The Royals are in fine form, unbeaten in five and defeating teams with conviction. The last game, against Blackpool, was a great win and one that fans are very happy with – especially so for specific players
such as Daniel Kyerewaa and Joel Pereira. Kyerewaa might be the greatest to ever play at the club.
Peterborough United are not on a good run with their most recent three results being losses to Barnsley, Swindon Town and Doncaster Rovers. With them currently sat in the relegation zone, they are dying to find some form.
Reading have a good home record and Peterborough don’t have a good record in general. The Royals won both games last season – 2-1 and 3-1 – and are looking to do the same again this season. The head-to-head is currently in Reading’s favour with the Royals having 21 wins, 16 draws and 18 defeats.
In this preview I will mention players who have played for both, run through the injury list and give my predictions.
What? League One matchday 18
Season? 2025/26
Who? Peterborough United
Where? Select Car Leasing
When? Tuesday December 9
Time? 20:00
Opposition manager? Luke Williams
Players who have played for both
Here are four players who have appeared for both Reading and Peterborough:
Goalkeeper Jonathan Bond played 18 games for the Royals between 2015 and 2016. He managed no goal involvements.
He signed for Peterborough in 2017 where he played 47 games, also managing zero goal involvements.
Darren Caskey managed 202 games for the Royals, getting 35 goals. In the year I was born, 2004, Caskey played four games for Peterborough, managing no goal involvements.
Andy Legg played 12 games for the Royals, accumulating zero goal involvements. He played 81 games for Peterborough, getting five goals and eight assists.
Finally, Jack Marriott. Marriott has played seven games for the Royals so far, scoring five goals and getting one assist.
For Peterborough he played 106 games, managing to get 47 goals and seven assists.
Daniel Kyerewaa
What is this monster that we have on our team? The game he had against Blackpool was the best I have seen someone play in a Reading shirt for a very, very long time. He is powerful, quick and tore Blackpool’s defence a new one.
If he can play like that for the rest of the season then he will win player of the year and Reading will get into the playoffs. There aren’t many players that get credit from the opposition after they’ve watched a 3-0 loss, but there were many Blackpool fans that were praising him after that one.
He is a great addition to the squad and, if he improves, he’ll be in a higher league come next year.
Injuries
There are still quite a few injuries at the club.
Marriott is on his way back and is looking likely to feature against Peterborough. Whether it’s off the bench or starting, we are unsure.
Andre Garcia featured for a minute in the last game against Blackpool and is looking healthy enough to have a starting chance against Peterborough.
Liam Fraser is still out but is on the grass so could be back in the next few weeks.
Matty Jacob is out and it looks like he has gone back to Hull City to get treatment, being left out of the team photo, so it is unclear whether he will return to the club come January.
Mark O’Mahony and Ben Elliott are also confirmed out with suspicions of Paddy Lane also being injured.
My predictions
Pereira will start in goal. He had a great performance against Blackpool and I expect the same from him in this one.
Andy Yiadom, Paudie O’Connor, Derrick Williams and Jeriel Dorsett should be the back line. Reading just look more exciting when Yiadom is on the pitch.
The midfield will be Lewis Wing, Charlie Savage and Kamari Doyle. The attack will be Randell Williams, Marriott and Kyerewaa.
Score prediction: 2-0 Royals!
Good luck to those going to the game in this Christmas period.
Come on you Royals!
