When : Saturday April 11 2026, 3pm
Where : Stadium Way, Lakeside, Doncaster, DN4 5JW
Capacity : 15,231
After the Easter shambles pretty much ended the play off charge, it's possible still, yes, but the amount of games in hand of the other clubs in the charge have makes things rather unlikely. Mission now should be, get the best possible results from these last 4 games to ensure a strong finish to do everything possible to sell the club to prospective (and current) recruits over the summer.
So it's the penultimate trek north to play with another of the division’s strugglers, though Doncaster are managing just sit on the edge of things and should have more than enough to be safe. The game is therefore winnable and Reading should be looking to get some revenge after Doncaster had the temerity to comfortably collect a point at the SCL in what turned out tome Noel's last game in charge.
Rovers are 17th in the division, 4 points clear the relegation zone (Exeter) with a game in hand, and masses clear of the other three relegation occupants therefore this game is possibly as close to the proverbial "dead rubber" as you can get at this stage of the season. So hopefully it might be a good game with a bit of entertainment as both teams can relax a little more than usual.
Form in this part of South Yorkshire is 3 wins and 2 draws from their last 7 games so fairly middling really, but it is better than Reading's 2 wins and 2 draws from their last 7 games.
Midfielder Owen Bailey is the Rovers leading scorer with 12 goals which is almost as many as the 13 that the best two forwards (Luke Molyneaux and Brandon Hanlan) have bagged together so it rather suggests it's movement from deep that needs to be the primary concern for Reading's players on the day. However the presence of former Reading player Billy Sharp should not go amiss (esp. after the reverse fixture) and neither should the presence on loan Wrexham midfielder Elliott Lee.
Unclear what the injury concern is with Derrick Williams, he maybe able to play, he may miss out again but Finley Burns or Jeriel Dorsett should be an adequate replacement. Randell, Elliott & Mariott are all definitely ruled out but Rino was back with the squad on Monday so perhaps he may at last get some minutes.
Referee
Scott Jackson
Previously
No previous
Historically
Not so the usual record of far northern outpost struggling that you'd probably expect for a bunch of southern softies in this one, the record in Doncaster is rather bright and something you would hope the club could work on to maintain. Of the 21 previous visits Doncaster have only won 2 (the last being the famous 7-5 back in 1982) while Reading have emerged victorious on 12 occasions including in 7 (only let down by a 1-1 in March 2012) of the 8 visits since that 1982 game and have never lost at the new stadium.
How to follow the game
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use an RoyalTV subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
- Or you can always just go and get a ticket
