MATCHWATCH : Lincoln City (h)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday April 6 2026, 3pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

Not sure there’s much point in playing this game! Lincoln have not lost a league game since Huddersfield did them 2-0 at ‘the Bank’ back on 2nd December 2025 and now with promotion and the title waiting to be mathematically sealed I really can’t see them collecting anything other than another 3 points. Mathematically though The Imps only need 1 point to ensure promotion back to the second tier for the first time since 1960-61 (the title can’t be sealed no matter what) so they'd certainly be happy with a draw but having a +41 goal difference rather suggests Lincoln will mean business and that it’s going to be busy for JP.

But stranger things have happened and in their run of 22 games without defeat they’ve only managed to keep 9 clean sheets and had to come from 2-0 down to get a point in their last away trip so there are weaknesses to get at for Leam’s boys.

Ex-Reading player Ben House has notched 4 goals in 27 appearances so is bound to be the biggest threat even over the 23 goal forward line of Rob Street, Freddie Draper and Jack Moylan. Even if you get them under control there’s leading scorer, midfielder Reeco Hackett (9 goals), to try and stop so all credit to Reading if they manage to pull that out of the bag.

After the depressing Huddersfield finish with its poor substitution decisions and lousy weather, things are not likely to be unchanged for Reading. Have to hope most recover quickly and well to face what will be the hardest game of the season so far.

Referee

Simon Mather

Previously

23 Sep 25 > Wrexham 2-0 Reading (League Cup)
26 Apr 25 > Bristol Rovers 0-2 Reading
26 Oct 24 > Reading 1-0 Bristol Rovers
13 Feb 24 > Fleetwood Town 1-1 Reading

Historically

Lincoln generally do well in Reading. Of the 14 previous Lincoln visits the winner is a draw with 6 occurrences while the other 8 games have ended in 4 wins for each club. Since Reading returned to this dreadful level they’ve played two games at home against Lincoln, both in April and have 1 point to show from them but that 1 point was earned exactly 2 years ago on 6th April 2024, so just maybe they might be able to overturn the Lincoln promotion bandwagon which has been able to stay upright on the road ever since 22nd November!

How to follow the game

1. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
2. Ring/text a mate for updates
3. Use an RoyalTV subscription
4. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
5. Or you can always just go and get a ticket

[windermereROYAL]

I have no interest in watching a packed away end and the team celebrating at our ground.

[Brogue]

I have no interest in watching a packed away end and the team celebrating at our ground.

Swear you have bi-polar, one minute you’re complaining at fans who are complaining and the next minute you’re on every thread complaining.

[Royals and Racers]

Live on SKY +

[Hound]

There must be some attitude of job done for them, they’re up and near guaranteed the title really

We’ve definitely got a chance. We’re good at home, we can score goals. Do need the 3 points after the dropped points at Huddersfield though

Hopefully everyone pulled through that game ok

[tidus_mi2]

Yeah, they're not mathematically up, or the title but everyone knows they've done it.

Feels like a draw that both sides will be happy with.

[Sutekh]

Wonder how it’ll play on Paudie, after all if he’d have stayed there he’d likely be heading for the Championship now too.

And Lincoln have the luxury of being pretty much confident that, if the wheels did suddenly come off and they lost every remaining game, they’d still be promoted anyway.

[Hound]

Pretty much confident? There’s no way on earth they aren’t going up. It’s done

Just the title to play for and they’d do very well to screw that up

[72 bus]

Wonder how it’ll play on Paudie, after all if he’d have stayed there he’d likely be heading for the Championship now too.

And Lincoln have the luxury of being pretty much confident that, if the wheels did suddenly come off and they lost every remaining game, they’d still be promoted anyway.

He's nowhere near championship standard, so they would probably have binned him off anyway.

[Snowflake Royal]

Wonder how it’ll play on Paudie, after all if he’d have stayed there he’d likely be heading for the Championship now too.

And Lincoln have the luxury of being pretty much confident that, if the wheels did suddenly come off and they lost every remaining game, they’d still be promoted anyway.

He's nowhere near championship standard, so they would probably have binned him off anyway.

I'm sure he'd have liked the winners medal regardless. And probably the higher wage the achievement could have helped him negotiate where ever he went.

[grey_squirrel]

Almost 50 years ago to the day (10 April 1976).

Reading 1 Lincoln 1
Att: 15,900.

Lincoln went on to win Div 4. (We finished 3rd and were promoted).

Would settle for history repeating itself!

IIRC a certain Ian Branfoot was Lincoln's left back that day.

[72 bus]

Wonder how it’ll play on Paudie, after all if he’d have stayed there he’d likely be heading for the Championship now too.

And Lincoln have the luxury of being pretty much confident that, if the wheels did suddenly come off and they lost every remaining game, they’d still be promoted anyway.

He's nowhere near championship standard, so they would probably have binned him off anyway.

I'm sure he'd have liked the winners medal regardless. And probably the higher wage the achievement could have helped him negotiate where ever he went.

24/25 lincoln finished 11th, sold us their Captain " best CB in the League"
25/26 Lincoln Automatic promotion.
RFC trousers pulled down yet again.

[tidus_mi2]

He's nowhere near championship standard, so they would probably have binned him off anyway.

I'm sure he'd have liked the winners medal regardless. And probably the higher wage the achievement could have helped him negotiate where ever he went.

24/25 lincoln finished 11th, sold us their Captain " best CB in the League"
25/26 Lincoln Automatic promotion.
RFC trousers pulled down yet again.

I mean, it was a free transfer.

[Sutekh]

Almost 50 years ago to the day (10 April 1976).

Reading 1 Lincoln 1
Att: 15,900.

Lincoln went on to win Div 4. (We finished 3rd and were promoted).

Would settle for history repeating itself!

IIRC a certain Ian Branfoot was Lincoln's left back that day.

Lincoln manager was Graham Taylor too.

[Gunny Fishcake]

Well done Lincoln , great to see a so called " small team" win the league, good on them , they thoroughly deserve it , the league table never lies

[Snowflake Royal]

I'm sure he'd have liked the winners medal regardless. And probably the higher wage the achievement could have helped him negotiate where ever he went.

24/25 lincoln finished 11th, sold us their Captain " best CB in the League"
25/26 Lincoln Automatic promotion.
RFC trousers pulled down yet again.

I mean, it was a free transfer.

You'll have to forgive bus, he's not the brightest bulb in the room.

[Hound]

Well done Lincoln , great to see a so called " small team" win the league, good on them , they thoroughly deserve it , the league table never lies

Yeah well done to them. They’ve been superb this year

[Snowflake Royal]

Yeah, congratulations to them. Great season, and good luck in the Championship. Always good to see someone on the rise and experiencing some of their best ever times in football.

[RoyalBones]

Almost 50 years ago to the day (10 April 1976).

Reading 1 Lincoln 1
Att: 15,900.

Lincoln went on to win Div 4. (We finished 3rd and were promoted).

Would settle for history repeating itself!

IIRC a certain Ian Branfoot was Lincoln's left back that day.

Lincoln manager was Graham Taylor too.

[MR. CYNICAL]

Not looking forward to this, it's going to be all about Lincoln tomorrow and I don't think we're good enough to piss on their fire.
Richardsonball will make it even more unbearable.
Come back and kick me afterwards if I'm wrong!
Well done Lincoln in any case.