Preview: Reading vs AFC Wimbledon - prediction, team news, lineups

Reading play host to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday afternoon still looking for their first point of the new League One season.

At a time when the Royals sit at the bottom of the table, the visitors are in 10th place after making a solid start to the campaign on the back of promotion from the fourth tier.

Match preview

Sitting at the bottom of the League One standings, Noel Hunt will recognise that he has a fight on his hands to win over the club's fans in the long term.

Although losing 2-0 to title favourites Huddersfield Town last weekend was not necessarily unexpected, going down 2-0 at Lincoln City in their opening match was a blow.

Facing a Portsmouth side in the EFL Cup that they had lost to by a 4-0 scoreline in pre-season was hardly the most attractive of ties for Hunt and his Royals squad, yet it seemingly acted as a blessing in disguise.

Reading ran out impressive 2-1 victors, scoring twice in four first-half minutes and seeing out the remainder of the contest at Fratton Park until a 93rd-minute consolation goal for Pompey.

With new additions having now been integrated into the starting lineup and squad in general, Hunt can only hope that Reading have now turned a corner ahead of what will be viewed as a must-win game.

As far as AFC Wimbledon are concerned, Johnnie Jackson will be delighted with how last season's League Two playoff winners have started the new campaign.

Having pushed Luton Town all the way during a 1-0 defeat in their first game back in the third tier, the Dons took full advantage of an early red card to emerge victorious over Lincoln City by a 2-0 scoreline last weekend.

Jackson shuffled his team for the EFL Cup trip to Gillingham, yet AFC Wimbledon were able to leave the Priestfield Stadium with a penalty-shootout win after a 1-1 draw.

A stiff challenge at Reading awaits Jackosn and his squad, yet there is a feeling that they are building momentum as they bid for a season of consolidation over being worried about relegation.

Reading League One form:

L L

Reading form (all competitions):

L L W

AFC Wimbledon League One form:

L W

AFC Wimbledon form (all competitions):

L W D

Team News

Hunt faces a selection dilemma given that making nine changes to his Reading XI led to a victory over Championship opposition.

Seventeen-year-old Ashqar Ahmed may drop down to the substitutes' bench despite his impressive showing at right-back, while Joel Pereira, Kelvin Abrefa, Matty Jacob and Charlie Savage could be recalled.

However, fitness pending, the rest of the team could be given a chance to make an impression in League One, 17-year-old Andre Garcia pushing for a second successive start.

Jackson could revert back to the AFC Wimbledon XI that started the 2-0 victory over Lincoln City.

That is despite striker Antwoine Hackford taking his opportunity against Gillingham by getting on the scoresheet. Matty Stevens will return to lead the attack.

Reading possible starting lineup:

Pereira; Abrefa, Stickland, Burns, Jacob; Rushesha, Savage, Doyle; Camara, Ehibhatiomhan, Garcia

AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:

Bishop; Ogundere, Lewis, Johnson; Asiimwe, Reeves, Smith, Seddon; Hippolyte, Browne; Stevens

We say: Reading 2-1 AFC Wimbledon

Despite their disappointing start in League One, Reading's EFL Cup triumph at Portsmouth could have turned things around for Hunt. With that in mind, we are backing the Royals to battle their way to a narrow victory over the Dons.

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