Form
Fellow League One side Stevenage have had a similar start to the season as Reading, particularly in the league, with both teams picking up one point out of a possible six.
Their league campaign kicked off with a 1-1 draw away to Burton Albion, before losing 1-2 at home to Oxford United over the weekend. The Boro beat Wycombe Wanderers 1-2 away from home in the first round of the League Cup, with striker Josh Magennis scoring a 95th-minute winner.
The boss
Alex Revell: Revell was appointed Stevenage manager
on a permanent basis in May 2024, having served a spell as caretaker manager.
He had a 20-year playing career, as a striker, representing the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion, Rotherham United, Cardiff City and Northampton Town. He ended his playing days at Stevenage and stayed at the club in a coaching role in their youth setup.
Revell had his first taste of first-team management in 2020, but his first season was cut short due to the pandemic. He guided the Boro to 14th place in League Two the following season, before his sacking in November 2021.
He rejoined the club two months later, taking on another role in their youth setup, before being promoted to Steve Evans’ first-team coaching setup. Revell took over from Evans on an interim basis in April 2024 and was given the job permanently for the second time a month later.
Revell has since guided the side to 9th-, 14th- and 6th-placed finishes in League One. The 43-year-old likes his sides to play forward-thinking, attacking football.
Squad
Stevenage have signed six players on permanent deals so far this summer, with three joining on free transfers and three purchased.
Those arriving on a free include goalkeeper Daniel Barden, midfielder Terry Taylor and experienced striker Josh Magennis. All three of their purchases have joined for undisclosed fees, with defender Terence Vancooten signing from Burton Albion and strikers Olly Sanderson and Michael Mellon bought from Fulham and Burnley respectively.
Expected setup
Formation: 4-1-4-1
Style: Direct, high press
Lineup: Marschall, James-Wildin, Vancooten, Piergianni, Freestone, Thompson, Phillips, Taylor, Roberts, Patterson, Mellon
Key player
15. Terence Vancooten: Defender Vancooten rejoined Stevenage this summer, signing from Burton Albion for an undisclosed fee, starting his second spell at the club.
He began his career at Staines Town but joined Reading in 2016. He never made a first-team appearance for the Royals but did spend time on loan at Billericay Town and Basingstoke Town.
Vancooten was released by Reading in 2017 and joined Stevenage for his first spell at the club. He spent five seasons at the Boro, making 214 appearances and scoring three goals.
A move to Burton followed in 2024, signing for an undisclosed fee, where he racked up another 57 career appearances before rejoining Stevenage this summer.
The 28-year-old is a Guyana international who has 19 caps for his country. Standing at 6’4”, Vancooten is a central defender who has good pace and likes to carry the ball out of defence.
