Bad news for Peterborough United as Jack is back, other team news, star men, past games including a 6-0 Posh win, ref watch and big match odds
The bad news for Peterborough United ahead of their first round FA Cup tie against Reading at the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday (8pm kick off) is the return to action of striker Jack Marriott.
The former Posh League One Golden Boot winner started a Reading game on Wednesday night for the first time since September 26 because of an ankle injury. He didn’t score in a 2-0 loss at Oxford United.
Marriott had started the season in prolific form and eight starts in League One have yielded eight goals. He’s still the fourth top scorer in the division despite missing almost half of Reading’s fixtures.
Reading also took former Posh centre-back Josh Knight on loan from Portsmouth at the end of August, but he has started just one League One game for his current club, the 0-0 draw at Plymouth Argyle last weekend. He was back on the bench at Oxford and he’s receiving so little game time Pompey are believed to be considering a recall.
Midfielder Charlie Savage, the son of the Posh boss, came on late in the Oxford game. He has now made 10 League One sub appearances this season, but has yet to start or score.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Kyreece Lisbie, the twin brother of former Posh flyer Kyrell, has enjoyed a fine first season at League One level so far. He’s started all 14 of Reading’s League One games this season, scoring five goals, after ‘The Royals’ beat Posh to his signature.
Captain and midfielder Lewis Wing has a penchant for spectacular goals from distance.
ABSENTEES
Forward Paddy Lane, central defender Benn Ward and on-loan West Ham United midfielder George Earthey are not expected to feature for Reading on Saturday.
PAST MATCHES
There has only ever been one previous FA Cup encounter between Posh and Reading. That was back in the great Posh season of 1991-92 when Reading won a second round replay 1-0 at Elm Park after a 0-0 draw at London Road.
There have been more regular League Cup clashes, the most recent in August 2013 when League One Posh smashed Reading of the Championship 6-0 with a hat-trick from Lee Tomlin and goals from Britt Assombalonga, Danny Swanson and Jack Payne.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Experienced Northants FA referee Dean Whitestone referees Posh v Reading. He’s taken charge of over 500 EFL games and spent many seasons officiating at Championship level.
He last refereed Posh in February, 2024 when Blackpool left London Road with a 2-1 win in League One.
BIG MATCH ODDS
Posh are 13-8 to beat Reading with Sky Bet on Saturday with the visitors priced up at 5-4 and the draw is 12-5. Those odds are for 90 minutes of play.
FA CUP EXTRA
Saturday’s game will be played to a conclusion so extra time and penalties will be employed if required.