Reading and Exeter City return to action in the League One when they go head to head at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Monday night. Both sides are currently level on points in the mid-tables, and this makes for an exciting watch as they both look to secure maximum points in their push for a playoff spot.
FootballWhispers‘ Reading vs Exeter City prediction takes a look at the chances of the two sides getting the job done in Berkshire.
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Reading vs Exeter City prediction: Reading edge out close contest
Key stats
- Reading have opened the scoring in four of their last five games against Exeter City, going on to win three of those games while claiming two draws since September 2023.
- However, the Royals have kept just two clean sheets in their last nine matches since the start of December, conceding 13 goals across the nine games.
- There have been at least three goals in four of Exeter City’s last five matches, with a staggering 22 goals netted across the five games.
- There have been fewer than five bookings in four of the most recent five meetings between Reading and Exeter City since September 2023.
Correct score prediction: Reading 2-1 Exeter City
Reading have dropped four points from the last six available in the league and they will need to be at their best against a resilient Exeter side, who are unbeaten in their last five league games.
However, the Royals have proven tough to crack at home, where they have lost just once in the league since August, and we predict they will do just enough to score all three points.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Bookmakers have Reading as favourites
- HOME: 11/10 (2.10) – 47.6%
- DRAW: 12/5 (3.40) – 29.4%
- AWAY: 12/5 (3.40) – 29.4%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Reading needed an 84th-minute strike from Englishman Jack Marriott to salvage a 2-2 draw against Barnsley at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday.
Prior to that, the Royals suffered their first defeat of the year on January 17, when they were beaten 3-1 by Leyton Orient at the Matchroom Stadium, a result which saw their five-game unbeaten run (4W 1D) come to an end.
Despite their recent slump, Leam Richardson’s men remain in the mix for a place in the promotion playoff, as they sit 13th in the League One table, level on 36 points with Tuesday’s visitors in 10th place, and six points off the coveted top-six places.
With Sunday’s stalemate against Barnsley, Reading have now gone four straight league matches without defeat, claiming three wins and one draw, and the bookies fancy them secure maximum points on Tuesday, as given by their 47.6% win probability.
This is currently priced at 11/10, while Exeter City’s chances of victory sit at 12/5, indicating a 29.4% probability, while there is a 29.4% likelihood of the spoils being shared at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Exeter head into Tuesday’s tie in strong form, claiming two wins from two since their humbling 10-1 defeat against Manchester City in the FA Cup third round on January 10, including a 3-1 victory over Port Vale on Saturday.
Gary Caldwell’s men turned in a dominant team display at the weekend, with Carlos Mendes Gomes, Jayden Wareham and Timur Tutierov all hitting the target to hand Port Vale a 15th league defeat of the campaign.
Exeter City head into Tuesday’s game on a run of five straight games without defeat in the league, claiming four wins and one draw since their 1-0 Boxing Day loss against Cardiff City.
While we take a deeper look into both teams, you can take a peek at some of the best picks and predictions for the midweek fixtures by FootballWhispers in today’s free football betting tips.
Most recent H2Hs: Reading holds a clear upper hand
Reading boast a superior record in this fixture across their last 10 encounters, having picked up five wins, three more than Koln’s three victories since February 1993.
Richardson’s men are unbeaten in the most recent five meetings between the two teams, picking up three wins and two draws since a 2-1 defeat in August 2023.
England League 1 11/10/25
Exeter
Reading
England League 1 04/03/25
Reading
Exeter
England League 1 22/10/24
Exeter
Reading
England League 1 01/01/24
Reading
Exeter
England EFL Trophy 19/09/23
Exeter
Reading
Reading preview: Duo ruled out through injuries
Reading will take to the pitch without veteran defender Derrick Williams, who has missed each of the last five matches since picking up an injury against Plymouth Argyle in December.
He is joined on the club’s injury table by Cameroonian midfielder Ben Elliot, who has been ruled out since sustaining an injury against Doncaster Rovers back in October.
Predicted lineup: Pereira (GK), Yiadom, O'Connor, Dorsett, Roberts, Wing, Savage, Kyerewaa, Doyle & Marriott
Last five games
- Reading 2-2 Barnsley
- Leyton Orient 3-1 Reading
- Reading 1-0 Stockport County
- Reading 2-0 Burton Albion
- Peterborough United 1-1 Reading
Exeter City preview: Midfield trio ruled out
Exeter City remain without the midfield trio of Pedro Borges, Johnly Yfeko and 24-year-old Ryan Rydel, who have been sidelined through injuries.
Veteran defender Danny Andrews has been ruled out since picking up an injury against Leyton Orient in November and the 35-year-old is also out of contention for Tuesday’s visitors.
Predicted lineup: Whitworth (GK), Woodhouse, Fitzwater, Sweeney, Oakes, Brierley, Hayes, Niskanen, Aitchison, Gomes, Wareham
Last five games
- Port Vale 1-3 Exeter
- Exeter 3-0 Stevenage
- Manchester City 10-1 Exeter
- Huddersfield 2-2 Exeter
- Exeter 1-0 Luton
ve games
- Koln 2-1 Mainz
- Koln 1-3 Bayern Munich
- Heidenheim 2-2 Koln
- Koln 2-1 Lugano
- Koln 0-1 Union Berlin
Player to watch — Jack Marriott
Jack Marriott heads into Thursday’s tie in red-hot form in front of goal and the veteran striker will be one to keep an eye on at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Having joined from Wrexham in the summer, the 31-year-old has been an instant hit for the Royals, netting 10 goals and providing three assists in 16 league appearances.
With his strike against Barnsley in midweek, Marriott has seven goal contributions in seven games since December 18 and we expect the Englishman to spearhead Reading’s attack once again.