When : Saturday, September 13 2025, 3pm
Where : Oakwell, Grove Street, Barnsley, S71 1ET
Capacity 23,009
It’s time for the annual draw at Barnsley again.
Barnsley are in their habitual play off place again (6th with a game in hand on many above them) so this game is going to be as tough as it gets. Reading used to deal with Barnsley fairly comfortably but since relegation it’s become a very hard fixture and the home games even worse!
The Tykes, now managed by Conor Hourihane - so you know what to expect from them before a ball is even kicked, are really rather good at challenging for promotion to the Championship year after year after year and consequently have quite a decent squad. Davis Keillor-Dunn needs no introduction after his 18 goal league haul from last season and there has been little change to last season’s playing roster although the Biscuitmen will now have to face renewing acquaintance with veteran “pain in the arse” David McGoldrick as well as finding out how loanee youngster Caylan Vickers’ career is developing.
Barnsley have won every league game they’ve played so far aside from a defeat at Wimbledon and a home draw with Bolton. Last time out they cantered to a 3-1 win over Huddersfield so Reading will need to considerably up their performance and tactics to even get a point out of this one.
Like many in the division Reading have had a couple of weeks off and that should mean that nearly all injuries should have cleared up. WiFi might be back in contention but Yiadom and Des (O’Connor) are probably still on the sidelines but more through lack of fitness and not having played in ages rather than anything more serious.
Referee
Elliott Bell
Previously
Nowt!
History
This will be the 40th time league action has occurred between the two teams in South Yorkshire and so far Reading have won 11 of the games compared to Barnsley’s 16. Sadly though fate will now be tempted as the bit Reading have to protect is the fact that, since the move to RG2, the club has made this league trip 12 times and obtained 22 points following 5 wins and 7 draws.
In fact the last 6 visits to Oakwell have seen Reading return with 6 points, that's an average of a point a game, which is unsurprising since every one of those 6 visits has resulted in a score draw!
How to follow the game
- Ticket yourself, be brave and travel
- 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)
