Knibbs Double As Reading Get Late Win

15 February 2025
By Hob Nob Anyone?

A dramatic climax to a match, which Reading should have wrapped up by half time, was provided by a stoppage time penalty converted by the ever-reliable Harvey Knibbs, giving Reading the three points they deserved in a lively and entertaining match, slightly marred by some abysmal refereeing. Playing with greater urgency and commitment Reading had their opponents on the back foot from the kick off. Wareham set the tone for the afternoon in the first minute, holding off a couple of strong challenges to release Wing on the right who was immediately fouled. The free kick produced a chance for Ehibhatiomhan who fired wide. A minute later Wing squared a pass outside the box to Savage strike first time. Phillips reacted well to push his attempt over the bar at full stretch.
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MATCH REPORT: Reading 2 Rotherham 1

Points Shared In Scrappy Draw With Shrewsbury

11 February 2025
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Shrewsbury Town came to town scrapping for points to climb out of the bottom four, so this fixture was never likely to provide great entertainment. Statistics rarely tell the whole story, but on this occasion the passing accuracy of both sides reflected the nature of the game. With Town playing a long ball game, only just over a half their passes (56% compared to 73% by Reading) reached the intended destination. It was hardly surprising their second half equalising goal came from a speculative 'route one' punt which Reading were unable to clear.
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Match Report: Reading 1 Shrewsbury Town 1

Can The Royals Finish In The Top 6?

As you will expect, based on their season so far, Reading are deemed one of the stronger teams competing in the third tier, which is backed up by football match betting, where they’re regularly selected, and usually the team favoured to win. And you’d say it’s quite remarkable that this continues to be the case when you consider all the off-field troubles the club is enduring. Manager Ruben Selles also left to take the Hull City job.

Since Noel Hunt’s appointment as Selles’ replacement, it’s been steady going. Reading have played 11 league games with their former player in the dugout, winning four, drawing two and losing five. The Royals are a streaky team, with a run of three wins in a row in the league, soon followed by three defeats on the bounce in League One. And it’s ultimately this that has to change if Reading are to be serious playoff contenders.

Now, what could hinder Reading between now and the end of the season is the loss of striker Sam Smith, who was bought by automatic playoff hopefuls Wrexham in the January transfer window. Smith, who was a regular starter for the Royals in the first half of the campaign, scored eleven goals in twenty-five appearances and weighed in with a couple of assists. His goals made up a fair portion of the goals scored by Reading thus far, and his contributions will be missed.

Reading were active in the window themselves, with Tyler Binden being sold by the club to Nottingham Forest, but a deal for him to return on loan for the remainder of the season was agreed. Winger Billy Bodin also arrived from fellow League One outfit Burton Albion. Hunt will be hoping both players can enable the club to push on.

Reading are undoubtedly in the League One playoff conversation. But it’s going to be a tough ask for them to become one of the teams to cement a place in the top six, largely due to matters out of their control. Without Smith and his goals, the Royals could lack the firepower needed at the top of the pitch.

Late Penalty Gives Reading Win After Run Of Defeats

01 February 2025
By Hob Nob Anyone?

A last-minute penalty, the first awarded at home for Reading in over a year, gave Reading a much needed, and thoroughly deserved three points in this highly entertaining game. It ended a run of four defeats for Reading and denied visitors Bolton Wanderers a third successive league victory.
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MATCH REPORT: Reading 1 Bolton Wanderers 0