Reading fought out a good win on Wednesday against a side they always struggle against, Leyton Orient. However, it always seems to be that we win the games where we don’t play well, yet don’t win the games in which we do play well.
One thing we are for sure of though: Paddy Lane is a beast. And, I’m stunned to say, but Jeriel Dorsett had a good game. He is such a marmite player – he is either the best player at the club or the worst.
Barnsley are currently on a nine-game winless streak in all competitions: seven losses and two draws and they currently find themselves in 22nd. The Tykes look like a completely different team to last season and I wouldn’t expect their fans to take their results lightly.
They are a team that should be top half, if not pushing for promotion. But, with their bad run of form, hopefully the Royals can dent that more before Barnsley then go and play Oxford United to revive their season.
Saturday October 24 brings Barnsley to the Select Car Leasing Stadium. The 24,200-seater stadium sees a rainy day, with the temperature being 13 degrees. At 3pm, referee Scott Oldham will take charge of the game of the week. He averages 3.6 yellow cards per match, as well as 21.5 fouls.
In this preview I will look at previous games between the two sides and I will give my predictions.
Previous games
The head-to-head between the two sides is decently even. For Reading it’s 32 wins, 25 draws and 29 losses. However, the Royals haven’t beaten Barnsley since 2021. Three of the last five games between the sides have ended in a 2-2 draw.
Let’s look at the last one, in January 2026.
The scorers in this game were Haydon Roberts, Jack Marriott, David McGoldrick and Adam Phillips. Reading had 10 shots, three on target. Barnsley had three shots, two on target (which were both their goals).
The Royals absolutely dominated this match and should have walked away with more than a draw. It was a late Marriott goal that actually tied the game.
When Barnsley were at home, they had great form, a bit like Reading. The match at Oakwell finished 3-2 to Barnsley, with Josh Earl, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Adam Phillips, Marriott and Daniel Kyerewaa scoring. It was a more even game with Barnsley having 15 shots, five on target and Reading having 14 shots, also five on target.
Hopefully things go differently in this match. Reading are looking strong and Barnsley have started the season off shockingly. But with no Marriott, Jamie Reid can’t seem to find the net and Josh Stokes wasn’t up to scratch last time out. We need George Earthy back desperately.
My predictions
Joel Pereira will start in goal.
Udoka Godwin-Malife, Paudie O’Connor, Jeriel Dorsett and Roberts will be the defence.
Lewis Wing and Andy Rinomhota will hold the midfield.
Kyreece Lisbie, Stokes and Lane will be the attacking three.
Jacob Brown should start up front.
Score prediction: 2-1 Royals
Good luck to those going to the game!
Come on you Royals!