Albion beaten by Reading in PL2

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Despite the defeat, Albion can look forward to the playoff stage of the competition.

Charlie Hanson

2025-04-14T20:55+01:00

Shannon Ruth's team went into Monday's game having beaten Liverpool in their last outing. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Albion ended the regular Premier League 2 season with a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Reading on Monday night.

With a top 16 place finish and a place in the playoff phase* of PL2 confirmed before kick-off, the game was about heading into the next stage with momentum.

Trying to backup their 2-1 win over Liverpool in their last outing, Albion were boosted by first team keeper Jason Steele starting in goal, as he builds back up to full fitness following surgery in January.

Jason Steele was making his first Albion appearance since having surgery in January. 📷 by James Boardman.

The stopper was called into action after 16 minutes when Shay Spencer’s tame effort was easily gathered by the 34-year-old, before Samy Chouchane’s stinging drive from 18-yards was deflected over the crossbar by Reading defender Louie Holzman.

The Royals should have done better when Joe Knight gave the ball away on the edge of his own area, but the Albion midfielder made amends by blocking Joe Barough’s goal-bound strike from just inside the area.

They were guilty of missing another good opportunity two minutes after the break when Adrian Akande sliced over from Charlie Wellens's cutback, but Barough's drive from 20 yards found the back of the net just after the hour to put the hosts in front.

And a second in the space of six minutes came when substitute Callum Mackley's pass went straight to Jeremiah Okine-Peters who fired in.

It should have been 3-0 when Akande went through on goal, but a fine reflex save from Steele kept it out of the Albion net.

The visitors drew Tom Norcott into his first save of the night in the last minute of the 90, when the Reading keeper got down well to keep out Tyler Silsby's drive from the right of the box before Callum Mackley headed wide from Jacob Slater's cross.

Norcott ensured his team didn't face any late drama when he kept out Slater who was in on goal, with Albion's rally not enough to get anything out of the game.

Shannon Ruth's team now prepare for the playoff stage, where they will face Crystal Palace away.

The Albion team: Steele, Albarus, Owusu (Mackley 66), Penman, Slater, Oriola (Silsby 79), Knight (Nti 66), Chouchane, Bashir (Mills 87), Mullins (C), Belmont.

Unused subs: Hall.

*After the regular season of 20 matchweeks has been completed, the top 16 teams will qualify for a single elimination playoff.

Teams will be drawn against each other based on their league positions, for example the team finishing first will face the team that finished 16th. These will be one-off elimination matches with the higher-seeded team at home.