MATCHWATCH : Stockport County (h)

[Sutekh]

When : Sunday January 4 2026, 3pm
Where : SCL Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

Stockport are flying again, leading the charge of clubs hoping to be able to sneak an automatic promotion spot so this game is going to be about as hard as you can get at home. Dave Challinor has proved to be an excellent managerial choice for club hoping to build and become something more than just making up lower division numbers.

They did thoroughly batter Reading twice last season and generally much of this season they’ve been continuing in the same vein though perhaps slightly more subdued as clubs have started to be aware of what Stockport are about so the going has been harder for them as evidenced by Reading holding the Hatters to a point a couple of months back.

Form is basically 3 wins from their last 6 games but possibly of most interest is the fact that Stockport have won 2 and drawn 1 of their last 3 away games in the league so that should be something to set the alarm bells ringing for Leam.

Stockport favour a Xmas tree formation of 3-4-2-1 with Kyle Wootton & Oliver Norwood being the prime troublemakers. Wootton has 10 goals so far and we all know what an excellent playmaker Ollie can be after his all to brief spell in RG2. Record signing Malik Mothersille and established midfielder Callum Camps re also ones that should be denied the ball as much as possible.

There are some injury concerns for Stockport with Callum Connolly, Nathan Lowe, Arttu Hoskonen and Lewis Bate suffering problems, meanwhile Reading have Lionel Ritchie and WiFi back in contention but Lane, Elliott and the Williams brothers are all still seemingly without hope

Referee

Jacob Miles

Previously

26 Aug 25 > Reading 1-2 Wimbledon

Historically

Reading have hosted Stockport on 17 occasions and won 9 times compared to 3 Stockport victories. Stockport’s wins have all been around Christmas and the New Year and have all been by 2 goals (3-1 in 1974, 4-2 in 1992 and, of course, 3-1 again last year) but hopefully the omens will smile kindly on the blue and white hoops this time.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and go
2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
3. Ring/text a mate for updates
4. Use a RoyalsTV subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[Hound]

Be a superb return over Xmas if we can pick up a 3 points here - then two weeks off before Orient and a real chance to push second half of the season

We’ll be within 4 points of them with a win

So yeah we’ll probably not turn up

[traff]

In a season where the standard of refereeing in this division rivals UK water companies for incompetence, this guy still manages to stand out.
He makes Thames Water look positively accomplished and professional.

After the Wimbledon match, I’d hoped we’d never see him again. Frankly, we’d be better off letting the Stockport mascot referee this one.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

4 games in 9 days is madness - I can't be bothered to look but is this how it always is at Christmas?

This game should be taking place in midweek if it has to be played now.

[Clyde1998]

4 games in 9 days is madness - I can't be bothered to look but is this how it always is at Christmas?

This game should be taking place in midweek if it has to be played now.

Yes it is usually like this - the 2005-06 season's schedule was arguably worse: 26 Dec; 28 Dec; 31 Dec; 2 Jan. The worse schedules are usually a result of the bank holidays falling in the middle of the week.

We're benefitting by not being in the FA Cup, so we get a decent break after this one.

[tidus_mi2]

I voted a win but would definitely take a point, didn't realise how strong they are away from home!