When : Friday April 18 2024, 3pm
Where : SCL Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161
Just over 1 year since they last came to town, Lincoln City are back to try and prevent Reading collecting 3 more points in their quest to claim the last play off place.
The Imps are your typical end of season mid table obscurity side so have nothing to play for but, at this stage of a season, that could count in their favour as they won’t get quite so nervous if a game develops with the scores level.
Lincoln’s form is what you’d expect for a mid table side with 4 wins and 3 draws from their last 11 league games. James Collins and Jovon Makama are leading scorers with 7 goals each and, of course, they have the obligatory ex Reading threat in Ben House (5 goals so far) to cause more problems. After that Tendayi Darikwa will be a big threat at set pieces and Bailey Cadamarteri has been putting in a decent shift during his loan spell from Sheffield Wednesday.
None of these remaining games will be easy for Reading, especially if they let nerves get the better of them. This game could be a prime example of that especially if a slow start builds and fan frustration starts transmitting itself to the players. Its been a long time since the club was involved in an end of season promotion “charge” and it’s a first time for nearly all the players as well so they’ll all be learning so don’t expect an uneventful “glide” to finish the season.
Injuries really aren’t helping still. There’s still no Elliott or Dorsett and Dean is still a few weeks away from a return while Craig is out for the season.
Other important L1 games on Good Friday to watch for:
Bolton v Wycombe
Huddersfield v Cambridge
Leyton Orient v Barnsley
Stevenage v Blackpool
Referee
Benjamin Speedie
Previously
27 Apr 24 > Reading 3-2 Blackpool
16 Mar 24 > Reading 4-0 Cambridge United
15 Aug 23 > Reading 1-0 Cheltenham
Historically
This will be the 14th home game against the Imps and the record at home to Lincoln isn't much to write home about with 5 Reading wins compared to 3 Lincoln wins, so games tend to be close fought and can be very frustrating affairs.
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and travel to the Mad Stad
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use a RoyalTV subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
