Exeter City FC vs Reading FC, League One 2023-24 REGULAR SEASON
Overview
Match Preview
Exeter City FC vs Reading FC — League One at St. James Park.
- Exeter City FC 46 games · 49 pts (2026/27)
- Reading FC 46 games · 63 pts (2026/27)
Match Details
- Referee Will Finnie
- Assistant 1 Simon Shaw
- Assistant 2 Lee Freeman (England)
Standings
| # | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln City FC | 46 | 103 |
| 2 | Cardiff City FC | 46 | 91 |
| 3 | Stockport County FC | 46 | 77 |
| 4 | Bradford City AFC | 46 | 77 |
| 5 | Bolton Wanderers FC | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Stevenage FC | 46 | 75 |
| 7 | Luton Town FC | 46 | 74 |
| 8 | Plymouth Argyle FC | 46 | 73 |
| 9 | Huddersfield Town AFC | 46 | 67 |
| 10 | Mansfield Town FC | 46 | 65 |
| 11 | Wycombe Wanderers FC | 46 | 63 |
| 12 | Reading FC | 46 | 63 |
| 13 | Blackpool FC | 46 | 60 |
| 14 | Doncaster Rovers FC | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Barnsley FC | 46 | 59 |
| 16 | Wigan Athletic FC | 46 | 56 |
| 17 | Burton Albion FC | 46 | 54 |
| 18 | Peterborough United FC | 46 | 53 |
| 19 | AFC Wimbledon | 46 | 53 |
| 20 | Leyton Orient FC | 46 | 52 |
| 21 | Exeter City FC | 46 | 49 |
| 22 | Port Vale FC | 46 | 42 |
| 23 | Rotherham United FC | 46 | 41 |
| 24 | Northampton Town FC | 46 | 35 |
Head-to-Head
Last 5 meetings
Recent Form
| Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Aug | Reading FC | H | 2–1 | W |
| 19 Aug | Carlisle United FC | A | 2–0 | W |
| 15 Aug | Portsmouth FC | A | 0–1 | L |
| 12 Aug | Blackpool FC | H | 0–0 | D |
| 05 Aug | Wycombe Wanderers FC | A | 3–0 | W |
| 07 May | Morecambe FC | H | 3–2 | W |
| Date | Opponent | H/A | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Aug | Exeter City FC | A | 1–2 | L |
| 19 Aug | Stevenage FC | H | 2–0 | W |
| 15 Aug | Cheltenham Town FC | H | 1–0 | W |
| 12 Aug | Port Vale FC | A | 0–1 | L |
| 05 Aug | Peterborough United FC | H | 0–1 | L |
| 08 May | Huddersfield Town AFC | A | 0–2 | L |
Season Stats
| Exeter City FC | Reading FC | |
|---|---|---|
| #21 | Position | #12 |
| 49 | Points | 63 |
| 46 | Played | 46 |
| 12 / 13 / 21 | W / D / L | 16 / 15 / 15 |
| 52 | Scored | 64 |
| 61 | Conceded | 60 |
| -9 | GD | +4 |
| 1.07 | PPG | 1.37 |
| 26% | Win % | 35% |
Key Stats
83%
Both Teams to Score
H2H (6 games)
H2H (6 games)
67%
Over 2.5 Goals
H2H history
H2H history
Exeter City FC are 21st (49 pts). Reading FC are 12th (63 pts).
Events
Match Events
- 0' Here we go! The referee blows the whistle and Exeter City FC launch into their encounter with Reading FC.
- 5' Reading FC come into this ranked in Array. They desperately need points to push themselves up the standings.
- 10' Over 10 minutes have gone by without a meaningful attack. The supporters want more.
- 15' Exeter City FC currently sit in the Array table. A result here could be decisive in the race for the top positions.
- 17' Pierce Sweeney is having his name booked by the referee on 17.
- 22' The referee is likely to let players tackle, as he already missed some meaty challenges during opening seconds. He is still to establish what should not be done by the players and what is acceptable on the pitch. It’s going to be a tough game for Jack Aitchison suffering a number of foals already.
- 24' The referee calls foul for Femi Azeez. He receives a card.
- 29' The midfield battle is intense right now. Both Exeter City FC and Reading FC are fighting for every inch of the pitch.
- 34' GOAL! Will Aimson fires home to make it 1-0!
- 37' The referee calls foul for Amadou Salif Mbengue. He receives a card.
- 42' Reading FC have won 433 goals from 379 games. They will be desperate to add to that tally today.
- 44' A meaty challenge results in booking for Zak Jules on 44.
- 46' Ben Elliott is ready to make an impact after coming on for Amadou Salif Mbengue at the 46 minute mark.
- 48' What an equalizer from Harvey Knibbs!
- 53' Reading FC are keeping things exceptionally tight at the back. It will take something special to break them down.
