The Royals face Leyton Orient in what’s going to be the battle of the midfield: two teams that are highly reliant on their midfielders getting the space they need to work their magic.
Reading have won one
of their last nine away games at Leyton Orient and the last one was back in 1993. So there’s a lot of hope riding on this one.
But if we go on the last game, a 1-0 win against Stockport County definitely says the Royals have something to prove. Stockport are our bogey team but the Royals were finally able to get a win. Hopefully things can go a similar way in this one.
In their last match, Leyton Orient drew 1-1 with league leaders Cardiff City, with ex-Royal Dominic Ballard getting the goal for the home side. Orient are likely to adopt a compact defensive structure with another ex-Royal, Michael Craig, part of that defence.
Reading won the last game between the two sides early on in the season with Jack Marriott and Liam Fraser getting the goals. However, the Royals are still behind in the recent head-to-head, winning just that one in the last five games, losing both matches last season.
In this preview I will mention key battles between the sides, talk about areas of the pitch and also specific players, and give my predictions.
What? League One matchday 25
Season? 2025/26
Who? Leyton Orient
Where? BetWright stadium
When? Saturday January 17
Time? 15:00
Opposition manager? Richie Wellens
Key battles
1) Reading’s midfield control vs Orient’s defensive screen
If Reading’s central midfielders can receive on the half-turn and progress play cleanly, they will dictate the tempo. Orient’s ability to disrupt this rhythm and force sideways or backwards passing will be vital in them keeping the game compact.
Orient were one of the first teams to realise that everything at Reading goes through Lewis Wing last season. They were very quick to man-mark him and that was a problem. However, the acquisition of Liam Fraser has allowed Wing to play further forward and get even more of the ball.
But Reading also have the ability to miss him completely with Kamari Doyle and Daniel Kyerewaa on the pitch. They demand the ball and are able to do things with it that are more likely to create chances.
2) Reading’s full-backs vs Orient’s wide transitions
Reading’s full-backs pushing high could be a key attacking outlet, but there is a lot of risk in this. Orient will be looking to exploit the space left behind the full-backs on the counter, meaning defensive recovery will be critical.
3) Set-pieces at both ends
With open-play chances likely to be limited, dead-ball situations will be the deciding factor.
Reading will need to be structured to deal with Orient’s physicality, but will see set-pieces as an opportunity to break down the Orient defence.
My lineup
Joel Pereira will start in goal.
Andy Yiadom, Finley Burns, Paudie O’Connor and Jeriel Dorsett will be the defence.
Fraser, Wing and Doyle will be the midfield.
Kyerewaa, Marriott and Randell Williams will be the attack.
I expect to see some minutes for new signing Will Keane off the bench too.
Score prediction: 1-0 Reading!
Good luck to those travelling to the game!
Come on you Royals!
