The Game
Argyle vs Reading. Home Park. Saturday, 31 October. 12.30pm. Sky Bet League One.
The Opposition
With Reading recruiting current manager Leam Richardson midway through last season and falling away from the playoff race towards the end of the season, the Royals will be hoping to go one further this time around.
This is Richardson’s first full season in charge at Select Car Leasing Stadium after a busy summer transfer window in which he further refined his squad. Reading began the current campaign with a 96th minute defeat at home to Luton, something that could have really knocked them in confidence.
However, they responded well by picking up seven points from their next three games, with a 5-0 win in that period. Their mid-September defeat against Cambridge United proved just a blip as they followed it with wins against Notts County and MK Dons and draws against Wycombe Wanderers and Bradford City.
Richardson’s side proved their bounce-back ability once more after they lost 1-0 away at Wigan Athletic. They then won twice last week at home to Leyton Orient and Barnsley. Therefore, the Royals come into this afternoon’s fixture with just one league defeat in their last seven games and sit one place below Argyle in the Sky Bet League One table.
The Gaffer
46-year-old head coach Leam Richardson featured at right-back for multiple Football League clubs throughout his playing career. 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. He then 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 then 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 Tics to promotion from Sky Bet League One into the Championship in his first full season in charge.
After poor results on their return to the second-tier, Richardson was sacked by Wigan. The head coach 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 last October.
Ones to Watch
In-form forward Kyreece Lisbie has already scored five goals and assisted four this season. His career began initially at Leyton Orient alongside his brother Kyrell, also where his dad was playing at the time. Following his release, Lisbie made a name for himself in non-league, featuring for Cray Valley Paper Mills before being recruited by Watford. He was once again released, this time joining Brentford’s B team. After nearly three years in West London, the winger joined Colchester United. Lisbie and impressed in his nearly 50 games for the U’s, earning a move to Reading in the summer.
Talisman Lewis Wing made a name for himself playing Sunday League football in County Durham, following his release from Darlington as a 14-year-old. The versatile operator featured for several non-league sides before joining Middlesbrough in 2017. After an initial loan with Yeovil Town, Wing became a regular for Boro. Later loan spells came at Rotherham United and Sheffield Wednesday before his permanent departure to Wycombe Wanderers in 2022. Just a season-and-a-half later, Wing was on the move again after turning down a new deal at Adams Park. The 31-year-old has been at Reading since, being named their club captain last summer.
Portuguese goalkeeper Joel Pereira came through Manchester United’s academy and served as backup throughout his time at Old Trafford. Loans away from the Red Devils came with Rochdale, Belenenses, Vitoria de Setubal, Kortrijk, Hearts and Huddersfield. Upon the expiry of his contract at United, Pereira headed to Eredivisie side RKC Waalwijk for two seasons. The goalkeeper returned to England to sign for Reading in 2023 and has since featured over 110 times as the Royals’ first-choice goalkeeper.
Previous Meeting
We last took on Reading back in March at Select Car Leasing Stadium. The Greens twice came from behind to ensure they took a share of the spoils home with them to Devon. Randell Williams’ third-minute goal was swiftly cancelled out by Alex Mitchell – cue horse celebration infront of the sold-out away end. Paudie O’Connor soon got the home side back ahead, but Caleb Watts struck back in the second half to make it 2-2, earning Tom Cleverley’s side an important point.
The Strip
We will be in our green home kit for the lunchtime kick-off at Home Park.
Argyle TV
Supporters unable to attend Argyle's Sky Bet League One fixture against Reading on Saturday can follow the action live on Argyle TV.
Our hour-long pre-match show will be live on Argyle TV and YouTube from 11.30am.
11.30am - Rob McNichol and Aaron Cusack are joined by Marc Edworthy for the Pre-Match Show, bringing you all the team news, exclusive interviews, and thoughts from inside the camp.
12.30pm - Kick-off at Home Park, with live commentary from Charlie Price, who will be joined on co-commentary by Chris Hargreaves.
UK & Ireland Supporters
Due to EFL broadcast regulations, live video streaming is unavailable in domestic territories. However, you can listen to every Argyle game live throughout the season with an Argyle TV subscription - available for £5.50 per month or £55 for the year.
If you’re not a subscriber, you can still purchase an individual audio match pass for £2.50.
International Supporters
Live video streaming is available overseas - You can watch every Argyle game live with an Argyle TV International subscription, available for £30 per month or £200 for the year.
If you prefer, you can buy an individual video match pass for £10 per game.
Audio match passes are also available overseas for £2.50, giving you full commentary wherever you are in the world.
Click here to access Argyle TV and view our subscription and match pass options.
