MATCHWATCH : Rotherham United (a)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday April 25 2026, 3pm
Where : New York Stadium, New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1AH
Capacity : 12,021

Now that it’s all but over we can forget about everything now and relax. Really the only thing now is players playing for contracts or youngsters wanting to prove something. We can hope the relaxed atmosphere will mean a more entertaining afternoon out but I’m not going to hold my breath while waiting for that to happen. In fact the most entertaining thing will probably be any inflatables the away following are inclined to take out for the day.

Rotherham are dead and gone, relegated to the basement for the first time since 2012-13 after falling out of the Championship only 2 years ago. This, of course, is the biggest threat to Reading as Reading turned in a dreadful showing last time out on the road at struggling Doncaster, but the underlying issue here is the club just doesn’t like Yorkshire with the last win in the county being at Hull 3.5 years ago, in 2022 (9 games ago).

Rotherham are one of Leam’s former clubs having managed them in their relegation season from the Championship and winning just 2 of his 24 games in charge so there’s not likely to be much love lost on either side for this one.

Sam Nombe is the leading scorer with 11 goals while Jordan Hugill is probably the most well known player on the Millers’ books. The Reading connection is supplied by defender Zac Jules so no doubt that’ll be the biggest nuisance to Reading in the game.

The injury list for Reading includes both Williams, Elliott, Doyle, Keane, and a host of others but given the season is over it probably doesn’t really matter now so any doubts with anyone else will mean time out and making the squad up with a few youngsters.

Referee

John “what am I doing back here?” Brooks

Previously

25 Feb 23 > Reading 3-1 Blackpool
01 Nov 22 > Luton Town 0-0 Reading
25 Apr 21 > Reading 2-2 Swansea City
16 Apr 21 > Cardiff City 1-1 Reading
04 Nov 20 > Reading 0-3 Preston North End
04 Jan 20 > Reading 2-2 Blackpool (FA Cup)
27 Apr 19 > Middlesbrough 2-1 Reading
09 Feb 19 > Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Reading
26 Jan 18 > Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 Reading
23 Dec 17 > Reading 1-2 Burton Albion
10 Jan 17 > Yeovil Town 4-2 Reading (Football League Trophy)

1 win in 10

Historically

Reading have managed 6 wins at Rotherham in 25 attempts while Rotherham have managed 11 victories in those attempts, it’s all fairly middling really but Reading have lost both of the lat 2 visits conceding 6 and scoring just 1 so it’s not been good up there for a while.

How to follow the game

1. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
2. Ring/text a mate for updates
3. Use an RoyalTV subscription
4. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
5. Or you can always just go and get a ticket

[tidus_mi2]

Away to an already relegated team playing horribly.

We know how this story ends.

[Sutekh]

Away to an already relegated team playing horribly.

We know how this story ends.

And Rotherham aren’t playing too well either.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Ahh, Rotherham.

Anyone on here remember Miller Mac on HNA? back when they were close rivals in our fight to get out of tier 3? A good contributor to this board.

A shame to see them relegated. There but for the grace of Whoever goes us.

Anyone travelling up for this has my respect - two deflated, unmotivated, unsuccessful teams playing out a dead rubber a three and a half hour drive away.

Has dreary draw written all over it.

[Sutekh]

The current state of voting is a sign of realism, top trolling or just can’t be arsed with this nonsense any more - which are you?

[traff]

Realistic expectation.

Went last season, nowhere to go beforehand, shithole,crap result.
At leaset last season ther was a little bit of hope.

[Brogue]

deflated

Deflated on inflatable day, what a sight to behold,
A sea of sad rubber and spirits gone cold.
We’ll rock up at Rotherham, hopeful as ever,
Then watch ninety minutes that feel like forever.

The football’s so dire, the mood’s getting vicious,
Each pass is a crime, each hoof ball suspicious.
Leam’s under pressure, the crowd’s had enough,
And Rob must sack him, because this is just guff.

So when the last whistle brings sweet release,
And the away end prays for a moment of peace,
How many inflatable giant penises, proud in the sun,
Will lie limp on the floor when the torture is done?

A tragic parade of the battered and beaten,
Their bounce gone for good, their glory depleted.
For nothing says Reading, in black-humoured bliss,
Like inflatable hope… ending sadly like this.

[katweslowski]

This has a Rotherham win written all over it. I think we'll lose our next two games and end the season miserably.

[MR. CYNICAL]

deflated

Deflated on inflatable day, what a sight to behold,
A sea of sad rubber and spirits gone cold.
We’ll rock up at Rotherham, hopeful as ever,
Then watch ninety minutes that feel like forever.

