Bolton Wanderers host Reading at the Toughsheet Community Stadium aiming for a second successive League One home victory.
League One
Our Three Predictions For Bolton Wanderers vs Reading
- First Prediction: Bolton Wanderers To Win – 11/20
- Second Prediction: Both Teams To Score – 17/25
- Third Prediction: Over 2.5 Goals – 13/20
First Prediction For Bolton Wanderers vs Reading – Bolton Wanderers To Win – 11/20
Bolton have endured an uninspiring start to the new season, winning one, drawing one and losing one of their opening three league fixtures. However, only one of those games have come at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, which is coincidentally the fixture which saw them pick up all three points with a 2-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle. Steven Schumacher knows that home form will be key to their promotion ambitions this season and he will be keen to bounce back from Saturday’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Barnsley. Despite the hosts being down to 10 men from the 52nd minute, it took a late John McAtee effort to secure a share of the spoils.
Whilst the Trotters have been inconsistent at best, Reading have been consistent, albeit not in the way they would have hoped. Noel Hunt’s side narrowly missed out on a place in the play-offs last season, but their hopes of going one better this time around have taken an early blow with three successive defeats. They were really poor in the opening day 2-0 defeat at Lincoln City and weren’t much better when they succumbed to the same scoreline against Huddersfield Town a week later. Saturday saw the Royals bag their first goal of the campaign, although they suffered another loss, this time against newly promoted AFC Wimbledon. It’s difficult to see them avoiding another reverse here.
Second Prediction For Bolton Wanderers vs Reading – Both Teams To Score – 17/25
Both teams have identical records in this market this season, with one of their opening three fixtures seeing both teams score. Those two games both came this weekend with Bolton drawing 1-1 with Barnsley whilst Reading lost 2-1 at home to AFC Wimbledon.
Interestingly, this is a fixture which often sees this market succeed. The last four meetings at the Toughsheet Community Stadium have seen both teams find the net, with the last two finishing 5-2 to the home side.
Third Prediction For Bolton Wanderers vs Reading – Over 2.5 Goals – 13/20
It’s difficult to read into early season form with any prediction, but there is a reason this tip is being offered at such low odds. Both teams have injury concerns across their defensive lines and it is traditionally a fixture which generates goals. There have been at least four goals in three of the previous four clashes in the North West, whilst both teams are in need of getting their respective seasons truly up and running.
Bolton scored twice in their only home outing of the campaign thus far and Schumacher has previously stated his desire to keep the fans entertained. Reading conceded twice in all three of their league outings to date but will be confident they can at least test Sharman-Lowe in the Bolton goal.
Best Odds For Bolton Wanderers vs Reading
| Bookmaker | Bolton Wanderers | Draw | Reading |
| MyriadPlay | 11/20 | 3/1 | 17/4 |
| Gentleman Jim | 8/13 | 14/5 | 15/4 |
| Betarno | 52/100 | 14/5 | 15/4 |
Full Preview of the Game: Last Results and Head-To-Head
At the time of writing, Bolton sit 13th in League One. Although it is still early days, they will be keen not to lose any more ground on the top six, especially with the rest of the division playing a day earlier. They opened the campaign with a disappointing 2-0 loss against another promotion hopeful in Stockport County, but bounced back to pick up an impressive 2-0 win over recently relegated Plymouth Argyle. A trip to Barnsley this past weekend finished 1-1, although a point was only rescued late on when John McAtee found the back of the net.
Reading will enter this game short of confidence and currently sit bottom of the division. They could move off the foot of the table on goal difference before kick off though should Peterborough United or Plymouth lose on Tuesday night. The Royals have conceded two times in all three of their league fixtures this season, losing 2-0 against Lincoln City and Huddersfield Town before going down 2-1 against AFC Wimbledon last Saturday. However, they did show glimpses of the quality they possess with an impressive 2-1 win over Championship outfit Portsmouth in the Carabao Cup last week.
Both teams picked up a win apiece in last season’s meetings, with Bolton winning 5-2 at the Toughsheet Community Stadium and Reading emerging with a 1-0 victory at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. However, the Trotters are unbeaten in their last four home games against the Royals, with the Berkshire-based side last picking up three points in the North West in 2016. Overall, there hasn’t been much to separate the two sides over the years. Bolton have 15 wins compared to Reading’s 16, whilst the scores have ended level on 10 occasions.
Confrontation
Where To Watch Bolton Wanderers vs Reading
Where can I watch this game, either in person or on TV?
- Location: Toughsheet Community Stadium, Burnden Way, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 6JW
- Date: August 20th, 2025
- TV Channel: Sky Sports Football
Probable Lineups For Bolton Wanderers vs Reading
Predicted Bolton Wanderers Lineup
- Lineup: Sharman-Lowe; Dacres-Cogley, Toal, Johnston, Conway; Sheehan, Simons; Cozier-Duberry, Randall, Gale; Barstow
- Injured/Suspended: Forrester, Taylor, Dempsey, Adeboyejo
- Manager: Steven Schumacher
Predicted Reading Lineup
- Lineup: Pereira; Ahmed, Stickland, Burns, Jacob; Fraser, Wing, Savage; Kyerewaa, Ehibhatiomhan, Garcia
- Injured/Suspended: O’Connor, Yiadom, Dorsett
- Manager: Noel Hunt
