gameplan to stop us, and we don't have an effective plan B.

Don’t think you can really blame Noel for not having a plan B when, given the circumstances, he’s barely got a plan A.

Where did I blame Noel? He's doing an excellent job. Just trying to make sense of why we can play Wrexham off the park and struggle against Shrewsbury, Exeter and Crawley.

[The Royal Forester]

Their boss has highlighted our midfield as the key threat. If their gameplan is built around stopping them, and is effective, we will find it tough.

That's why I think we're playing better against the better teams. They back themselves to win playing their own game, but if you let our midfield play we can match anyone. Whereas have a special gameplan to stop us, and we don't have an effective plan B.

Don’t think you can really blame Noel for not having a plan B when, given the circumstances, he’s barely got a plan A.

Where did I blame Noel? He's doing an excellent job. Just trying to make sense of why we can play Wrexham off the park and struggle against Shrewsbury, Exeter and Crawley.

it's the Reading way, isn't it? And has been for the 60 plus years going back to the Third Division South days.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Today's type of game, against a mid table side with nothing on the season now, will define where we finish as we have a few of these to come. Hopefully Stevenage will come down and try and win the game rather than sitting in like other struggling sides have done recently.

[Sutekh]

[Sutekh]

Abrefa & Yiadom both start, no Dean anywhere

[stealthpapes]

Yiadom at CB?

[Sutekh]

Reading look like they’ll have a chance to get back into the top 6, Bolton are losing at home to Stockport so a win will push Reading above the Trotters. Sadly Huddersfield are at home to Crawley so need a bit of a miracle there but get a win and the pressure’s on…

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Yiadom at CB?

Yep - looks like it.

Could be Holzman preferred to Dean on bench.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Reading look like they’ll have a chance to get back into the top 6, Bolton are losing at home to Stockport so a win will push Reading above the Trotters. Sadly Huddersfield are at home to Crawley so need a bit of a miracle there but get a win and the pressure’s on…

No bad result there I guess, but I was hoping Stockport would miss out as they have our number. The one potential play off opponent I'd dread facing.

[Sutekh]

Pereira
Abrefa - Yiadom - Bindon - Garcia
Knibbs - Wing - Savage - Campbell
WiFi - Wareham

[Snowflake Royal]

Pereira
Abrefa - Yiadom - Bindon - Garcia
Knibbs - Wing - Savage - Campbell
WiFi - Wareham

Why would we be starting to play 4-4-2?

[stealthpapes]

Pereira
Abrefa - Yiadom - Bindon - Garcia
Knibbs - Wing - Savage - Campbell
WiFi - Wareham

Why would we be starting to play 4-4-2?

yeah, Campbell and Big Kelv either side of Wareham surely.

[Sutekh]

Pereira
Abrefa - Yiadom - Bindon - Garcia
Knibbs - Wing - Savage - Campbell
WiFi - Wareham

Why would we be starting to play 4-4-2?

yeah, Campbell and Big Kelv either side of Wareham surely.

Hope the players don’t catch sight of this thread then .