The football’s so dire, the mood’s getting vicious,
Each pass is a crime, each hoof ball suspicious.
Leam’s under pressure, the crowd’s had enough,
And Rob must sack him, because this is just guff.

So when the last whistle brings sweet release,
And the away end prays for a moment of peace,
How many inflatable giant penises, proud in the sun,
Will lie limp on the floor when the torture is done?

A tragic parade of the battered and beaten,
Their bounce gone for good, their glory depleted.
For nothing says Reading, in black-humoured bliss,
Like inflatable hope… ending sadly like this.

You're a poet and didn't know it!

[traff]

And his feet show it.

[MartinRdg]

deflated

Deflated on inflatable day, what a sight to behold,
A sea of sad rubber and spirits gone cold.
We’ll rock up at Rotherham, hopeful as ever,
Then watch ninety minutes that feel like forever.

The football’s so dire, the mood’s getting vicious,
Each pass is a crime, each hoof ball suspicious.
Leam’s under pressure, the crowd’s had enough,
And Rob must sack him, because this is just guff.

So when the last whistle brings sweet release,
And the away end prays for a moment of peace,
How many inflatable giant penises, proud in the sun,
Will lie limp on the floor when the torture is done?

A tragic parade of the battered and beaten,
Their bounce gone for good, their glory depleted.
For nothing says Reading, in black-humoured bliss,
Like inflatable hope… ending sadly like this.

Nice

[WestYorksRoyal]

deflated

Deflated on inflatable day, what a sight to behold,
A sea of sad rubber and spirits gone cold.
We’ll rock up at Rotherham, hopeful as ever,
Then watch ninety minutes that feel like forever.

The football’s so dire, the mood’s getting vicious,
Each pass is a crime, each hoof ball suspicious.
Leam’s under pressure, the crowd’s had enough,
And Rob must sack him, because this is just guff.

So when the last whistle brings sweet release,
And the away end prays for a moment of peace,
How many inflatable giant penises, proud in the sun,
Will lie limp on the floor when the torture is done?

A tragic parade of the battered and beaten,
Their bounce gone for good, their glory depleted.
For nothing says Reading, in black-humoured bliss,
Like inflatable hope… ending sadly like this.

Nice

Chat GPT?

[Gunny Fishcake]

deflated

Deflated on inflatable day, what a sight to behold,
A sea of sad rubber and spirits gone cold.
We’ll rock up at Rotherham, hopeful as ever,
Then watch ninety minutes that feel like forever.

The football’s so dire, the mood’s getting vicious,
Each pass is a crime, each hoof ball suspicious.
Leam’s under pressure, the crowd’s had enough,
And Rob must sack him, because this is just guff.

So when the last whistle brings sweet release,
And the away end prays for a moment of peace,
How many inflatable giant penises, proud in the sun,
Will lie limp on the floor when the torture is done?

A tragic parade of the battered and beaten,
Their bounce gone for good, their glory depleted.
For nothing says Reading, in black-humoured bliss,
Like inflatable hope… ending sadly like this.

[Crowbar6753]

Rotherham away, nothing to play for, both teams on the golf course, penultimate game of the season, both teams in dire form so really should be borefest at best? Maybe not, Leam is under big pressure, lose this and that's 4 defeats on the bounce at the business end of the season which really doesn't look good at all.
Marriot's out again with his hammy and the one bright spark from Cardiff (Rinhomota) is also injured!! so what will Leam do? Stick or Twist?
Will he play the same team and tactics to try and scrape a win to stop the rot or he tweak the system and give a few of the fringe/Academy guys a run out?
Pretty tough call to make! I would opt for the latter, drop any loanee's who will be surplus to requirements and give a few of the Academy players a chance to prove there worth, at least you'll know they will give 100% for the cause. Either way, there will be a 1,000 royals watching in the away end and if things don't start well it may turn toxic pretty quickly.

My team:

Pereira

Abrefa O'Connor Williams Hayden

Borgnis Wing Sackey

Big Kelvin Patton Kyerewaa

Bench: Savage, Osho, Dorsett, Camara, Young, Fraser, Keeper

[Sutekh]

Rotherham away, nothing to play for, both teams on the golf course, penultimate game of the season, both teams in dire form so really should be borefest at best? Maybe not, Leam is under big pressure, lose this and that's 4 defeats on the bounce at the business end of the season which really doesn't look good at all.
Marriot's out again with his hammy and the one bright spark from Cardiff (Rinhomota) is also injured!! so what will Leam do? Stick or Twist?
Will he play the same team and tactics to try and scrape a win to stop the rot or he tweak the system and give a few of the fringe/Academy guys a run out?
Pretty tough call to make! I would opt for the latter, drop any loanee's who will be surplus to requirements and give a few of the Academy players a chance to prove there worth, at least you'll know they will give 100% for the cause. Either way, there will be a 1,000 royals watching in the away end and if things don't start well it may turn toxic pretty quickly.

