MATCHWATCH : Doncaster Rovers (h)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday October 25, 2025, 3pm
Where : SCL Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

Saturday brings another mid table team to town in the shape of Doncaster Rovers.

Grant McCann's charges started the season really brightly with just one defeat (at Huddersfield) in the first six games and included a win at Mansfield and a 3-1 stuffing of Bradford so there is something in Doncaster if you let them show it.

However a slump in form has followed which is why they're still mired in mid table obscurity but as we all know, in following Reading over recent seasons, a slump in form, such as Doncaster's current 0 points from the last 18 to play for is prime FC Charity territory and therefore, more than the Northampton game, defeat here should still bring the curtain down on Noel's stage show.

While midfielder Owen Bailey is Doncaster's leading marksman at the moment with 5 goals it should not distract from the presence of former Royal and now veteran (at 39) striker Billy Sharp, now in his third spell with the Rovers.

Theoretically things should be the same in team selection as v Northampton but an injury crisis is starting to take hold with the only half decent striker (Marriott (hamstring)) at the club now also crocked and joining Pereira (rib), Fraser (hernia) & Garcia (groin) in physioland for an indeterminate length of time. Still at least Williams is back and hopefully he and Des can build the sort of tight defensive partnership of which Steve Death, Martin Hicks and Paul Bennett would be proud.


Referee

Matthew Russell

Previously

New referee

Historically

It's difficult to have a better league record against opposition than that which Reading have against Doncaster. Of the 42 league games played to date Doncaster have won just 4 of them and have pretty much the same abysmal record away as they have at home. In Reading the 21 league games have produced 17 home wins and 2 draws with the last loss being 41 years ago in September 1984 when Reading were thrashed 4-1 in front of about 4000 hardy souls (the Doncaster days of Billy Bremner and the then youngster stars of Ian and Glyn Snodin). So, more pressure on Noel Hunt and the boys to not start putting a blemish onto things.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel to the Mad Stad
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 RoyalTV subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[tidus_mi2]

Does anyone have any inside info on what has gone wrong for Doncaster and if there is any likelihood if them getting a result on Saturday?

[windermereROYAL]

1 point from 18.

[Sutekh]

1 point from 18.

Yes, 1 point, sorry! That point was at home v Burton 2 weeks ago.

[Sutekh]

How bad is Matt Ritchie's knock I wonder? With our luck probably guarantee he'll be out for the rest of the year

[windermereROYAL]

..................................Stevens....................................

Yids..........Williams........O`Connor.............Jacobs

.............................Wing........................................

........Savage....................Doyle...............

....Lane......................................Kelvin...

...............O`Mahony.......................

[Snowflake Royal]

Might be slightly contraversial, but I think Yids is proving an excellent sub. I wouldn’t start him, because I think he's really beneficial off the bench late on, giving that experience and quality when we most need it.

And we do want to be bringing Abrefa and Ahemd through for the future.

[WestYorksRoyal]

We'll need to score 2 as Sharp will score for them.

[Hound]

..................................Stevens....................................

Yids..........Williams........O`Connor.............Jacobs

.............................Wing........................................

........Savage....................Doyle...............

....Lane......................................Kelvin...

...............O`Mahony.......................

Basically this, but as Ian mentioned, happy enough with Yiadom sub until he’s absolutely 100%. Would prob go Elliott over Doyle but not much in it. Still don’t like Jacob a lot but he did ok on Tues so prob keeps his place for now

Like the general look of that team. Would love for MoM to have a good game and grab a goal

[Clyde1998]

I'd just stick with the same XI which started against Northampton, assuming everyone's available. I'd give Kyerewaa a go if Ritchie isn't fit enough to start.

[Snowflake Royal]

I'd just stick with the same XI which started against Northampton, assuming everyone's available. I'd give Kyerewaa a go if Ritchie isn't fit enough to start.

Same. I think we need to minimise our chopping and changing.

