Form
Wycombe Wanderers finished 11th in League One last season, one place ahead of Reading, with both sides ending the season on 63 points. This season marks the Chairboy’s sixth straight term in the third tier, having been relegated from the Championship in 2021, after finishing 22nd.
They have had a disappointing start to the current season and currently sit 14th in the league after picking up two wins, three draws and two losses in their first seven games. They are however unbeaten in their last three league games and come
into this weekend’s match off the back of a 0-1 away win at Wigan Athletic, after a Dan Casey winner.
Reading and Wycombe have already faced off once so far this season, playing out a 1-1 draw in the EFL Trophy, with Reading claiming a bonus point after a penalty shootout win.
Last season’s league fixtures saw the sides play out a 2-2 draw at Adams Park, before Reading claimed a 3-2 home win on Valentine’s Day, with Jack Marriott scoring a hat-trick.
The boss
Tom Hounsell (interim): Hounsell is in temporary charge of Wycombe following the sacking of Michael Duff earlier this month. Duff became the first managerial casualty of the season, with Wycombe pulling the trigger after the Chairboys failed to win any of their first five league games.
Hounsell has been at Wycombe since February last year, joining as part of Mike Dodds’ coaching team. The 30-year-old was previously at Burton Albion, where he was Mark Robinson’s assistant, and had a spell as interim manager following his sacking.
Hounsell has won all of his games in charge so far, with Wycombe picking up wins against Leyton Orient and Wigan in the league and Chelsea under-21s in the EFL Trophy.
Squad
Wycombe signed nine players during the summer transfer window with six arriving permanently and three joining on loan.
The Chairboys completed the free transfers of goalkeepers Conor Hazard and Matt Macey, veteran defender Steve Cook and forward Silko Thomas.
They also signed two forwards for undisclosed fees with Cauley Woodrow coming in from from Luton Town and former Royal Jayden Wareham joining from recently relegated Exeter City.
Their loans were wing-back Sam Parker, who joined from Swansea City; and forwards Malik Mothersille and Emre Tezgel, who signed from Stockport County and Stoke City respectively.
Goalkeeper Macey will be missing for Wycombe, having recently had surgery for a knee injury, but they signed a new keeper this week with Joe Wildsmith joining on a free transfer. Striker Danny Ings also signed for the club yesterday and could play a part.
Expected setup
Formation: 3-4-3
Style: Pressing, patient football
Lineup: Hazard, Casey, Cook, Taylor, Onyedinma, Morley, Henderson, Harvie, Scowen, Boyd-Munce, Wareham
Key player
17. Dan Casey: Defender Casey joined Wycombe last summer, signing on a free transfer following the end of his contract at Motherwell.
He started his career in his homeland of Ireland before joining the Sunderland academy. Casey returned to Ireland in 2017, signing for Bohemians, but also spent time at Cork City before a second spell with Bohemians.
A move to the US followed in 2021, playing for Sacramento Republic, before switching to Scotland in 2023, signing for Motherwell. Casey spent two and a bit years at the Well, making 85 appearances and scoring seven goals.
The 28-year-old already has five Wycombe goals to his name, with two of those coming this season. Casey is a physical, old-school centre-back who is a threat from set-pieces.
One to watch
15. Jayden Wareham: Striker Wareham joined Wycombe this summer from Exeter City for an undisclosed fee.
Wareham spent time in the youth setups at Reading and Queens Park Rangers before joining Woking in 2019. He made his Woking debut in 2020 before then joining the Chelsea youth team in 2021.
He was released by the Blues in 2023 and joined Reading on a free transfer. After impressing for the Reading under-21 side, Wareham became more of a first-team regular during the 2024/25 season, making 43 appearances and scoring eight goals.
He rejected a contract with Reading that summer and joined Exeter, where he finished as their top scorer last season, with 22 goals.
The 23-year-old has scored two Wycombe goals so far in his first three appearances. Wareham is a hard-working and physical striker who typically leads the line on his own up top.
