Lincoln v Reading Match Report & Stats: 2-0 – Royals Fall Short on the Road
| Competition | League One |
|---|---|
| Date | 21 December 2024 |
| Venue | LNER Stadium, Lincoln |
| Final Score | Lincoln City 2-0 Reading |
Lincoln City extended their strong home form with a commanding 2-0 victory over Reading in a League One clash at the LNER Stadium. Goals from Bailey Cadamarteri and Reeco Hackett-Fairchild secured all three points for the hosts, leaving Reading to rue their missed opportunities.
Lincoln v Reading Match Report
The first half saw Lincoln City assert their dominance early, with Bailey Cadamarteri opening the scoring in the 8th minute. Reading, struggling to cope with Lincoln's pressing and energy, failed to register a single shot on target in the first 45 minutes.
The second half brought more of the same from Lincoln, and their persistence paid off when Hackett-Fairchild doubled the lead in the 72nd minute, assisted by Montsma. Despite a spirited but disjointed attempt from a ten-men Reading side to find a way back, they could not breach Lincoln's resolute defence.
The Royals ended the match frustrated, managing only one shot on target throughout and struggling to maintain possession under Lincoln’s pressure. A red card for Reading added to their woes in a game that underscored their struggles away from home. Reading were listed as huge 4/1 underdogs to win this match at leading UK betting sites.
Key Moments
- 8’ - Goal! Ben House slots home for Lincoln after a well-worked team move. (Lincoln 1-0 Reading)
- 37' - Louie Holzman received a red card, leaving Reading with ten men
- 72’ - Goal! Regan Hackett-Fairchild doubles Lincoln's lead with a neat finish following Montsma’s assist. (Lincoln 2-0 Reading)
Stats at a Glance
| Stat | Lincoln | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Expected Goals (xG) | 2.00 | 0.19 |
| Ball Possession | 64% | 36% |
| Goal Attempts | 15 | 4 |
| Shots on Goal | 7 | 1 |
| Big Chances | 4 | 0 |
| Corners | 9 | 0 |
| Pass Accuracy | 81% | 63% |
Lineups
Lincoln City (3-4-1-2)
Starting XI: Wickens (GK), Roughan, O'Connor (C), Montsma, Darikwa, McGrandles, Erhahon, Hackett-Fairchild, House, Cadamarteri, Makama.
Substitutes: Draper, Duffy, Hamilton, Jefferies, Moylan, Pardington (GK), Ring.
Reading (4-3-3)
Starting XI: Pereira (GK), Craig, Bindon, Holzman, Garcia, Savage, Wing (C), Knibbs, Campbell, Smith, Camara.
Substitutes: Button (GK), Dean, Kanu, Wareham, Sackey, Senga-Ngoyi, Osho.
Pre-Match Predictions: Evaluated
- Double Chance: Draw/Reading – ❌ Incorrect. Reading struggled to impose themselves and failed to secure even a draw.
While Reading’s potential was acknowledged pre-match, their lacklustre performance and Lincoln's efficiency exposed the gap between expectation and reality.
League One Betting Offers
The EFL League One season is in full swing, so check out the list below to explore free bets and special promotions available for new players.
Content on this site will contain reference to products or services from one or more of our advertisers or partners. We may receive compensation when you view ads or click on links to those products or services.
