Peterborough United vs Reading: 2025/26 Match Preview

An impressive win on Boxing Day saw the Royals move into the top half of the table for the first time this season.

It was a very unexpected turn of events against Plymouth Argyle, with the first three goals of the game all coming within eight minutes of each other. Lewis Wing with two goals and an assist in the game extended his threshold as the highest points scorer in EFL Fantasy and put belief in the Reading fans that his form is back!

Peterborough United also had a great win on Boxing Day, with a nice 1-0 victory against Leyton Orient. A last-minute winner means they crept up into 13th in the table. It was substitute Declan Firth who got the goal for the home team. Will that warrant him a start ahead of Harry Leonard in this one?

The head-to-head between the sides is in Reading’s favour with the Royals winning 21 of the matches played. Peterborough have won 19 of them with 16 draws also happening.

What? League One matchday 22

Season? 2025/26

Who? Peterborough United

Where? Weston Holmes Stadium

When? Monday December 29

Time? 19:45

Opposition manager? Luke Williams

Reading vs Plymouth

The Royals were the better side in this one.

The game was shifted quite early in the first half with Plymouth getting a harsh red card. Wing then converted the penalty before scoring another goal four minutes later. Four minutes after that one Kamari Doyle was on the scoresheet, and with 10 shots before the interval Reading had an expected goals of 2.11, looking like they had already won the game.

But then the Royals got a scare in the second half, with Plymouth scoring in the 68th minute. However, Jack Marriott – thank God he is back – managed to get on the scoresheet to seal the victory and a vital three points for the Royals.

Reading need to stop playing long-ball football though. It does not work, and it is getting us nowhere. Only one example off the top of my head has worked and that was Derrick Williams’ assist last week against Luton Town for Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan.

But other than that, most of our goals have come from counter-attacks or passing play, mainly through Wing. A long ball takes him out of the play until the very end, and although he can hit a strike, he is not the person we realistically need the ball falling to. Passing play gets him involved and that is when we score goals.

My predictions

Joel Pereira had a good game against Plymouth, saving a penalty, and I hope he can go again in this one.

Andy Yiadom, Paudie O’Connor, Derrick Williams and Jeriel Dorsett have been rocks at the back.

Wing, Charlie Savage and Doyle have been great with two of the three getting on the scoresheet in the last one.

Finally, the front three will be Ehibhatiomhan, Marriott and Daniel Kyerewaa. Ehibhatiomhan comes in for me as it looked like Randell Williams hurt himself, going off at half-time against Plymouth.

Score prediction: 2-0 Reading

Good luck to those going to the game!

Come on you Royals!