Preview: Wycombe Wanderers vs Reading - prediction, team news, lineups

Wycombe Wanderers and Reading square off on Saturday afternoon with both teams still looking for their first League One victories of 2025-26.

As a result, the Chairboys and Royals sit in 20th and 21st position in the table respectively.

Match preview

Despite the disappointment of missing out on promotion last season, Wycombe were expected to respond and be among the teams in the top half of the table at this stage.

Instead, Mike Dodds has witnessed his team accumulate just one point from their first four matches, albeit that being a notable 1-1 draw at Doncaster Rovers.

The other three games have ended in defeat, however, with Bradford City, Stockport County and Exeter City all earning victories by one-goal margins.

Having only lost out in close matches brings positives and negatives, yet Dodds will perhaps be most concerned with his team only netting three times.

There is pressure to spend the £2.75m generated from Richard Kone's sale wisely with Daniel Udoh having only netted once in four starts down the middle of the attack.

As for Reading, Noel Hunt already feels under pressure at this early stage of the campaign as he struggles to fully convince the club's supporters that he is the right man for the head coach role.

A 1-1 draw at Bolton Wanderers in midweek has brought him some time after three league defeats, but he only has 13 wins from 36 matches in charge of the Royals.

Like with Wycombe, goals are proving to be an issue, Reading only netting twice in games against Lincoln City, Huddersfield Town, AFC Wimbledon and Bolton.

Furthermore, Reading possess the third-worst defensive record in the division with seven goals conceded, heaping the pressure on Hunt and his players ahead of their second away fixture in the space of three days.

Wycombe Wanderers League One form:

L L D L

Wycombe Wanderers form (all competitions):

L L W D L

Reading League One form:

L L L D

Reading form (all competitions):

L L W L D

Team News

With Wycombe having been level with Exeter prior to making substitutions, Dodds will give consideration to retaining the same starting lineup.

However, Junior Quitirna is an obvious candidate for a recall in a wide area, Fred Onyedinma's place seemingly most at risk.

Udoh seems likely to retain his spot in attack unless a major new addition is made before Friday lunchtime.

Changes are expected to be made to the Reading XI, 17-year-old Andre Garcia pushing for a start after netting his second goal of the campaign against Bolton.

Mamadi Camara could also come into the team on the opposite flank, with Kamari Doyle and Daniel Kyerewaa dropping down to the substitutes' bench.

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Sas; Grimmer, Taylor, Hagelskjaer, Allen; Abbott, Leahy; Onyedinma, Mullins, Lowry; Udoh

Reading possible starting lineup:

Pereira; Abrefa, Burns, Williams, Dorsett; Fraser, Wing, Savage; Camara, O;Mahony, Garcia

We say: Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 Reading

With both teams possessing a respectable defensive record given their lack of wins, we do not expect many goals. Although Reading have the confidence from their draw at Bolton, Wycombe could finally get three points on the board, helped by their home advantage.

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