Reading vs Stevenage: Match Preview
The Royals host Stevenage in the final game before the international break.
For the first time this season, I will be coming to a game!
What a performance that was against Wrexham. There wasn’t very much which went wrong. Tyler Bindon definitely has Sam Smith in his pocket. Also, Andre Garcia (new England under-18s international), played the best game in a hooped shirt I have seen him play. I will go into more details about the full-backs later on but what a performance. With 10 to go, hopefully they can continue this form into the Stevenage game.
Stevenage can’t be too disheartened from midweek: a loss to Birmingham City is almost inevitable for most teams, unless it’s Reading of course. But a draw against an underperforming Mansfield Town and a loss against Huddersfield Town in their last five matches means fans are asking some questions about where they’ll finish. 12th in the league means there’s no worry of relegation but also no hope of promotion.
In this preview I will mention Reading’s full-backs as well as the general team performance against Wrexham, look at players who have played for both times and give my predicted lineup!
What? League One matchday 37
Season? 2024/25
Who? Stevenage
Where? Select Car Leasing Stadium
When? Saturday March 15
Time? 15:00
Opposition manager? Alex Revell
Full-backs vs Wrexham
As I said before, that was easily Garcia’s best game for Reading, and it has earned him an England under-18s call-up which is amazing for him. But it was also Kelvin Abrefa’s best game. The way Noel Hunt utilised the full-backs in that game was outstanding.
It was inevitable that Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham were going to play a back three, making their wing-backs more attacking than defending, due to the previous 3-0 meeting with the Royals. This meant the flanks were very open. Moving Chem Campbell and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan up with Jayden Wareham allowed both full-backs to push higher up the field.
Abrefa was primarily played as a winger in the game, allowing him to put good balls into the box. This really showed his strengths as a full-back because, when Reading were hit on the counter. he was very quick to get back and keep his defensive structure. I was very impressed with him.
Garcia for me was the standout player. He had a slightly different role to Abrefa, allowing him to cut inside a little bit more and it worked a treat. In the build-up to Lewis Wing’s goal, both full-backs were involved, almost playing as central midfielders playing one-twos and then eventually finding Wing, who slotted it in the back of the net.
The full-backs dominated the game and were the main reason the Royals won that one. I am hoping that can continue against Stevenage.
Players who have played for both
Nine players have played for both teams and, in recent times, we’ve had some pretty decent ones.
Nesta Guinness-Walker was someone who I thought deserved more of a chance in a Reading shirt. Playing 41 games in that left-back role he managed one assist.
He was eventually let go in January 2024 on loan to Stevenage, where he played 14 games, managing neither a goal nor an assist. The full-back is currently playing his football at Northampton Town, having recently in my opinion been the best player for the Cobblers in a 4-1 loss against Reading.
Dean Bouzanis is another who could have got more of a chance playing for Reading but was loaned out many times in his tenure with the Royals. Playing 10 matches, he wasn’t bad but was never going to be the number one.
He was most recently on loan to Stevenage, where he didn’t make an appearance, but returned to Reading in January before being released.
Jokull Andresson is another goalkeeper who has played for both teams. Although he never played for the Royals’ first team, the Icelandic ‘keeper made three appearances on loan at Stevenage in 2023.
The final ‘keeper that has played for both teams is current Southampton player Joe Lumley. Lumley played 42 times for the Royals and definitely improved his reputation while at the club. There were a few mistakes made but I think he was actually an underrated ‘keeper.
He was at Stevenage in 2015 but was yet another who failed to make an appearance.
Finally, one of my favourite players to have ever graced the footballing world, one of my heroes: Jobi McAnuff. He played 189 games for the Royals, scoring 14 goals and getting 36 assists. He currently does punditry for Sky Sports.
In 2016/17 he played 33 games for Stevenage, scoring four and assisting four.
My lineup
There will be a forced change in this one due to a very controversial red card to Michael Stickland on Tuesday.
Joel Pereira will start in goal. He wasn’t necessarily tested against Wrexham until the very end of the game but hopefully he’ll have a similar time in this one.
The defence will need a change. Garcia picked up a knock but has been cleared so he can start this game, which is great. I think he will play alongside Abrefa, Tyler Bindon and Andy Yiadom. Harlee Dean is available but not ready to play the full 90 minutes. so I suspect Yiadom will be the cover in defence.
The midfield will be the same as always, the reliable three: Charlie Savage, Lewis Wing and Harvey Knibbs. Two of the three got goals on Tuesday and Savage had a game that would make his dad proud.
The front three also had incredible games with Jayden Wareham winning the penalty. I reckon it will be him, Campbell and Ehibhationham playing in this one.
Score prediction: 2-0 Reading!
Good luck to those going to the game, I will see you there!
Come on you Royals!