The Game
Reading v Argyle. Select Car Leasing Stadium. Saturday, 14 March. 3pm. Sky Bet League One.
The Opposition
Reading started the season dreadfully, picking up just two wins in their opening dozen games, up until the middle of October. Noel Hunt was dismissed as manager, replaced by Leam Richardson, and things picked up. Reading won three in five, drawing the other two, but then lost two in quick succession, to Peterborough United and Bradford City.
The Royals then won four in five, including a victory at Home Park, but then lost at Leyton Orient. A pair of 2-2 draws at home were followed by a win at Northampton Town and then a loss at Wimbledon. Next came two wins, then two draws, and another two wins, before a 1-0 defeat on Tuesday at Mansfield Town.
The Gaffer
Leam Richardson, 46, featured at right-back for numerous Football League clubs throughout his playing days. Richardson represented Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Notts County, Blackpool and Accrington Stanley as a player before he retired in 2012. When John Coleman departed Accrington, Richardson became caretaker manager until Paul Cook was appointed.
Richardson had another spell as Accrington’s caretaker when Cook headed to Chesterfield, but shortly followed him to Derbyshire. Richardson continued to serve as Cook’s assistant for a number of years at Chesterfield, Portsmouth, and Wigan Athletic before getting his first managerial role in 2021. This came with Wigan, after both Cook and John Sheridan had departed the club amidst financial difficulties. Richardson stepped up, managing to lead the Latics to promotion from League One to the Championship in his first full season in charge.
After poor results on their return to the second tier, Richardson was sacked by Wigan. He took a year out before taking the Rotherham United job in December 2023; he remained there for four months until he was sacked. The former defender took another lengthy break from management before being appointed Reading’s head coach in October 2025.
The Squad
With leading goalscorer Jack Marriott set to miss out through injury, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan (below) is likely to lead the line and carry Reading’s goal hopes. Born in Nigeria, Ehibhatiomhan was a graduate from Reading’s academy, and has played 130 times for the first-team, scoring 24 goals. Six of them have come this season, including a hat-trick in the recent 3-2 win at Luton Town.
No-one has played more minutes this season for Reading than Lewis Wing. The 30-year-old midfielder has started all 36 league games, and has scored nine times. Wing was a late bloomer, playing in non-league in the North East before getting a break at Middlesbrough aged 22. He had loans with Yeovil Town, Rotherham United and Sheffield Wednesday, as well as playing nearly 100 times for Boro. After a season-and-a-half at Wycombe Wanderers, Wing joined Reading in the summer of 2023 and soon became a pivotal player.
Central defender Paudie O’Connor has been a key player for the Royals. The 28-year-old started with his hometown club, Limerick, moving to Leeds United in the summer of 2017. Finding it tough to break in at Elland Road, O’Connor had loans at Blackpool and Bradford City, making the latter a permanent move. He played over 100 times for Bradford, and then for Lincoln, before signing for Reading last summer.
Previous Meeting
Earlier this season, Argyle lost 4-1 at home to Reading. Joe Ralls was sent off early in the game, in an incident which gave away a penalty. Lewis Wing scored from the spot, added a second, and Kamari Doyle made it three before the 20-minute mark. Xavier Amaechi made it 3-1, and Argyle looked like staging an unlikely comeback, but Lorent Tolaj missed a penalty to further reduce the deficit, and Jack Marriott made it 4-1 late on.
A Strip for the Trip
Argyle will be wearing their green home kit for this game.
Argyle TV
Argyle TV’s coverage will begin with the Pre-Match Show, which starts at 2pm, with Erin Black and Aaron Cusack being joined by former Argyle captain Paul Wotton. They will then hand over to the stadium for live commentary from Rob McNichol and former Argyle defender Jon Ashton.
Match passes to watch this game on Argyle TV are available overseas. CLICK HERE for more information.