My team:

Pereira

Abrefa O'Connor Williams Hayden

Borgnis Wing Sackey

Big Kelvin Patton Kyerewaa

Bench: Savage, Osho, Dorsett, Camara, Young, Fraser, Keeper

Savage is probably injured, not likely to be risked at all unless 100%

A game where you’ll be troubled to find anyone watching who gives much of a toss

[MR. CYNICAL]

Rotherham away, nothing to play for, both teams on the golf course, penultimate game of the season, both teams in dire form so really should be borefest at best? Maybe not, Leam is under big pressure, lose this and that's 4 defeats on the bounce at the business end of the season which really doesn't look good at all.
Marriot's out again with his hammy and the one bright spark from Cardiff (Rinhomota) is also injured!! so what will Leam do? Stick or Twist?
Will he play the same team and tactics to try and scrape a win to stop the rot or he tweak the system and give a few of the fringe/Academy guys a run out?
Pretty tough call to make! I would opt for the latter, drop any loanee's who will be surplus to requirements and give a few of the Academy players a chance to prove there worth, at least you'll know they will give 100% for the cause. Either way, there will be a 1,000 royals watching in the away end and if things don't start well it may turn toxic pretty quickly.

My team:

Pereira

Abrefa O'Connor Williams Hayden

Borgnis Wing Sackey

Big Kelvin Patton Kyerewaa

Bench: Savage, Osho, Dorsett, Camara, Young, Fraser, Keeper

Savage is probably injured, not likely to be risked at all unless 100%

A game where you’ll be troubled to find anyone watching who gives much of a toss

I find it difficult to believe that 1000 fans are making the long trip tomorrow to watch the turgid shit that Richardson preaches and find it even more difficult to believe they don't give a toss.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

Just cancel it due to lack of interest

[Crowbar6753]

Rotherham away, nothing to play for, both teams on the golf course, penultimate game of the season, both teams in dire form so really should be borefest at best? Maybe not, Leam is under big pressure, lose this and that's 4 defeats on the bounce at the business end of the season which really doesn't look good at all.
Marriot's out again with his hammy and the one bright spark from Cardiff (Rinhomota) is also injured!! so what will Leam do? Stick or Twist?
Will he play the same team and tactics to try and scrape a win to stop the rot or he tweak the system and give a few of the fringe/Academy guys a run out?
Pretty tough call to make! I would opt for the latter, drop any loanee's who will be surplus to requirements and give a few of the Academy players a chance to prove there worth, at least you'll know they will give 100% for the cause. Either way, there will be a 1,000 royals watching in the away end and if things don't start well it may turn toxic pretty quickly.

My team:

Pereira

Abrefa O'Connor Williams Hayden

Borgnis Wing Sackey

Big Kelvin Patton Kyerewaa

Bench: Savage, Osho, Dorsett, Camara, Young, Fraser, Keeper

Savage is probably injured, not likely to be risked at all unless 100%

A game where you’ll be troubled to find anyone watching who gives much of a toss

I find it difficult to believe that 1000 fans are making the long trip tomorrow to watch the turgid shit that Richardson preaches and find it even more difficult to believe they don't give a toss.

Its was on one of the official sites i believe, and i think Clyde reported 700 sales a few weeks back and he's generally spot on. Pretty impressive if true.

[tidus_mi2]

Says a lot doesn't it that most of us are convinced we'll lose to a team that has won 1 in their last 10

[Clyde1998]

Savage is probably injured, not likely to be risked at all unless 100%

A game where you’ll be troubled to find anyone watching who gives much of a toss

I find it difficult to believe that 1000 fans are making the long trip tomorrow to watch the turgid shit that Richardson preaches and find it even more difficult to believe they don't give a toss.

Its was on one of the official sites i believe, and i think Clyde reported 700 sales a few weeks back and he's generally spot on. Pretty impressive if true.

My final figure was about 865 and the club’s website said “over 865”.

The figures stagnated after Doncaster and especially Cardiff, with points my estimates reduced (ie. ‘returns’ outstripped sales) after the latter.

If it is over 865 going, it would make it our largest following at Rotherham of the figures I’ve got (going back to the 2000-01 season). We took 863 in September 2000.

At their new ground, the biggest was 708 on our previous visit.

We’re clearly all getting more insane.