- 56' Matty Carson has been a danger all night but risks an early exit having now seen a card on 56.
- 61' Demetri Mitchell has been relatively quiet despite scoring 13 goals in his last 305 appearances.
- 62' Reece Cole is replacing Zak Jules for the Exeter City FC side.
- 67' Neither side is committing men forward. This has all the hallmarks of a tense, tactical contest.
- 70' Fresh legs for Exeter City FC! Sam Nombe comes on to replace Ilmari Niskanen.
- 75' Spectators do not have much to choose from both teams. The sides had several scoring chances but they still need a bit more than just a sight of a goal.
- 76' Paul Mukairu is ready to make an impact after coming on for Harvey Knibbs at the 76 minute mark.
- 80' A change in the Exeter City FC ranks — Jack Aitchison exits the field as Vincent Harper enters on 80.
- 85' Paul Mukairu makes way for Basil Tuma at the 85 minute mark. A tactical switch from Reading FC.
- 89' Controversy at the stadium! Nelson Abbey argues furiously but the card stands.
- 90' Exeter City FC receives a card for a hard tackle on 90.
- Full Time. Exeter City FC beats Reading FC
Lineups
Exeter City FC Lineups
Starting XI
- 6
- 4
- 26
- 5
-
3
Zak Jules ↓ Reece Cole 62'
-
7
Demetri Mitchell ↓ Kyle Taylor 80'
-
14
Ilmari Niskanen ↓ Sam Nombe 70'
-
29
Jack Aitchison ↓ Vincent Harper 80'
- 1
- 8
- 21
Bench
-
10
Sam Nombe ↑ 70'
-
12
Reece Cole ↑ 62'
- 33
-
23
Kyle Taylor ↑ 80'
- 39
- 41
-
31
Vincent Harper ↑ 80'
Coach
Gary Caldwell
Reading FC Lineups
Starting XI
- 1
- 6
- 23
-
7
Harvey Knibbs ↓ Paul Mukairu 76'
- 32
- 11
-
47
Matty Carson ↓ Tom McIntyre 62'
- 27
- 8
-
42
Caylan Vickers ↓ Andy Yiadom 46'
- 15
Bench
-
17
Andy Yiadom ↑ 46'
-
5
Tom McIntyre ↑ 62'
- 31
-
12
Paul Mukairu ↑ 76'
- 36
-
4
Ben Elliott ↑ 46'
- 48
Coach
Ruben Selles
H2H
H2H Top Scorers
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Harvey Knibbs | 2 |
| Femi Azeez | 1 |
| Zak Jules | 1 |
| Dion Rankine | 1 |
| Michael Craig | 1 |
| Jayden Wareham | 1 |
| Ilmari Niskanen | 1 |
| Will Aimson | 1 |
Head to Head
Exeter City FC Form
Predictions
Prediction accuracy
3 / 4
1.58
Exeter City FC xG
Expected Goals
Dixon-Coles · Bivariate Poisson · Neg. Binomial · Elo
1.1
Reading FC xG
I would bet for:
Markets are evenly balanced — no clear value pick.
Match Result
✓ CorrectActual: Exeter City FC win
Both Teams to Score
✓ Correct
Avg goals/match: 2.68
Actual: Yes — both scored
Over / Under Goals
✗ O/U 2.5| Line | Over | Under | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ± 0.5 | 91% |
|
9% |
| ± 1.5 | 75% |
|
25% |
| ± 2.5 | 49% |
|
51% |
| ± 3.5 | 28% |
|
72% |
| ± 4.5 | 14% |
|
86% |
Double Chance
Exeter City FC or Draw
77%
Draw or Reading FC
49%
Exeter City FC or Reading FC
74%
Half-Time Result
✓ CorrectActual: Draw at HT
Correct Score
✓ In top 12
1 – 1
12.8%
1 – 0
9.9%
2 – 1
Actual
0 – 0
8.9%
2 – 0
8.4%
0 – 1
6.6%
1 – 2
6.3%
2 – 2
5%
3 – 1
4.8%
3 – 0
4.3%
0 – 2
4.1%
3 – 2
2.7%
Asian Handicap — Exeter City FC
| Handicap | Exeter City FC covers | Push | Reading FC covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| -2.5 | 10% | — | 90% |
| -2 | 10% | 14% | 75% |
| -1.5 | 25% | — | 75% |
| -1 | 25% | 22% | 53% |
| -0.5 | 47% | — | 53% |
| +0.5 | 75% | — | 25% |
| +1 | 75% | 15% | 10% |
| +1.5 | 90% | — | 10% |
| +2 | 90% | 7% | 3% |
| +2.5 | 97% | — | 3% |
Clean Sheet
Exeter City FC keeps clean sheet
34%
✓
Reading FC keeps clean sheet
22%
✓
Predictions are statistical estimates based on season form, H2H history, and a Poisson model. Not financial advice.