Kelvin started up front, give him the run while Marriott is out. It’s not going to help anyone's understanding flitting back and forth between him and MOM

Elliott got a run of starts, didn’t impress. Doyle got a run of starts, didn’t impress. Now we're back to Elliott, so give him another run

I know Kyerewaa is clumsy and unpolished. But so were Kebe and Antonio. There's potential there. And I'm biased because he's a little speedster chaos goblin, which entertains me

[Hound]

Oh no, not Kyeweera. He was terrible on Tues and hasn’t been much good all season. He isn’t even that quick or exciting. If we’re keeping Kelv as a 9 (don’t mind that) then I think I’d rather shove Doyle RW or promote JOP or something

[Snowflake Royal]

Oh no, not Kyeweera. He was terrible on Tues and hasn’t been much good all season. He isn’t even that quick or exciting. If we’re keeping Kelv as a 9 (don’t mind that) then I think I’d rather shove Doyle RW or promote JOP or something

JOP

You really don't like him, do you.

I'd put Abrefa, Ahmed or Yiadom RW ahead of JOP.

[Hound]

Oh no, not Kyeweera. He was terrible on Tues and hasn’t been much good all season. He isn’t even that quick or exciting. If we’re keeping Kelv as a 9 (don’t mind that) then I think I’d rather shove Doyle RW or promote JOP or something

JOP

You really don't like him, do you.

I'd put Abrefa, Ahmed or Yiadom RW ahead of JOP.

Maybe Ahmed or Yids. Shame Osho isn’t fit. Not serious on JOP

Kyeweera just isn’t very good. Maybe he’ll improve in time but I have zero enthusiasm for him atm and think he’s a big part of why we’ve looked so poor this season.

Don’t really like all these small attackers - Marriott, Lane, Ritchie, Kyeweera, JOP. Unless they are really good they’ll just get bullied

[Snowflake Royal]

Oh no, not Kyeweera. He was terrible on Tues and hasn’t been much good all season. He isn’t even that quick or exciting. If we’re keeping Kelv as a 9 (don’t mind that) then I think I’d rather shove Doyle RW or promote JOP or something

JOP

You really don't like him, do you.

I'd put Abrefa, Ahmed or Yiadom RW ahead of JOP.

Maybe Ahmed or Yids. Shame Osho isn’t fit. Not serious on JOP

Kyeweera just isn’t very good. Maybe he’ll improve in time but I have zero enthusiasm for him atm and think he’s a big part of why we’ve looked so poor this season.

Don’t really like all these small attackers - Marriott, Lane, Ritchie, Kyeweera, JOP. Unless they are really good they’ll just get bullied

All opinions innit.

Height hasn't exactly helped big Kelvin E not get bullied. You forgot Camara and your mate Garcia too

Hope you find your enjoyment with a few improved results soon. Unhappy Hound is a real downer.

[Hound]

JOP

You really don't like him, do you.

I'd put Abrefa, Ahmed or Yiadom RW ahead of JOP.

Maybe Ahmed or Yids. Shame Osho isn’t fit. Not serious on JOP

Kyeweera just isn’t very good. Maybe he’ll improve in time but I have zero enthusiasm for him atm and think he’s a big part of why we’ve looked so poor this season.

Don’t really like all these small attackers - Marriott, Lane, Ritchie, Kyeweera, JOP. Unless they are really good they’ll just get bullied

All opinions innit.

Height hasn't exactly helped big Kelvin E not get bullied. You forgot Camara and your mate Garcia too

Hope you find your enjoyment with a few improved results soon. Unhappy Hound is a real downer.

Think Garcia is down to age, he’s grown a fair bit and I think won’t get bullied this year as much

Don’t think Kelvin gets especially bullied tbh. He just isn’t a natural target man despite his size. He certainly holds his own against most defenders.

Tbf I’ve enjoyed the last couple of games a lot more. That’s been more impt than the results for me. It wouldn’t take much to cheer me up as I posted on the best team thread

We went with the wrong strategy, signed too many journeymen players, too many loans and lost sight of what made us enjoyable to watch last few years.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Maybe Ahmed or Yids. Shame Osho isn’t fit. Not serious on JOP

Kyeweera just isn’t very good. Maybe he’ll improve in time but I have zero enthusiasm for him atm and think he’s a big part of why we’ve looked so poor this season.

Don’t really like all these small attackers - Marriott, Lane, Ritchie, Kyeweera, JOP. Unless they are really good they’ll just get bullied

All opinions innit.

Height hasn't exactly helped big Kelvin E not get bullied. You forgot Camara and your mate Garcia too

Hope you find your enjoyment with a few improved results soon. Unhappy Hound is a real downer.

