Wycombe Wanderers vs Reading: 2025/26 Match Preview

Reading finally have a point! It was a very poor performance on Wednesday night at Bolton Wanderers but the way these games had gone, the Royals deserve at least one point. However, matches are coming quick and another is on the way against a struggling Wycombe Wanderers side.

Wycombe are on joint points with Reading, having also lost three and drawn one so far this season. Their draw came against Doncaster Rovers, in which the game was pretty even. They haven’t been their best this season and the head-to-head

record between the two sides floats in Reading’s favour.

In this preview I will talk about the game against Bolton, speak about youngsters Andre Garcia and Ben Elliott, and give my lineup for the weekend.

What? League One matchday five

Season? 2025/26

Who? Wycombe Wanderers

Where? Adams Park Stadium

When? Saturday August 23

Time? 15:00

Opposition Manager? Mike Dodds

Bolton 1-1 Reading

Reading had an interesting game on Wednesday, with the Trotters dominating for 80 minutes and it all falling apart for them at the end. It was all Bolton in the first half with them having nine shots, 73% possession and complete domination, with Amario Cozier-Duberry the star man.

Bolton then opened the scoring through Mason Burstow, and it was even more domination from the Trotters at that point, finishing on 12 shots compared to Reading’s five. The possession wasn’t as dominant with it being a 55% to 45% split in favour of Bolton, but substitute Garcia stole the headlines with a very nice, very lucky deflected goal over the goalkeeper.

For Reading, if it weren’t for Finley Burns and new signing Derrick Williams, it would’ve been three/four goals conceded. They had amazing games, and I am really warming up to Burns after what I thought was a struggle in the first couple of matches. Williams looks to be an amazing signing and brings a lot of experience into that very young back line. It will definitely be a tussle for spots when Paudie O’Connor is back.

Kelvin Abrefa once again provided a spark and got an assist, but I have a few questions as to some of his defensive choices. He is a very modern full-back with a good ability to get forward, but his positioning worries me slightly. Yes, he is able to make a good tackle, but he is caught out a little too often for my liking.

On the other side, Jeriel Dorsett needs to be benched. I don’t know if it is lack of ability or lack or confidence but he is not on a good run of form and I don’t understand why he was picked over some of the other players we have got. Matty Jacob, Garcia, John Ryan and Abrefa are all capable of playing that position and are all better there than Dorsett. But for some reason he got the nod and I need to know why because it baffles me a little bit.

Squad selection

One of the main reasons Reading aren’t getting the points they deserve is due to the squad selection. Players perform well in one game and get left out in the next. Yes, we are still early in the season, but there are easily players who we as fans can see need to be playing who aren’t.

At left-back, based on performance this season, the spot should be between Abrefa and Ryan. Abrefa is favoured on the right, being right-footed, I understand that – but he is very capable of playing on that left-hand side and currently neither Jacob nor Dorsett look up to the task. Ryan had a good game against Portsmouth in the cup and for me should at least play this game against Wycombe to test him in the league.

The right-back spot seems to be Abrefa’s to lose, but Ashqar Ahmed definitely put up a good fight in the games he played. Both are capable of playing in that position and it is one of those where I think we are comfortable in what we have.

“The midfield seemed lost when [Ben Elliott] wasn’t on the pitch against Bolton and you can tell that he is the key to attacks when he is on the ball”

The centre-backs currently speak for themselves: it should be those who played against Bolton. But when Paudie O’Connor comes back, it will be difficult to pick which one to drop, as in my opinion he has to play.

This is the big one for me: the midfield. Lewis Wing is the only nailed-on player; he scored our first league goal of the season and, as captain, he is going to be in the side. But the other two options are up for grabs. Currently I would go with Elliott and Liam Fraser. This may seem a bit harsh on Charlie Savage but I think those three in there give us the most balance.

Elliott has to be in the side. The midfield seemed lost when he wasn’t on the pitch against Bolton and you can tell that he is the key to attacks when he is on the ball. In an ideal world I would start then all in a narrow formation playing two strikers, but I doubt Noel Hunt will change formation any time soon.

The wingers are another that seem to have a bit of lacklustre competition. The right-hand side is Paddy Lane’s spot. He is a quality player and he should hopefully be back for the weekend.

However, the left-hand side is really up for grabs with Garcia, Daniel Kyerewaa, Kamari Doyle, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Mamadi Camara all featuring there this season. Based on raw talent, the spot is between Garcia, Kyerewaa and Doyle. But when you look at it based on performance, Garcia, Doyle and Camara are the ones who have made the most impact.

I think Hunt will favour Kyerewaa on that side, but if it were my choice I would probably play Doyle. He’s a better all-round player and is a proven League One talent with a lot of potential.

Finally, the strikers. It is only between Ehibhatiomhan and Mark O’Mahony and – based on form – I would have gone with Ehibhatiomhan, but he’s injured. It took O’Mahony three games to register a shot and although that’s a team problem, it took Ehibhatiomhan one start to get onto the scoresheet.

Not many people favoured Ehibhatiomhan for that spot last year and preferred him on the wing, but I think he offers a lot more than he did last year. His movement off the ball seems to have improved, he still loves to try and take on defenders and he has the height to win headers and bully defenders to try and get the flick onto another player.