League One returns this weekend as Lincoln City host Reading at Sincil Bank on the opening weekend of the third-tier campaign.
League One
Our Three Predictions For Lincoln City vs Reading:
- First Prediction For Lincoln City vs Reading: Match Result – Draw – 5/2
- Second Prediction For Lincoln City vs Reading: Over 1.5 Goals – 11/50
- Third Prediction For Lincoln City vs Reading: Both Teams To Score – Yes – 31/50
First Prediction For Lincoln City vs Reading: Match Result – Draw – 5/2
Opening day fixtures are always difficult to call, as there is no prior form bar pre-season results to base it on. These sides were separated by only four places in League One last season, though on paper at least, Reading have recruited the better of the two teams. Noel Hunt’s side will have aspirations of another Play-Off push after falling agonisingly short on the final day last season, and while the Imps finished well adrift last term, the campaign before they also missed out on matchday 46. In most pre-season predictions, these two are expected to finish inside the top half of League One. Coupled with their respective home and away records last term, which ranked tenth and eleventh in the third tier, respectively, a draw in Lincolnshire should be anticipated on Saturday afternoon.
Second Prediction For Lincoln City vs Reading: Over 1.5 Goals – 11/50
In line with their league position, the Royals were the seventh highest scorers in League One last term. Losing Sam Smith in the winter widow was a huge blow for their scoring, but Reading managed without his services in the second half of the campaign. Lincoln have the services of James Collins to call upon in his first full season, with the likes of Jack Moylan, Reeco Hackett & Jovon Makama in attack. Expect a few goals in this contest.
Third Prediction For Lincoln City vs Reading: Both Teams To Score – Yes – 31/50
When the fixtures were released in June, it handed Paudie O’Connor an immediate return to return to Sincil Bank. The ex-Lincoln captain joined the Royals in the summer, a major coup for the Berkshire outfit. He will be doing his best to keep his former employers out this weekend. Lincoln have lost two first-choice defenders this summer, so will have a new-look defence for the first time this campaign. With that in mind, expect both sides to find the net this weekend.
Best Odds For Lincoln City vs Reading
| Bookmaker | Lincoln City | Draw | Reading |
| MyriadPlay | 9/10 | 5/2 | 5/2 |
| Gentleman Jim | 19/20 | 5/2 | 12/5 |
| Betarno | 87/100 | 23/10 | 23/10 |
The table above shows the latest odds from leading football betting websites.
Full Preview Of The Game: Last Results And Head-To-Head:
Both these sides will be looking to build on their top-half finishes last season. While Lincoln finished in eleventh place, Reading finished four places and fourteen points better off than their weekend opponents. City were in the top six by Christmas, but tailed off following another dismal festive period. From that point onwards, the Imps won just eight of their remaining 25 games to finish a huge seventeen points off the Play-Off places. Despite that, they still had a positive goal difference during an indifferent 2025. On the other hand, the Royals’ form post-Christmas would have seen them finish inside the top six places, winning twelve and losing just six of their 26 encounters. As it transpired, a final-day defeat against Barnsley ended their hopes of finishing inside the Play-Off places, though any victory would have been in vain as Leyton Orient defeated Huddersfield Town.
On the transfer front, City need more signings if they are to make a serious push towards the top six this term. The Imps’ only two incomings thus far have been centre-halves Sonny Bradley and Ryler Towler, arriving from Championship sides Derby County and Portsmouth respectively. Academy players Charlie Parks, Zane Okoro and Gbolahan Okewoye also penned their first professional deals this summer. Those defensive acquisitions were required to replace the outgoing pair of Sean Roughan and Paudie O’Connor, both remaining in League One with Huddersfield Town and this weekend’s opponents, Reading. Ethan Erhahon was the big loss, leaving for Bolton Wanderers last week for a rumoured £750k fee. Most of City’s other outgoings have been to fourth-tier outfits, including hometown boy Sam Clucas who linked up with ex-Imps gaffer Michael Appleton. JJ McKiernan has once again joined Burton Albion on loan, following his successful temporary stint with the Brewers last season.
Meanwhile, Reading have been much more proactive in the market this summer. Along with the signing of Lincoln’s captain O’Connor, Liam Fraser (Crawley Town) and Daniel Kyerewaa (Preußen Münster) have bolstered the Royals’ midfield. Jack Stevens arrives from Cambridge United in goal, Matty Jacob from Hull City at left-back, along with Finley Burns and Mark O’Mahony from Premier League duo Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion. In terms of outgoings, Amadou Mbengue was the big loss to Queens Park Rangers. Jayden Wareham (Exeter City) and Michael Craig (Leyton Orient) both remain in the same division, while experienced keeper David Button joins recently-relegated Ipswich Town.
Pre-season results invariably mean very little in terms of how a side fares during the actual league campaign, with both having varying results. Lincoln began strongly with behind-closed-doors successes over Hull City and Leicester City U21’s, before being defeated by third-tier rivals Huddersfield Town five-three. Another thrilling encounter in Portugal saw Bromley edge a seven-goal thriller, before Lincolnshire rivals Grimsby Town edged past the Imps last week. But in their final outing before the season starts, Michael Skubala’s outfit put on their best showing to date by defeating a strong West Bromwich Albion side four two. Reading began with a convincing win at Non-League Hungerford Town before being held by Gillingham. They returned to winning ways by defeating Swindon Town, but a Tottenham Hotspur XI defeated them a few days later. Slough Town put in a spirited performance in a score draw, and most recently, Portsmouth put four past Noel Hunt’s side.
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Where To Watch Lincoln City vs Reading:
Where can I watch the game, either on TV or in person?
- Location: Sincil Bank (known as LNER Stadium for sponsorship reasons), Lincoln
- Date: Saturday 2nd August 2025
- TV Channel: Sky Sports+
Probable Lineups For Lincoln City vs Reading:
Predicted Lincoln City Lineup:
- Lineup: Wickens, Darikwa, Jackson, Bradley, Towler, McGrandles, Bayliss, Makama, Street, Hackett, Collins
- Suspended/Injured: Parker, House, Ring, Montsma, Jefferies, Kamson-Kamara, Gallagher
- Coach: Michael Skubala
Predicted Reading Lineup:
- Lineup: Pereira, Abrefa, O’Connor, Burns, Garcia, Jacob, Elliott, Wing, Savage, O’Mahony, Ehibhatiomhan
- Suspended/Injured: Yiadom
- Coach: Noel Hunt
