Stevenage prepare for their second home game in the space of three days as Ruben Selles’ Reading arrive at The Lamex Stadium…
Since promotion from League Two in 2023, Boro have continued to battle with the biggest teams in League One for a place in the play-offs to the Championship, and Saturday was no different.
Former Premier League club, Blackpool, were just three points behind Stevenage ahead of Saturday’s big clash, but after plenty of patience and determination, Jake Forster-Caskey’s late winner made the difference and put the hosts straight back into the play-off places.
This evening, it is yet another former Premier League side arriving in Hertfordshire, looking to stop the third-tier underdogs. A win for Stevenage would put them fifth in the table, overtaking Barnsley, who have played one more game than Boro before today.
The Opposition
Reading have unfortunately had their troubles this season, both on and off the pitch. They currently sit in the relegation zone, above only Cheltenham, Fleetwood and Carlisle, as they battle to keep their place in the third-tier next season. They are just two points away from safety due to their four-point deduction, but have played two more games than Port Vale who sit directly above them.
Eight wins, eight draws and 13 losses from their 30 league games will be a sorry sight for the Royals fans, and the side must turn things around swiftly to avoid dropping into the bottom tier of the Football League.
Despite their league position, they are actually enjoying a decent run of form as of late, picking up 1-1 draws against Oxford United and Leyton Orient, after defeating promotion-hopefuls, Derby County, 1-0.
Reading’s top scorer so far this season is Harvey Knibbs, who has 12 goals to his name in all competitions. Not only does he score goals for the Royals, but he has also managed to pick up five league assists.
The Manager
As well as being a former Premier League club, Reading also have a former Premier League manager at the helm. Ruben Selles joined the Royals ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, making it his first role in the EFL. Beforehand, he had assisted Ralph Hasenhuttl at Southampton in the top tier, but when the Austrian was sacked, Selles took his place in charge and led the club to relegation.
Head-to-Head
Although this is Reading’s first visit in league competition, the visitors have played at The Lamex Stadium on two FA Cup occasions. The 2010/11 Fourth Round saw Reading pick up a 2-1 victory, and the 2017/18 Third Round ended up as a 0-0 draw.
Stevenage have actually defeated Reading twice out of the six previous meetings between the clubs. The first came in the 2011/12 FA Cup third Round as Darius Charles scored the game’s only goal away from home. Then, in last season’s Carabao Cup, Saxon Earley and Danny Rose grabbed the goals in a 2-1 away victory.
This campaign’s reverse fixture ended in favour of the Royals, as Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan’s brace gave them all three points in League One.
Officials
Paul Howard has been appointed Match Referee for tonight’s clash, with David Harrison and Sam Ogles as his Assistants, and Richie Watkins as Fourth Official. Howard has dished out 93 yellow cards and four reds in 25 matches this season.