News and Views
Savage Goal Gives Richardson First Win
06 November 2025
By Hob Nob Anyone?
A rare moment of quality from Charlie Savage after four minutes produced the goal which propelled the Royals from twentieth to twelfth place in the League, denying Stevenage the opportunity to take top spot. Reading, still smarting from their undignified exit from the FA Cup at the hands of non-league Carlisle, started brightly. Nobody was more relieved than new manager Leam Richardson who must have been wondering what he had taken on after seeing his new team crumble on Saturday surrendering a two-goal lead in stoppage time, before going out after conceding early in extra time. This was a very different performance and most notably in terms of energy and commitment against a physical and uncompromising Stevenage side.
READ MORE...
MATCH REPORT: Reading 1 Stevenage 0
Kelly Joins Richardson After Cup Embarrassment
03 November 2025
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading have appointed Rob Kelly as assistant manager to join new first team manager Leam Richardson after Richardson replaced Noel Hunt last week. Kelly comes to Reading from League Two team Barrow where he was also first team assistant. He previously worked under Richardson at Wigan Athletic and Rotherham. The two had success at Wigan, winning promotion out of League One, but struggled at Rotherham before going different directions.
Richardson was sacked from Wigan in November 2022 and had to wait a year before his next position at Rotherham where he managed just two wins in 24 games. He was sacked from Rotherham in April 2024 and left with a points per match record of just 0.42. Richardson now returns to management a year and half later with a huge job to do at Reading. The Royals will be hoping the management team of Richardson and Kelly, along with experienced existing coaches, can replicate the success they previously had in League One with Wigan.
Richardson's first game in charge of his new side was an impressive capitulation at home against non-league side Carlisle United on Saturday as Reading went straight out for the FA Cup in the first round. Reading looked set for a rare win, in front of just 3929 spectators, until conceding twice in stoppage time, and Carlisle then went on to win in extra time after Regan Linney completed his hattrick. Richardson's nightmare start was made worse after picking up a booking well before Carlisle's late comeback.
Ehibhatiomhan Goal Earns Much Needed Win
21 October 2025
By Hob Nob Anyone?
A stooping header from Kelvin Ehibhatiomahan midway through the second half was sufficient to secure a well-deserved first win in five matches and lift the Royals into sixteenth place in the table. It was hardly a must win game, but after a series of three draws and a narrow away defeat to league leaders Cardiff at the weekend, fans were becoming restless at the prospect of another dominant performance without securing the much-needed points to lift their team out of the bottom three. The lively Lane provided the crucial assist whipping in an early pacy cross for Ehibhatiomhan re-direct his header past Fitzsimons. READ MORE...
MATCH REPORT: Reading 1 Northampton Town 0
Out Of Bottom Four With Home Win
20 September 2025
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading climbed out of the bottom four with a hard-earned and well-deserved second league victory of the season. The Royals took the lead against the run of play after twenty-one minutes against a well-drilled Orient side who passed the ball well and were hard to break down. Orient dominated possession from the start and it was a slick counterattack which enabled new signing Jack Marriot to notch his third goal in three starts in all competitions. Dorsett made ground on the left and slid an early ball to Savage, who turn found Marriot just outside the box. The in-from striker's first touch took him clear of his marker, and although it was not the cleanest of strikes it was placed perfectly inside the upright. It was goal demonstrating the qualities of an experienced striker. READ MORE...
Match Report: Reading 2 Leyton Orient 1