2024-25 League 1: Week 28 – Leyton Orient vs Reading

Leyton Orient host Reading in a blockbuster clash in the race for 2024-25 League One Play-Offs.

Victory would lift Orient above Reading into seventh position, whilst Reading can climb to fifth with a win depending on results elsewhere.

 

Team News

Jack Simpson is a doubt for Leyton Orient after he suffered an unspecified injury in their EFL Trophy exit against Stevenage in midweek.

Theo Archibald (ACL) and Jordan Graham (knee) remain sidelined.

Reading have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 3-1 loss to Stockport last weekend.

Mamadi Camara (groin) and Andy Yiadom (knee) are still sidelined.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Leyton Orient host Reading at Brisbane Road on Saturday 25 January at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Leyton Orient are unbeaten in their last four league meetings against Reading (W2, D2).
• Reading have won one of their last 11 league visits to Leyton Orient (W1, D3, L7).
• Three of Leyton Orient’s last five meetings against Reading at home in all competitions ended in a 1-1 draw.
• Leyton Orient have kept clean sheets in eight of their last nine league games (W7, D2).
• Reading are winless in their last four league visits to London-based opposition (D1, L3), with their last win in the capital having come at Millwall in August 2022 in the Championship.

 

Prediction

Unbeaten in their last nine league games, Orient can come into this clash confident of boosting their play-off hopes if can put a wasteful EFL Trophy exit performance behind them, especially with a mouth-watering FA Cup tie at home to Manchester City coming up in a fortnight’s time.

Reading meanwhile had illness issues to deal with in their 3-1 loss at home to Stockport so I do expect them to mount a strong response, even if Orient and London hasn’t been exactly kind to them in recent trips.

Nevertheless this clash could be key in terms of momentum for both teams in the play-off race so I can see a tough battle coming, with a point apiece being a fair result.

Prediction: Leyton Orient 1-1 Reading

Result: Leyton Orient 2-0 Reading