When : Saturday March 21 2026, 3pm
Where : Stadium, Broadhall Way, Stevenage, SG2 8RH
Capacity : 7,800
After the glory of hitting the top 6 after months of trying comes the run of games from hell with this trip to Hertfordshire being just the first that sees Reading having to go head to head with the likes of Huddersfield, Cardiff, Lincoln not to mention a couple of customary banana skins in South Yorkshire.
But here and now it's simply in Reading's hands and at the moment the club is on course for a semi final double-header against Bolton, however win all remaining games and Reading will not only be play off assured but also likely to be at home in the second leg of the semi final.
Stevenage themselves have a realistic harbouring of extending their season by at least two games so this is going to be a real difficult humdinger and slipping up really is something that should not be countenanced. Reading ideally need to win this to a) show the club's presence in the top 6 is not just a flash in the plan and b) to effectively render Stevenage's game in hand null and void. Slipping up could see Reading hurtling back down the table as not only Stevenage but Wycombe, Huddersfield and Plymouth could all get ahead so Leam and the squad producing the best performance of the season so far would look to be a smart move.
Since the 'boro last drew a game (24 Jan) they've played 11 league games and won 6 in a run of WLLWWLWWLWL so that will no doubt increase the chances of this game being a draw.
Northern Ireland international Jamie Reid has 13 league goals which is 9 more than any other Stevenage player this season so making his afternoon a complete misery will go some way toward the possibility a three point jackpot for the biscuiteers.
Chem Campbell provides the annoying Reading link and he has 4 league goals so far this season - so the second highest return for Alex Revell's charges.
With Benn Ward now added to the list of wounded, Jeriel Dorsett will likely return at left back and no doubt Kelvin E will be restored to the front line as the Keane/Patton combination failed to deliver on anything at all at Burton, though, to be fair, it would have been helpful if the rest of the team had been able to provide some sort of service for them to at least think about the possibility of shooting, but then that's largely been the issue for much of the season.
Referee
Scott “one win in six” Oldham
Previously
04 Jan 25 > Charlton Athletic 0-0 Reading
28 Sep 24 > Reading 2-1 Huddersfield Town
20 Apr 24 > Burton Albion 3-2 Reading
03 Feb 24 > Oxford United 1-1 Reading
21 Oct 23 > Charlton Athletic 4-0 Reading
07 Apr 23 > Reading 1-1 Birmingham City
Historically
Five games have been played in the league against Stevenage and Reading have managed to avoid defeat in all of them. The record in the league at the Lamex is depressing though because of where the run of results seem be leading. The first visit was a 1-0 win two years ago while the second visit, almost exactly one year ago, finished all square at 1-1 so can Reading avoid the logical outcome?
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use a RoyalTV subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
