Crystal Palace Under-18s welcome Reading to the Academy on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 11:00 BST. Javier Alonso’s side are chasing a third successive win in all competitions and have lost just once in their last four matches.
Palace have climbed to 12th in the U18 Premier League South after a strong run of results. They followed a 3-3 comeback draw against Fulham with a 3-0 victory over Leeds United in the U18 Premier League Cup, before producing their biggest win of the season at Ipswich Town last weekend.
Donte Martin led the way in the 6-2 success with a hat-trick, while Remi Shittu and Hugo Bull also found the net before half-time. Makai Bernard-Ferguson then marked his return from injury with Palace’s sixth shortly before the hour. The Young Eagles have scored 11 goals across their last three matches and will look to maintain that attacking momentum against Reading.
The visitors sit second from bottom of the southern section, having collected one win and one draw from their opening eight league fixtures. Reading have conceded 30 goals, the highest total in the division, and have lost their last three matches in all competitions. Palace will therefore hope to take advantage of the Royals’ defensive record while continuing their own upturn in form.
Palace defeated Reading 2-0 at the Academy at the beginning of last season, before recording a memorable 4-2 comeback at Bearwood Park in April. Mylo Bernard scored a hat-trick in that victory, which saw the Young Eagles recover from three goals behind.
The match will be available to watch live on Palace TV+, with supporters also able to follow updates through the Academy’s social media channels. Palace compete in the U18 Premier League South, where Category One academies play home and away fixtures against 15 southern opponents, with the section winners progressing to a national championship decider against the northern winners.
