Lincoln City vs Reading: 2025/26 Match Preview
New faces, new owners, new season.
Here we are again. I hope you all had a good summer break, but we are back!
Both teams have dabbled in a bit of business over the summer but neither seem to have made too many signings. A lot of Reading fans are dissatisfied with this and are making it known on Twitter, but it’s my job to keep the hopes up and have a good look at the signings made and see where they will fit into the squad.
Lincoln have suffered a big loss in Ethan Erhahon moving to Bolton Wanderers, but just how much will this affect how they’ll play? Can Reading’s new signings make that much of an impact, given that half the squad has changed? These are just some of the questions that are going to be answered in this preview.
Along with these questions I will talk about the transfers myself, rating the business out of five, and then at the end of the transfer window I will take a look back at the Reading signings and re-rate them based on performance in the early games of the season.
There will be a few familiar faces in this preview as I have asked some fellow Reading fans and some Lincoln supporters a few questions ahead of Saturday’s big game. Then stay tuned for my predictions at the end of the preview!
What? League One matchday one
Season? 2025/26
Who? Lincoln City
Where? Sincil Bank
When? Saturday August 2
Time? 15:00
Opposition manager? Michael Skubala
Transfer time!
Both teams have made a few signings ahead of this season, so let’s take a look!
I will honour them and look at the home side first. From what it looks like on Transfermarkt, the Imps have made two signings.
English defender Sonny Bradley is the first. On loan at Wycombe Wanderers last season, the centre-back made 20 starts, scoring one goal. His strengths include his aerial duels and his ability to block the ball. He averaged a 7.1 WhoScored rating, which is in the higher percentile for defenders last season.
However, everyone comes with their weaknesses. Bradley is a lacklustre tackler, averaging 0.42 per game in the league last season. He is good defensive cover and for that I would rate him a 3/5.
Their second and last signing at the time of writing is Ryley Towler from Portsmouth. He managed 10 starts in the Championship last season, getting a 6.5 average WhoScored rating.
The 23-year-old can play both centre-back and left-back and likes to try long balls. He doesn’t dive into tackles, which is good, but this may be because his tackling isn’t great. Although he has an average of 1.08 per match, playing only 10 games has brought that average up a lot compared to most.
Now onto Reading.
Reading have made quite a few transfers.
The first I am going to mention is Liam Fraser. The holding midfielder played 15 games for Crawley Town last season, including against Reading. He averaged a 6.8 on WhoScored last season, assisting two goals.
Some of his strengths include his passing, aerial duels and concentration.He is a weak tackler but playing in a high-possession team like Reading could help him improve his strengths even more.
Reading have added the highest average rated defender (via WhoScored) last season in Paudie O’Connor. His mark of 7.4 shows a lot of consistency and will really bolster Reading’s defence. His interception ability, aerial duels and concentration are listed as strengths on WhoScored.
O’Connor’s weakness could be a struggle for a team that doesn’t yet have much cover for this position. He has bad discipline: in his entire career he has eight red cards and 82 yellow cards. I love having a player that fights for the badge and I hope he does that for us, but he can’t get sent off or carded that often in a squad without much cover.
Next up is Daniel Kyerewaa, an attacking midfielder/winger from Germany. Playing 20 games (starting nine) last season, he managed three goals, only averaging 1.3 shots per game.
I’m not going to sit here and write like I’ve seen him play before because I haven’t, but listed as strengths are his ability to block and intercept the ball, with his weaknesses being aerial duels and passing. He loves to attempt a dribble and seems to be an all-round strong midfielder.
Jack Stevens is a back-up goalkeeper signed from Cambridge United. Playing 11 games last season he averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.4, which isn’t bad for a goalkeeper. He is another that has concentration as a strength and he favours punching the ball over catching it in some scenarios. There isn’t much to talk about but I think he is a solid back-up for Joel Pereira.
Now there are three loans to talk about.
The first is Finley Burns from Manchester City. He played nine games in the Championship last season for Hull City, starting four of them. He averaged a 6.3 rating and has been known to play down the spine of the field at centre-back, as well as defensive and central midfield. He is a strong aerial battler and reads interceptions well. He is a weak passer but that can be improved on.
Another who played for Hull is Matty Jacob. For the Tigers the left-back made eight appearances, including four starts, averaging a 6.6 rating and scoring one goal. His strengths include aerial duels, holding onto the ball, passing and blocking the ball.
His weakness is that he commits a lot of fouls. He looks to be a solid left-back though and he, Andre Garcia and Jeriel Dorsett could find themselves battling it out for that spot this season.
Finally we have Mark O’Mahoney. There are no stats on him on WhoScored so let’s wing it. Playing for Portsmouth last season on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, he made 13 appearances, scoring three goals in the process.
He looks to be a promising loan signing and has had a lot of praise from Pompey fans. He looks determined and ready to play for the club, which is what it’s all about.
Q&A with other fans
I asked fans questions and here’s how they answered! Here’s Dan Worth from the Royals Review Podcast.
Me: Firstly, there have been a lot of people annoyed at who we have/haven’t brought in this summer. Do you think we have the squad to compete against a team that we have only beat once in the last seven games?
