Back-to-back wins for the Royals against Leyton Orient and Barnsley sees them in the fight for playoffs early on. But this will be a big game.
Plymouth Argyle is a difficult match, especially away from home. They won their last game against Cambridge United 3-2, Xavier Amaechi, Aribim Pepple and Shayne Lavery getting the goals.
But it was Harvey White that caught my eye. He was at Stevenage last year and was their best player in my opinion. 50 appearances last year, he is on a good level this season
and can only improve. He is only 25 and has a lot of potential.
Speaking of young talents, Kyreece Lisbie is some player, isn’t he? He never fails to shock me at how good he is. Five goals and four assists now and the numbers will only improve with his game.
Also, can someone let me know when George Earthy is back? We are flying but can do with a player like him being back in the squad. The same as Jack Marriott please.
Anyway, back to the preview.
Saturday October 31, the scariest night of the year, brings football to Home Park. Kick off is at 12:30 with the weather looking to be about 15 degrees.
Depending on other results, a win for either side can bring them up to as high as second place. This will be playing on the players’ minds a little bit. It will be referee Stephen Martin who takes charge of this one. He averages four yellow cards per match and 22.8 fouls.
In this preview I will comment on Plymouth’s inability to keep a clean sheet alongside Reading’s excessive scoring record this season, and I will give my predictions.
Goals goals goals?
Both teams are high scorers this season with Plymouth netting 21 and Reading leading the way in the league with 25. However, the Royals have only conceded 13 goals, compared to Argyle’s 19.
Plymouth have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five matches and it’s getting a little bit concerning. They have one of the best attacks in the league and Tom Cleverly himself is doing a great job at the club as manager, but they may need to sort some things out defensively.
Playing a three-at-the-back formation, every team is going to leak goals. Even Stevenage last season, who were the best back-three side I’ve seen play at Reading for a very long time, conceded goals.
When a team like Reading comes to play, the quick dribblers are the ones that do the damage to these kind of sides. Plymouth are bound to concede at least one goal to Reading in this one, and I could see it being more.
Lewis Wing may also have a good appearance in this game. Murphy Cooper is a decent goalkeeper – however, I think Wing will get a long shot off that reminisces from last season. And if he does, no ‘keeper in the world saves it.
Goals-wise, Plymouth are banging them in. They have some great talents, but another I want to pick out is Oliver Irow.
On loan from Tottenham Hotspur, the young winger has scored three goals in his 10 appearances this season in the league. He looks like he is going to be a star. In a good side, he is one of those players who can make something out of nothing.
My predictions
Joel Pereira will be in goal.
Udoka Godwin-Malife (by the way, what a f*****g player), Paudie O’Connor, Jeriel Dorsett and Haydon Roberts will be the back line.
Wing and Andy Rinomhota will be the holding midfielders.
Kyreece Lisbie, Josh Stokes and Randell Williams will be the attacking trio.
Jacob Brown will be the striker.
Score prediction: 3-1 Reading
Good luck to those going to the game.
Come on you Royals!
