When : Saturday February 21 2026, 3pm
Where : Vale Park, Hamil Road, Burslem, Stoke on Trent, ST6 1AW
Capacity : 15,036
Well guess this one will be going ahead given the total lack of anything official about pitch inspections or "possibly in doubt" doing the rounds in the media. However their cup tie last week wasn't called off until 10am on the day, so be prepared if you're going to go.
So we get the trip to the Vale Park quagmire, this will be the first visit to the potteries since August 2023 and that ******* awful performance and subsequent managerial fall out with virtually every senior player, none of which would really have happened if things had been followed with a bit more intelligence. As I recall Reading were on the back of a 4-0 league cup win at Millwall with pretty much an Academy team yet Selles failed to try and bring some of that understanding and feel good factor into the team selection which largely followed more of the same from the same old tired under performing players. The fall out and criticism he got after spelled the end for Andy Carroll and Sam Hutchinson. But he did seem to become more open to jettisoning the persistence with the god awful 4-2-2-2 afterwards so maybe it wasn’t all bad in the end.
We now go back (probably with snorkels), but at least Port Vale are our friends after Reading fans everywhere contributed a good amount of cash towards the completion of their statue (below) of former manager John Rudge (John is now 81 and I believe he is still at Port Vale as the club president - or is that Robbie Williams?). Therefore the game should be a very pleasant and friendly experience away from the pitch.
Port Vale though are struggling badly. Despite being the strongest team in the division (they’re holding the other 23 up - ba dum tish
) they find themselves 9 points adrift of 23rd and 11 points away from safety so this is going to be yet another attractive fixture to members of AFC Charity so let’s hope they manage to find the obligatory traffic jam or wrong turn on the M6 and therefore leave the game to the professionals for a change.The Valiants, under new boss Jon Brady (ex Northampton manager), aren't in good form with just 1 win and 1 draw to show from the last 6 games. But be warned the one victory in the run was by 1-0 at Leyton Orient where Reading had managed to be completely inept just a couple of weeks beforehand so Reading will need to be properly prepared especially as the pitch is likely to cut-up and be a little bit boggy. Thankfully Reading don't play an expansive entertaining game full of quick, slick passing movements but all the same watching what might well become a game of "who can make the least damaging errors while keeping the ball in the air" does not appeal in the slightest but let's hope Reading manage to be better equipped for it on the day.
Port Vale sold summer Reading transfer target Devante Cole to Luton in January while bringing in striker Martin Sherif and defender Elijah Campbell both on loan from Everton to join loan Villa keeper Joe Gauci. In addition another forward, Andre Grey, arrived from Fatih Karagumruk on a permanent deal.
After selling Cole, their top scorer this season, Vale are now relying on Dajaune Brown, Jayden Stockley and Ben Wain to cause the damage along with the aforementioned new arrivals.
Meanwhile Reading will no doubt have a bit of a shuffle about to make up a team, especially after Tuesday night saw three injuries added to the problems. Of those injuries Marriott thinks he will be ready to go but O'Connor (face) and Roberts (hamstring) are probably both going to be added to the sidelined. Of the sidelined there is a small chance that one or both of the Williams might get into the squad but it is expected that their reappearance will have to wait another week. Keane is at least available again, which might help a bit given the likely conditions, and Rinomhota may get a place on the bench after the club losing U21 fixtures to the weather.
Referee
Carl Brook
Previously
03 May 25 > Reading 2-4 Barnsley
18 Jan 25 > Reading 1-3 Stockport County
09 Mar 24 > Reading 1-2 Wycombe Wanderers
12 Dec 23 > Reading 1-1 Oxford United
19 Sep 23 > Exeter City 0-9 Reading (EFL Trophy)
Historically
Record at Vale Park is not too bad with 8 wins to date from 31 games, however the Vale have won 16 so is a tricky place to go if you're not quite on the ball. However Reading have won 2 and drawn 1 of the last 4 visits and have only conceded one goal in that time (guess which game) so there is quite something to live up to for the club.
How to follow the game
- Get a ticket and go
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use a RoyalsTV subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
