2025-26 League One: Week 37 – Reading vs Plymouth

Reading meet Plymouth in a showdown in the race for the 2025-26 Sky Bet League One Play-Offs.

Victory would see Reading climb to fifth if Stockport and Huddersfield both suffer defeats elsewhere, whilst Plymouth can leapfrog the Royals with a win and go as high as seventh if Stevenage and Wycombe both lose elsewhere.

 

Team News

Reading have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 1-0 midweek loss at Mansfield.

Jack Marriott remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Plymouth have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 3-0 midweek win at Wigan.

Conor Hazard, Wes Harding (both groin), Brendan Galloway (hernia), Ayman Benarous (knock), Bradley Ibrahim, Matty Sorinola (ankle), Tegan Finn, Joe Ralls (both hamstring), Julio Pleguezuelo (calf) and Lorent Tolaj (muscle) remain absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Reading host Plymouth at Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday 14 March at 3pm GMT, untelevised live in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Reading have lost one of their last six league meetings against Plymouth (W4, D1, L1).
• Plymouth have won one of their last six league visits to Plymouth (W1, D1, L4).
• Two of Reading’s last three home games against Plymouth ended in a 2-1 result – of which both teams took one win apiece whilst the other finished 2-0 to the Royals in August 2008.
• Reading have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight league matches (W4, D2, L2).
• Bim Pepple has scored seven goals in six of his last seven appearances for Plymouth.

 

Prediction

Coming into this game off the back of a narrow defeat at Mansfield, Reading just need to reset because they missed a chance to climb into the play-off spots and can’t afford to throw more points carelessly away given how tight that battle is.

Plymouth meanwhile have certainly turned their season around from where they were just a few months ago despite an injury crisis, and are full of confidence after a clinical performance at Wigan with Pepple in particular in hot form despite Tolaj’s absence.

This clash though is one that neither team probably will want to lose so I do expect a tough close battle and a draw might look a fair result, with its significance unlikely to come clear until the closing weeks.

Prediction: Reading 1-1 Plymouth

Result: Reading 2-2 Plymouth