Think Garcia is down to age, he’s grown a fair bit and I think won’t get bullied this year as much

Don’t think Kelvin gets especially bullied tbh. He just isn’t a natural target man despite his size. He certainly holds his own against most defenders.

Tbf I’ve enjoyed the last couple of games a lot more. That’s been more impt than the results for me. It wouldn’t take much to cheer me up as I posted on the best team thread

We went with the wrong strategy, signed too many journeymen players, too many loans and lost sight of what made us enjoyable to watch last few years.

Which signings specifically do you lament? O'Connor, Williams, Ritchie and Marriot are the most experienced and all look like great signings. Lane, Kyerewaa and Fraser are all young enough to improve at the club. Stevens is not that exciting, but who would we be playing now with Pereira injured? We didn't have a second keeper ready.

None of the loanees have set the world alight, but at the same time I don't see Burns, O'Mahony or Doyle blocking progress to any academy players. Jacob is undoubtedly the worst signing as he's looked pretty poor and I think Ryan was ready to make an impact this season. So I'd say one disappointing signing out of an awful lot because we had no squad.

I'd say it's quite a likeable squad really; you can see they're behind the cause and desperate to do better. Maybe as we watch them grow together and hopefully win more, we'll strike up the same connection we had with the previous team. But that team earned extra credit for fighting in our darkest hour, and we were always going to lose that (thankfully).

[morganb]

What's happened to Basil Tuma? He was injured in pre-season but then went off with Malta over the IB and even got a few minutes. Not featured for the Unders or senior team recently though

[URZZZZ]

All opinions innit.

Height hasn't exactly helped big Kelvin E not get bullied. You forgot Camara and your mate Garcia too

Hope you find your enjoyment with a few improved results soon. Unhappy Hound is a real downer.

Think Garcia is down to age, he’s grown a fair bit and I think won’t get bullied this year as much

Don’t think Kelvin gets especially bullied tbh. He just isn’t a natural target man despite his size. He certainly holds his own against most defenders.

Tbf I’ve enjoyed the last couple of games a lot more. That’s been more impt than the results for me. It wouldn’t take much to cheer me up as I posted on the best team thread

We went with the wrong strategy, signed too many journeymen players, too many loans and lost sight of what made us enjoyable to watch last few years.

Which signings specifically do you lament? O'Connor, Williams, Ritchie and Marriot are the most experienced and all look like great signings. Lane, Kyerewaa and Fraser are all young enough to improve at the club. Stevens is not that exciting, but who would we be playing now with Pereira injured? We didn't have a second keeper ready.

None of the loanees have set the world alight, but at the same time I don't see Burns, O'Mahony or Doyle blocking progress to any academy players. Jacob is undoubtedly the worst signing as he's looked pretty poor and I think Ryan was ready to make an impact this season. So I'd say one disappointing signing out of an awful lot because we had no squad.

I'd say it's quite a likeable squad really; you can see they're behind the cause and desperate to do better. Maybe as we watch them grow together and hopefully win more, we'll strike up the same connection we had with the previous team. But that team earned extra credit for fighting in our darkest hour, and we were always going to lose that (thankfully).

I’m interested on these repeated viewpoints on Jacob as personally don’t think he’s been poor at all but it does seem to be the consensus. Think he’s been fairly steady, Exeter aside, without particularly standing out

Certainly wouldn’t disagree it was a “stockpile” signing in an area we already had options, Dorsett, Ryan, Garcia (Yiadom + Abrefa at a push) and I’m thinking that may perhaps be clouding people’s judgements?

[URZZZZ]

Oh no, not Kyeweera. He was terrible on Tues and hasn’t been much good all season. He isn’t even that quick or exciting. If we’re keeping Kelv as a 9 (don’t mind that) then I think I’d rather shove Doyle RW or promote JOP or something

JOP

You really don't like him, do you.

I'd put Abrefa, Ahmed or Yiadom RW ahead of JOP.

Kyeweera just isn’t very good. Maybe he’ll improve in time but I have zero enthusiasm for him atm and think he’s a big part of why we’ve looked so poor this season.

To an extent, draws similarities with Popa where they have a knack of forever running around and looking busy but stand out like children playing men’s football

He did OK on Tuesday, don’t quite agree with your assessment, but the brutal reality is he’s not enough of a threat and he doesn’t have enough other redeemable features to compensate for that. Willing to be more lenient with him compared to someone like Lane who has plenty more experience in this league but time is running out