Dan: There has been a lot of negativity built up in recent weeks, largely down to over-promsing from Rob Couhig and co, but I think a lot of the sentiment is a little over the top. You don’t have to cast your mind back very long at all before we were looking at a very different proposition and I think it’s key to keep that in mind.
To answer the question directly, yes. You have to remember that we still have last season’s highest-rated goalkeeper and highest-rated midfielder, and have added the highest-rated defender. That’s some spine!
Me: In my opinion, O’Connor will be our signing of the season, making that centre-back position his own. Who do you think will be that guy?
Dan: I’d like to be optimistic and say we haven’t yet signed the signing of the season... but O’Connor looks a perfect fit and has experience at this level, so should hopefully bed in quickly and continue to show why he’s one of the best in the league.
I am quite excited by O’Mahony; he comes with some hype from Pompey fans. I think Noel Hunt will get on really well with him and hopefully get the best out of him in no time.
Me: And finally, could I have a prediction?
Dan: I think we go up there and snatch a point. 1-1.
Next up it’s Jamie Ward, Lincoln fan and head writer for The Real EFL.
Me: How are you feeling ahead of Saturday’s game?
Jamie: Everyone always feel optimistic ahead of the first game of the season, right? Seriously though, there are mixed feelings.
We’ve made just two signings and, although they’re good ones and improve the squad, there are still gaps. The loud minority are certainly making their feelings clear and it could be an interesting atmosphere if we go a goal or two behind early on.
Me: Having looked at transfers you have suffered a big loss. How do you think Erhahon to Bolton will affect how the club will play, and do you think Lincoln will bring someone in to replace him before the window is up?
Jamie: Erhahon was always moving on this summer. There isn’t an Imps fan who genuinely thought he would stay. However, to lose him for six figures and to a team in the same division is a blow as we were all led to believe he would go for a club-record fee and to the Championship.
With that in mind, it’s surprising that we haven’t looked to bring in a midfielder before now. McGrandles is capable but was hit and miss last season, and it’s an area that could be exploited on Saturday. Still, Erhahon missed a few months with injury in the second half of last season and we coped fine.
Me: And finally could I have a prediction?
Jamie- Optimistically, I’ll go with a 2-1 win. We have a very strong attack and I’m looking forward to seeing what Rob Street can offer alongside James Collins.
Realistically though, 1-1.
And finally we have Simeon Pickup from The Tilehurst End.
Me: Obviously you’ve watched the Q&A with Brian Carey and Joe Jacobson at the Purple Turtle on Thursday - do you have faith in the owners and the background team after what was said?
Simeon: I do indeed! It’s clear we’ve got two experienced, sensible people behind the scenes in Carey and Jacobson, who are on the same wavelength. Putting together a strong team in the boardroom is worth its weight in gold for the long-term future of the club, so I’m pleased they’re both here.
Specifically on Carey, I’m delighted he’ll now finally get a proper chance to help build a team, following some really difficult years on the recruitment front. He’s always looked to be a good appointment though, having spoken well at the Blue Collar event in 2023 before bringing in some quality players a few months later (Lewis Wing, Charlie Savage, Ben Elliott etc).
Me: Who do you think will be our player of the season? (My money is on O’Connor.)
Simeon: I’ll go with Pereira, who’s been consistently excellent for Reading since coming into the first team in 2023/24. Having a top-class goalkeeper can be the difference between being in mid-table and in a promotion fight, so Pereira could be key this season.
Me: And finally can I have a prediction?
Simeon: Reading will run out 2-1 winners. The defensive strength of Pereira and O’Connor will keep us in the game before we nick a goal in the second half to snatch the contest and go home happy.
As you lot know by now, this particular fixture is a big one for me and my family as we are rivals! So here are some predictions from my family as well.
Dad (Reading fan): 2-1 Reading.
Step-mum (Lincoln fan): 2-1 Reading. I think you will get us this time.
Uncle (Lincoln fan): 3-1 Lincoln.
Grandad (Lincoln fan): 2-2. Last week I witnessed Lincoln get beat 2-1 by Grimsby Town who thoroughly outplayed us and I said we’d get beat 3-0 by Reading if we play like that.
Then lo and behold we beat West Bromwich Albion 4-2 at the Bank, so now my prediction is a bit more favourable at 2-2.
My lineup
For the first time this season, here is my predicted lineup!
In goal: well, this hasn’t changed, star man and my player of the season last time out Pereira will start.
The defence will consist of Kelvin Abrefa, Paudie O’Connor, Finley Burns and Matty Jacob.
I think there will be a change in formation to accommodate the players we have brought in, which will include a diamond four in midfield. This will be Wing, Savage, Elliott and Kyerewaa. I think Kyerewaa will score on his debut!
Up front that leaves O’Mahony and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan.
Score prediction: 1-1
I am with Dan on this one, I can’t see Lincoln beating us and there have been a couple of draws against Lincoln fairly recently so that’s what I will go for.
As I started with, I hope you have all had a good summer and liked the first preview of the year.
Come on you Royals!