MATCHWATCH : Bolton Wanderers (h)

[Sutekh]

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.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel to the game
2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
3. Sky red button
4. NOW App
5. Ring/text a mate for updates
6. Use an RoyalsTV subscription
7. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[tidus_mi2]

They're on a good run, if we play like we did yesterday, they'll probably pump us.

Have a feeling Roberts and Nyambe were rested with this game in mind.

[traff]

If Paddy Lane starts we lose.

[Royals and Racers]

Pretty sure this is not a SKY + game.

[MR. CYNICAL]

Pretty sure this is not a SKY + game.

Pretty sure you are right but not sure why.
It's a full league 1 schedule on Tuesday so don't know why they are only showing 9 of the 11 games that evening.

[MR. CYNICAL]

Pretty sure this is not a SKY + game.

Pretty sure you are right but not sure why.
It's a full league 1 schedule on Tuesday so don't know why they are only showing 9 of the 11 games that evening.

And we're not one of them

[MR. CYNICAL]

Pretty sure this is not a SKY + game.

Pretty sure you are right but not sure why.
It's a full league 1 schedule on Tuesday so don't know why they are only showing 9 of the 11 games that evening.

And we're not one of them

Correction, we are on, just scrolled down the sky list and we are at the bottom as we are kicking off at 8 pm
Apologies for the confusion

[Royals and Racers]

Pretty sure this is not a SKY + game.

Pretty sure you are right but not sure why.
It's a full league 1 schedule on Tuesday so don't know why they are only showing 9 of the 11 games that evening.

My info says 2 of the 11 only being shown- where did you see 9 ?

[MR. CYNICAL]

Pretty sure this is not a SKY + game.

Pretty sure you are right but not sure why.
It's a full league 1 schedule on Tuesday so don't know why they are only showing 9 of the 11 games that evening.

My info says 2 of the 11 only being shown- where did you see 9 ?

Scroll down the sky list, we are after the league 2 games presumably because we are a 8pm ko. Blackpool game is also 8 pm and is listed just above ours
Where did you see only 2?

[Royals and Racers]

Pretty sure you are right but not sure why.
It's a full league 1 schedule on Tuesday so don't know why they are only showing 9 of the 11 games that evening.

My info says 2 of the 11 only being shown- where did you see 9 ?

Scroll down the sky list, we are after the league 2 games presumably because we are a 8pm ko. Blackpool game is also 8 pm and is listed just above ours
Where did you see only 2?

On the SKY Div 1 fixtures- the SKY + and main channel matches are indicated underneath the fixture.

[Clyde1998]

They're on a good run, if we play like we did yesterday, they'll probably pump us.

Have a feeling Roberts and Nyambe were rested with this game in mind.

This. If we play anything like we have in the past few games, it could be one where the house of cards comes crashing down.

I'd be surprised if those two don't feature. I'd bring Roberts in for Lane though.

[WestYorksRoyal]

I predict performance picks up where we left off but Marriott steals us a 1-1 draw.

[West F]

If Paddy Lane starts we lose.

If he plays wide right, quite possibly.

[Harry Bo]

Well guys we haven’t done that well down there in recent times so let’s see what happens tomorrow. As said above, our star loaner Amario Cozier-Duberry is out injured but we did sign two experienced replacements in Blackett-Taylor from Derby and Apter from Charlton who both have promotion and Championship experience. We also brought in Ruben Rodriguez for midfield another with promotion and Championship experience with Oxford so we had a really good window.

We play a much more expansive game down the wings under Schumacher compared to the slow sideways and backwards garbage of Evatt but whilst we don’t score a lot of goals we don’t concede many either so I think it’ll be a tight game and settled by one goal. Dalby is our main man at the moment with ten goals and is really finding his form but I doubt Burstow will play as he’s really dropped off after a bright start and didn’t make the squad on Saturday replaced by Johnny Kenny signed on loan in the window from Celtic. Erhahon is showing some form in the centre along with Sheehan so really the team is now coming together well.

I’ve watched a couple of your games recently and been especially impressed with Jack Marriott who I think was a cracking signing and I’m sure he’ll be fully fired up after his hat trick against Wycombe at the weekend. After a poor start you’ve really pushed on recently and must now have a really good chance of making the play offs. Sorry if we put a spoke in that tomorrow but a win for us is essential if we’re to have any chance of catching Lincoln but memories of our epic Wembley play off final still linger large and who can count out another encounter?

[tidus_mi2]

Well guys we haven’t done that well down there in recent times so let’s see what happens tomorrow. As said above, our star loaner Amario Cozier-Duberry is out injured but we did sign two experienced replacements in Blackett-Taylor from Derby and Apter from Charlton who both have promotion and Championship experience. We also brought in Ruben Rodriguez for midfield another with promotion and Championship experience with Oxford so we had a really good window.

We play a much more expansive game down the wings under Schumacher compared to the slow sideways and backwards garbage of Evatt but whilst we don’t score a lot of goals we don’t concede many either so I think it’ll be a tight game and settled by one goal. Dalby is our main man at the moment with ten goals and is really finding his form but I doubt Burstow will play as he’s really dropped off after a bright start and didn’t make the squad on Saturday replaced by Johnny Kenny signed on loan in the window from Celtic. Erhahon is showing some form in the centre along with Sheehan so really the team is now coming together well.

I’ve watched a couple of your games recently and been especially impressed with Jack Marriott who I think was a cracking signing and I’m sure he’ll be fully fired up after his hat trick against Wycombe at the weekend. After a poor start you’ve really pushed on recently and must now have a really good chance of making the play offs. Sorry if we put a spoke in that tomorrow but a win for us is essential if we’re to have any chance of catching Lincoln but memories of our epic Wembley play off final still linger large and who can count out another encounter?

Thanks for your input, if the wings are indeed your strong point, if we start with Yiadom and Dorsett, you'll have a field day, more so with Yiadom who has seemingly completely lost his legs.

But I think we rested Nyambe and Roberts with this game in mind.

[The Cap]

Well guys we haven’t done that well down there in recent times so let’s see what happens tomorrow. As said above, our star loaner Amario Cozier-Duberry is out injured but we did sign two experienced replacements in Blackett-Taylor from Derby and Apter from Charlton who both have promotion and Championship experience. We also brought in Ruben Rodriguez for midfield another with promotion and Championship experience with Oxford so we had a really good window.

We play a much more expansive game down the wings under Schumacher compared to the slow sideways and backwards garbage of Evatt but whilst we don’t score a lot of goals we don’t concede many either so I think it’ll be a tight game and settled by one goal. Dalby is our main man at the moment with ten goals and is really finding his form but I doubt Burstow will play as he’s really dropped off after a bright start and didn’t make the squad on Saturday replaced by Johnny Kenny signed on loan in the window from Celtic. Erhahon is showing some form in the centre along with Sheehan so really the team is now coming together well.

I’ve watched a couple of your games recently and been especially impressed with Jack Marriott who I think was a cracking signing and I’m sure he’ll be fully fired up after his hat trick against Wycombe at the weekend. After a poor start you’ve really pushed on recently and must now have a really good chance of making the play offs. Sorry if we put a spoke in that tomorrow but a win for us is essential if we’re to have any chance of catching Lincoln but memories of our epic Wembley play off final still linger large and who can count out another encounter?

Harry Bo, after years of therapy, I was recently recovering from memories of that play off final. You've just sent me into a relapse mate. Cheers for that