Royals Extend Unbeaten Run with Dominant Display
Saturday 29th March 2025 – 3pm GMT
SCL Stadium, Reading
Reading continued their march towards the League One play-offs with a confident 3-1 victory over Peterborough United at the SCL Stadium. The Royals made it 11 games unbeaten in the league with a performance that combined slick attacking play, relentless pressing, and solid defensive resilience. Goals from Harvey Knibbs and Charlie Savage, along with an early own goal from Peterborough’s Sam Hughes, ensured all three points for the hosts. Kwame Poku pulled one back for the visitors, but the Posh never looked like mounting a serious comeback.
First Half: Early Fortune Gives Royals the Lead
The game started in a lively fashion, with both teams looking to impose themselves. Reading, known for their aggressive pressing, wasted no time in setting the tempo and forcing Peterborough into hurried passes. The hosts got their reward in just the seventh minute, albeit in a rather fortunate manner.
A slick move down the right saw Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan cut the ball back into the danger area, looking for Chem Campbell, who was lurking near the six-yard box. However, before the Reading winger could get a touch, Peterborough captain Sam Hughes inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net, giving the Royals a 1-0 lead.
The early goal injected confidence into Reading, and they continued to push forward, dominating possession and unsettling Peterborough’s defence. Seven minutes later, the visitors had a golden opportunity to equalise when a rapid counter-attack saw Malik Mothersille deliver a pinpoint cross into the box. Abraham Odoh found himself in acres of space, but he completely miscued his effort, slicing his shot well wide.
For much of the remainder of the first half, both teams battled for control in midfield, with neither able to carve out clear-cut opportunities. Reading’s pressing remained effective, but their final ball lacked precision, while Peterborough struggled to break through the Royals’ makeshift backline. The half-time whistle blew with Reading still 1-0 up, leaving the visitors with work to do.
Second Half: Reading Turn Up the Heat
The Royals came out firing after the interval, determined to put the game beyond doubt. Their attacking play had more urgency, and in the 58th minute, their persistence paid off.
Charlie Savage, who had been at the heart of Reading’s midfield all afternoon, played a quick pass to Jayden Wareham on the right. The substitute delivered an inviting low cross into the six-yard box, where Harvey Knibbs was perfectly positioned to stab the ball home. It was Knibbs’ 15th goal of the season, highlighting his importance to the team.
Just five minutes later, Reading extended their lead further with another well-worked goal. This time, Savage was the scorer, making up for an earlier mistake that had almost gifted Peterborough a penalty. Wareham once again provided the assist, cutting the ball back for Savage to calmly slot past Jed Steer in the Peterborough goal. The Royals were now in complete control at 3-0, and the home crowd responded with raucous cheers.
Match Highlights
Peterborough’s Late Response and Reading’s Defensive Solidity
Despite finding themselves three goals down, Peterborough refused to give up. Their persistence was rewarded in the 67th minute when they capitalised on a rare lapse in Reading’s defence. A quick move down the left exposed space behind the Royals’ backline, and a low cross into the box found Kwame Poku, who made no mistake in slamming the ball past Joel Pereira. It was his 11th goal of the campaign, giving Peterborough a glimmer of hope.
The visitors tried to push forward in search of a second goal that would make things interesting, but Reading stood firm. Goalkeeper Pereira was called into action shortly after, making a crucial save in a one-on-one situation to deny Peterborough a way back into the game. The Royals then regained control, with Andy Yiadom forcing Steer into an excellent save from a powerful header and Savage almost grabbing a second with a volley that was well stopped.
As the clock ticked down, Noel Hunt made several substitutions to see out the game. Adrian Akande replaced Ehibhatiomhan in the 78th minute, while Tom Carroll, Louie Holzman, and Billy Bodin were introduced in stoppage time. Reading adopted a more defensive 5-2-3 formation to close out the match, ensuring no late drama.
The final whistle confirmed a well-earned 3-1 victory, pushing Reading into the play-off spots and keeping their promotion hopes alive.
Post-Match Thoughts: Royals in the Play-Off Hunt
This win was yet another testament to Reading’s ability to navigate adversity and produce results. Despite fielding a makeshift defence, the Royals coped well with Peterborough’s attacking threat and took their chances clinically.
Harvey Knibbs continued his excellent form in front of goal, while Charlie Savage ran the midfield with energy and intelligence. Jayden Wareham made an immediate impact off the bench, providing two assists and adding another dimension to Reading’s attack.
Noel Hunt’s side now sit in sixth place, back in the play-off positions with just eight games remaining. The result also means Reading have now gone 11 league games unbeaten, a run that has transformed their season. With tough fixtures ahead, the challenge will be to maintain this momentum and finish strong.
Peterborough, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their display. Despite having a fair share of possession and chances, they never truly threatened to take control of the match. Kwame Poku’s goal was a brief moment of hope, but defensive errors and a lack of clinical finishing ultimately cost them.
Managers Comments
Noel Hunt
Reading manager Noel Hunt acknowledged his team may have been fortunate not to concede a penalty during their 3-1 victory over Peterborough in League One.
The Royals secured the win with an own goal from Peterborough captain Sam Hughes, alongside strikes from Harvey Knibbs and Charlie Savage. Kwame Poku pulled one back for the visitors, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
Reading, now up to sixth place and within the play-off positions, were leading 2-0 when Savage appeared to challenge Ricky-Jade Jones in the area. However, referee Adam Herczeg dismissed appeals for a penalty.
“I didn’t have a clear view of the incident, but I saw their player was through on goal,” Hunt admitted. “If the referee made that call, we have to accept it. I’ll need to review it later, but I understand why Peterborough were frustrated.”
Hunt praised his squad’s performance, highlighting their energy and control: “We looked sharp and in command, even if we moved the ball a little slowly in the first half. Our priority was maintaining intensity and work rate, something we emphasized all week. Despite last-minute changes due to injuries and illness, the players adapted brilliantly. Regardless of who steps onto the pitch, they always give their all.”
Darren Ferguson – Peterborough Manager
Peterborough’s seven-game unbeaten run came to an end, with manager Darren Ferguson expressing frustration over the penalty decision.
“I have to be honest – it looked a clear penalty. Even Reading’s bench seemed surprised it wasn’t given,” Ferguson said. “The referee told me he didn’t see any contact, but if he had given it, Savage would have been sent off.”
Ferguson acknowledged his team’s attacking intent but pointed to defensive lapses: “We created plenty of chances, but conceding three goals makes it difficult to win. The crucial moment was Reading’s third goal – at 2-0, we still had time to turn things around. We finished strong and always looked capable of scoring, but that third goal was a real setback.”
Looking Ahead
With the play-offs now within reach, Reading will look to build on this victory when they face Blackpool on Tuesday night. Another win could cement their position in the top six and keep their promotion dream alive.
For Peterborough, they must regroup quickly and find a way to bounce back from this defeat. Their attacking play showed glimpses of promise, but they need to be more clinical if they are to keep their own promotion hopes alive.
As for Reading, the dream is very much alive. Could this be the season they make their return to the Championship? Time will tell, but based on today’s performance, they certainly have the quality and determination to make it happen.
