Next Up: Exeter City vs Reading

City moved into the promotion playoff places over the weekend following Thursday night’s televised 2-0 win at Shrewsbury, with another inspired display by Joe Whitworth ensuring a sixth successive clean sheet in all competitions. A busy couple of weeks commences with a Tuesday night fixture, with any changes likely to take place up front after Josh Magennis returned from international duty to finally net his first goal in City colours alongside his fellow sub Jack Aitchison putting in a fine display. Sonny Cox is likely to make way for Magennis but Gary Caldwell has some difficulty fitting Aitchison back in given the form shown by Kamari Doyle. This may be solved by dropping Ed Francis to the bench, but this would be harsh on Francis. Elsewhere Jay Bird made his first league appearance at Shrewsbury but Caleb Watts continues to miss out as he sits out the final match of his suspension for the red card picked up at Leyton Orient.

Reading had hoped to be out of the woods off the pitch, but the recent collapse of the sale of the club ensures more uncertainty for supporters. On the pitch the Royals have had contrasting fortunes with superb home form but woeful form on the road – their impressive point at odds-on favourites Birmingham on the opening day the only point Reading have so far earned away from home. Ruben Selles’ side come into Tuesday night’s fixture on the back of a resounding 4-1 win over Crawley on Saturday – although the stats suggest they were clinical in a match that the visitors otherwise dominated. In terms of personnel, the off-field uncertainty meant very little movement with two new players in Adrian Akande and loanee Chem Campbell. Former Cambridge striker Sam Smith has been the main goal threat with four, while Charlie “son of Robbie” Savage also has four in all competitions.

In keeping with Reading’s form since returning to the third tier, last season saw the home sides take the points from this fixture. City snatched a late winner in the corresponding fixture – Aimson gave City the lead but Knibbs equalised on the stroke of half time before Cole’s late intervention. Reading saw in the new year with a 3-2 win in a thriller – Knibbs scored early but this was cancelled out by Jules. An own goal from Hartridge ensured Reading went into the break 2-1 up, but Rankine levelled before the decisive blow from Azeez. There was another fixture between the sides in the EFL Trophy, but we won’t go there as City’s disdain for the competition last season manifested itself in a 0-9 humiliation. The league head to head is still heavily skewed in Reading’s favour, with 48 wins to City’s 23, with just 13 matches finishing level.

The match officials for this game will be:-

Referee: Sam Purkiss
Assistant Referees: Jack Clench and Adam Ricketts
Fourth Official : Lee Swabey

Sam Purkiss refereed Exeter twice last season, a 1-1 at home to Fleetwood in February, and a 0-0 at home to Blackpool in August 2023. Sam’s record last season in 32 games was 142 yellow cards and 11 red cards.