Bolton Wanderers vs Reading: 2025/26 Match Preview

Another league game, another loss for Reading, as AFC Wimbledon won 2-1 at the weekend. The Royals seem to be slowly adapting as they have finally scored a league goal – and a screamer at that, courtesy of captain Lewis Wing – but a definite change of play style needs to occur at Reading if they have any hope of winning their first game this season.

Bolton Wanderers managed a draw against 10-man Barnsley this weekend, accumulating four points in total now. They have a good, young side with a couple

of experienced players in the defence and midfield, and their team has gelled quite nicely.

In this preview I will mention the previous game against Wimbledon, look at the new Bolton signings and see how they have impacted the side, and I will give my predictions!

What? League One matchday four

Season? 2025/26

Who? Bolton Wanderers

Where? Toughsheet Community Stadium

When? Wednesday August 20

Opposition manager? Steven Schumacher

Wimbledon

After a big win in midweek against Portsmouth, it was looking like the XI that played in the cup were going to make an impact this weekend, but for some reason Hunt and his side are adamant they want to play long balls. I spoke about this a little bit in my previous previews, but I want to go into more details about the players we have compared to the style of play they are trying to use.

It was clear against Wimbledon that Ben Elliott is key to how we play. Without him in the side, the midfield lacks creativity due to the position that Wing is being forced to play. The midfielders are all good at what they do but aren’t being utilised properly by Hunt. There is no point in having midfielders if they are just going to be bypassed in the play by using long balls. You may as well have four defenders and then start two wingers and four strikers (not like we have four strikers, but you get my point).

Another problem with the long ball is that it is being played wrong anyway. In the traditional long-ball, route-one game, players sit back and allow the other team possession and try and counter while hitting one long ball to a tall striker to see if he can get a flick on to create a chance.

In most league games Reading have played this season so far, they have had more possession than the other team and are playing long balls to the wingers. This is great if we have tall, fast wingers who are able to head it onto themselves and chase after it, but we don’t. It is very rare that anyone other than Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan wins a header in the attacking line, so what is the point in us playing this way? It’s obviously not working and it needs to change.

Apologies, a little rant there from me. Going back to the Wimbledon game, there was one thing I went on about in the last preview and that was that someone had to lock up Nathan Asiimwe or he could be a real danger. He then provided an assist for the opener and got player of the match. It is clear that Matty Jacob isn’t up to scratch yet and that right-hand side for the Dons were running him round in circles when they had the ball.

The one positive we have from this is that we finally scored: it took three games but we are off the mark with a beauty from Wing. If only he was allowed that far up the pitch earlier in the game.

Something needs to change – whether it’s the formation, style of play or even personnel – but it can’t keep going on like this. We have the players to pass the ball around the midfield. I’m not even suggesting tiki taka. We’re not prime Barcelona, I get that, but we are a good enough side in League One to employ the football we want to rather than playing into the opposition’s hands every time. The singings we have made compared to the style of play just doesn’t make sense and everyone is able to see it, except Hunt.

Bolton’s new signings

Bolton have made their mark this season with four points on the board in three games, beating Plymouth Argyle, drawing with Barnsley and losing to Stockport County. This is largely down to their summer arrivals.

The Trotters had five new signings starting in the side that drew to Barnsley. I’m going to take a look at them, see how they did and give a brief way of stopping them from doing what they do best.

Firstly, it’s new goalkeeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe. On loan from Chelsea, he’s started every game in the league this season. His strengths include his reflexes and his penalty saving, but he likes to come off his line quite often. This could lead to a few goals on the counter-attack but also during set-pieces, especially corners. If the correct ball is played in, there may be a few goals this season he will suffer due to this trait.

Next on the list is midfielder Xavier Simons. He is a defensively minded midfielder who is definitely not afraid to have a crack at goal once in a while. His strengths include his vision, blocking, interceptions and indirect set-piece threat.

One thing I do like about Simons is his scanning. Being able to know where everyone is before even touching the ball is a skill all footballers should have, but he does it second to none. However, due to him liking to shoot from distance, it leads to him being out of position, therefore he is very susceptible to a counter-attack where he isn’t back to defend.

Thierry Gale is up next. He has only started two games this season but has made substitute appearances in both other games. Scoring a goal in the cup, he is a quick, solid winger and I think he will do well in the league this year. I don’t know much about Gale, but he has scored eight goals in 15 games for the Barbados national team.

Amario Cozier-Duberry looks to be the signing of the summer for Bolton. On loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, the young winger has one goal and one assist and currently averages a 7.29 rating from WhoScored, which includes the player of the match performance against Plymouth. His crossing, passing, dribbling and long shots are all strengths, but he lacks aerial duelling ability. He will be a real danger, but I think playing Ashqar Ahmed or Kelvin Abrefa on that right-hand side would be a good match.

Finally, Mason Burstow, who has one goal so far this season. His strengths include headed attempts at goal and his through balls, but his finishing, jockeying, defensive contribution and discipline aren’t the best. Burstow’s name has been floating around the leagues for a while now and he is waiting for his chance to shine, but if Finley Burns can give him a slight nudge and get him agitated, then he can be really off his game.