After five league games unbeaten, the Royals are back to where they started. A poor display against Peterborough United – in what I would class as the worst we’ve played all season – brings the Royals ever so close to the relegation spots. In my opinion there needs to be a complete change in either personnel or formation.
Bradford City are in mighty form at the minute, sitting second in the table. A 1-0 win against Plymouth Argyle means the Bantams are now very much sitting pretty in the fight for automatic
promotion. Antoni Sarcevic is the top scorer for Bradford currently with six goals; he will be looking to add to his tally at the weekend.
The head-to-head is in the hosts’ favour with 19 Reading wins, 19 draws and 22 Bradford victories.
2015 was the last time these teams played each other with Hal Robson-Kanu, Garath McCleary and Jamie Mackey getting the goals in a 3-0 FA Cup win for Reading.
In this preview I will mention players who have played for both, provide a brief analysis on that shocking performance and give my predictions.
What? League One matchday 19
Season? 2025/26
Who? Bradford City
Where? University of Bradford Stadium
When? Saturday December 13
Time? 15:00
Opposition manager? Graham Alexander
Players who have played for both
Ooo, a club we haven’t done before! Here are four players who’ve turned out for both sides:
Hope Akpan played 63 games for the Royals, scoring one goal and getting five assists. He played 64 games for Bradford, managing six goals and one assist in this time.
Academy graduate Tom McIntyre played 117 games for Reading, scoring seven goals and getting four assists. He has so far played 10 games on loan for Bradford from Portsmouth, managing neither a goal nor an assist.
Liam Moore played 219 games for Reading, scoring eight goals and getting five assists. He fell out of favour towards the end of his career but was one of the best captains we have had at the club.
For Bradford he played 22 games, managing neither a goal nor an assist.
Last but not least, Paudie O’Connor. He has currently played eight games for Reading. He hasn’t yet scored for the Royals but there is still time.
He played 129 games for Bradford, scoring eight goals and getting three assists.
Reading vs Peterborough
What an awful game of football that was: one of the worst games we have played so far this season.
Something needs to change. 16 shots, four on target. A backup striker is desperately needed because we cannot score goals.
Jack Marriott needs to come back to full fitness following injury because we are nothing without him. He seems to be getting there and could be fully available for this weekend’s game.
Peterborough also didn’t play very well, but the chances they had amounted to something, and they managed to get the win because of it.
The defence, although strong, is slow and can’t keep up. I know it’s not his best position, but Andre Garcia with his speed is potentially the best option we have for cover in the defence. Andy Yiadom is quick enough to play on the right-hand side, and Charlie Savage needs to be the person who plays in the deeper midfield role.
My predictions
Joel Pereira will be in goal.
Yiadom, O’Connor, Derrick Williams and Garcia will be the defence.
Lewis Wing, Savage and Ben Elliott should be the midfield.
The attack will be Randell Williams, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Daniel Kyerewaa.
Score prediction: 1-1
Good luck to those going to the game.
Come on you Royals!
