[NoSkillz]

Sat. February 7, 2026

Barclays Premier League
Dover (22-1-1, 67 points, 1st) vs. Reading (8-3-13, 27 points, 14th)
Crabble Athletic Ground, Dover, UK

Betting Odds: Dover: 4-6 (Favourites) Draw: 9-4 Reading: 7-2
Past Meetings: 12W 2D 4L

Reading just knocked us out of the FA Cup in embarrassing fashion last week and this match gives us a shot at a bit of revenge. Their under-fire manager comes out in the press and talks about stopping Paul Moses, usually a death blow to that player’s chances of playing well but I’m going to stick with our starter. The main man to watch for Reading continues to be the dangerous Hani Megahed and their keeper, Jan Obermajer, was sensational against us last week.

We go with the EXACT same starting eleven as our midweek win over Hull. Why change a good thing? We do introduce Rayane Hamon and Jose back to our bench after they were in the stands last game and Manuel Lugo is on the bench for the injured Andy Broomes.

Dover: 4-4-2 Control
GK - I. Wilke
D - Rafinha, C. Contreras, M. Mutesa, S. Loucif
M - M. Pedersen, N. Cairney, B. Raab, S. De la Vega
S - P. Moses, Chiquinho
Bench - Renato Gaucho, R. Hamon, R. Lopez, E. Harvey, Jose, A. Bamba, M. Lugo

Reading once again have their flat 4-4-2 with Megahed and Cees Duarte up front and Obermajer in goal. Lets put these guys away and put a good show on for the fans.

7’ - We are determined to play better against Reading and start off very well, controlling play from the outset. We earn a corner and Benedikt Raab’s cross is to the near post and Chiquinho, who sends a RARE HEADER into the net! Great start! DOVER GOAL 1-0

28’ - We have another corner and Raab’s cross this time is to the far post and Claudio Contreras. Our big defender heads it back to the near side and it’s headed again by Mwemere Mutesa over to Paul Moses, who simply taps it past Obermajer for our second goal. Neat play! DOVER GOAL 2-0

40’ - An awkward sequence sees former Dover defender Kostas Zagos cross into the area. Mutesa looks to clear but it hits Megahed and ends up at his feet, allowing him to pound a close range shot off the hands of Ingo Wilke and into the net. READING GOAL 2-1

43’ - Reading are turning it on without fear and they score again but Duarte is ruled offsides. NO GOAL!

HALFTIME - We’re playing well but the scoreline is a nervous one, especially seeing that both of our goals came on set pieces. We hold 56% of possession and a 16-4 (6-1 on target) shot advantage. Solid but we need one more goal to put this one away. It’s a good game and both teams have three yellows already.

58’ - And we strike yet again on a corner, as Raab’s cross is to Contreras and he sends his trademark power header past Obermajer and IN! We have a cushion! DOVER GOAL 3-1

66’ - Moses has a yellow so I bring him out and in comes Manuel Lugo.

74’ - The excellent Raab comes off and in comes Jose.

Another fine performance.

Dover 3 - 1 Reading
Goals - Chiquinho (7.6), Paul Moses (7.5), Claudio Contreras (8.9)
Assists - Benedikt Raab 2 (8.2), Claudio Contreras
Man of the Match - Claudio Contreras
Other Dover Notables - Salim Loucif (7.0), Mwemere Mutesa (7.5), Rafinha (7.2), Neil Cairney (7.6)
Attendance - 23,000

We deserved to win by more than two goals here, as we held 57% of possession and a huge 35-4 (10-1 on target) shot advantage. Their keeper was solid once again but a very professional performance by our lads in this one.

-- In other Premier League action, City squash Everton 3-0, Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-0, Wolves hold Chelsea to a scoreless draw, Sunderland stun Spurs 3-2 and in the shock of the year, 16th placed Middlesbrough defeat second place Manchester United 2-1 to give us a bit more breathing space!


BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE - STANDINGS
(ALL TEAMS HAVE PLAYED 25 GAMES UNLESS NOTED)

1. Dover - 70 points
2. Manchester United - 59 points
3. Manchester City - 55 points
4. Liverpool - 51 points
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5. Tottenham - 44 points (after 24 games)
6. Chelsea - 41 points
7. Aston Villa - 34 points
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8. Sheffield Wednesday - 34 points
9. Huddersfield - 34 points
10. Sunderland - 33 points
11. Arsenal - 31 points (after 24 games)
12. Birmingham - 30 points
13. Newcastle - 29 points
14. Wolves - 28 points
15. Reading - 27 points
16. Middlesbrough - 27 points
17. Everton - 25 points
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18. Hull - 18 points
19. Southampton - 14 points
20. Sheffield United - 12 points



Dover U18 Update

-- The kids continue to dominate, as we get two goals from Fernando Estrada, Bakary Kone and Nathan Protheroe in a 7-0 destruction of Woking. Midfielder Jonathan Langlet had an ABSURD five assists!!! WOW!



Team of the Week

-- Claudio Contreras and Neil Cairney are named to the Barclays Premier League team of the week.



Dover Reserves Update

-- We play a pretty strong lineup and get two goals from Arsene Bamba in a 2-0 win over Chelsea’s reserves.



Next Up

-- We’re back at home to face league bottom feeders Sheffield United.