When : Tuesday February 17 2026, 8pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161
Really not looking forward to this one after the shambolic performance against Wycombe. Not only are Bolton mounting a realistic challenge for automatic promotion they are also on a run of played 7 won 5 and drawn 2 which puts them equal top (with Cardiff, Stockport and Lincoln) in the League One overall form (last 6 games) table but that’s only because they drew at Lincoln on Saturday (for the record Reading are 5th in the same table). Therefore this game is going to be the hardest home game so far this season so will require something special from the home side.
Stephen Schumacher’s Trotters’ haven’t been too bad so far, the points have been consistently arriving since day 2, after the damp squib of failure at Stockport on the opening day. 5 of their 6 league defeats have been on the road though and they don’t seem to like playing stragglers having lost at Northampton 2-0 and at Burton by 3-0. In addition Swindon did them by 4-0 in the FA Cup at the County Ground so they can veer into very poor territory on occasion and, boy!, will we need that if Saturday’s Reading show up. Their last league defeat was by 3-1 at Peterborough United on 10th January.
Bolton play a similar 4-2-3-1 formation as Reading but their threat has been dulled a little as Brighton loanee, Amario Cozier-Duberry, is currently out with a knee injury for a couple of months, but midfielder Ethan Erhahon is rather good at controlling Bolton play so must be kept in check as much as possible. Goals have been largely supplied by a very potent front two of Mason Burstow and Sam Dalby (17 between them) so it’s likely to be a very very busy evening for Reading’s beleaguered defence.
Noting that Reading just do not control possession and give it away far too easily. On top of that there seems to be a consistent failure not to start games on the front foot and take games to the opposition. Doubt much can be done to remedy the former in just 2 or 3 days, after being like it all season, but would appreciate something being done about the latter - perhaps fans could try and help by turning up the atmosphere a little from the off and really get into the heads of the Bolton players.
After three games in a week, and the benching of some players on Saturday, think there will be further changes for this one. Very slim chance Keane might be involved, depending how he reacts when he returns to training on Sunday. Neither Williams will be back but both might be able to be involved in the next home game against Bradford in a couple of weeks.
Lastly, if Reading could win this game 5-0 and Huddersfield crash & burn at Doncaster, then the club will climb into the play off positions
Referee
Peter Wright
Previously...
06 Dec 23 > Reading 1-1 Charlton Athletic (FL Trophy, won 4-2 on penalties)
12 Aug 23 > Port Vale 1-0 Reading
Historically
Eighteen previous league head to heads played against Bolton Wanderers in Reading. Of those games Reading have won 11, drawn 3 and lost 4 scoring 28 to Bolton's 15.
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