I hope you all had a good Christmas, now it’s back into football action. Reading head south to face Plymouth Argyle, who are currently level on points with the Royals and sit only two places below due to goal difference.
But with Reading winning on Thursday last week in what turned out to be a massive game against Luton Town, it is starting to look up for the Royals. Jack Marriott back in action, everyone getting back to full fitness and hopefully Reading can get a good run of games in before the New
Year to rise up the table.
Plymouth are also ones that are looking very good recently: three wins in a row including a 5-1 win against Doncaster Rovers in their last game. Lorent Tolaj is on 11 goals and is the top goal scorer in the league. It will be difficult to knock them off their pedestal but I reckon we will be able to give them a good game.
The head-to-head between the clubs is in Plymouth’s favour with the Royals winning 21, drawing 15 and losing 28. The last game between these two was in 2019, with the Royals winning 4-2 thanks to two goals from Yakou Meite and two from Josh Barrett.
In this preview I will mention players who have played for both, talk about that game against Luton and give my predictions.
What? League One matchday 21
Season? 2025/26
Who? Plymouth Argyle
Where? Home Park
When? Friday December 26
Time? 15:00
Opposition manager? Tom Cleverley
Players who have played for both
Here are four of the players to have appeared for both clubs:
David Button played 45 games for the Royals, managing one assist from between the posts. With a save percentage of 65.3%, he managed a clean sheet percentage of 19.5%.
At Plymouth he played 30 games, managing neither a goal nor an assist, but managed a 68.2% save percentage. He also managed a 20.7% clean sheet rate.
Lee Hodges played 79 games for the Royals, scoring 10 goals for the club between 1997 and 2000.
After this, he played 150 games scoring 5 goals and getting 10 assists in the club.
Jamie Mackie played 39 games for the Royals, scoring three goals and getting six assists in 2014.
He played 98 games for Plymouth, scoring 16 goals and getting three assists.
Last but not least, Tyrese Fornah. Fornah played 37 games for Reading, scoring two goals and getting two assists.
Two years prior he played 47 games for Plymouth, getting three assists.
Reading vs Luton
In what ended up as a win for the Royals, the game against Luton was far from plain sailing. The Royals had 35% of the ball, six shots and four on target, so it was a lucky break to go 2-0 up.
The first goal was beautiful play down the left-hand side with Daniel Kyerewaa winning the Royals a penalty after connection with Luton’s goalkeeper Josh Keeley. Lewis Wing converted the penalty, putting the Royals ahead.
The second half started well with Marriott scoring on his return to the side before, not long after, Jordan Clark brought one back for Luton. Nigel Lonwijk then equalised for the visitors with them thinking they had done enough on the comeback.
But then a beautiful ball forwards by Derrick Williams allowed Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan through on goal and he slotted one past the goalkeeper to win the game for the Royals. It was not a convincing victory, but a win nonetheless.
My predictions
Joel Pereira will be in goal. It wasn’t the best performance from him against Luton but he is still the number one.
The defence will be Andy Yiadom, Paudie O’Connor, Williams and Andre Garcia.
A midfield three of Wing, Charlie Savage and Kamari Doyle.
The attack will be Randell Williams, Marriott and Kyerewaa.
Score prediction: 2-1 Royals!
I hope you have all had a great Christmas and I hope there is a big turnout for this one.
Good luck to those going to the game!
Come on you Royals!
