Bolton Wanderers vs Reading Prediction 20.08.2025 | League One

Bolton’s hopes of promotion were dashed by a dismal run-in, where a meagre return of only two points from their last six matches saw them drop to eighth in the standings, finishing ten points shy of the playoff positions.

Determined to put last season behind them and stake a stronger claim for promotion to the second tier, the Trotters must show improved consistency, having begun the new campaign with an uneven start of one win, one draw and one defeat from their opening three fixtures.

Earlier in the week, Bolton, reduced to ten men, were knocked out of the EFL Cup at the opening stage, losing on penalties to Sheffield Wednesday following a sensational 3-3 draw in regulation time, meaning they can now focus entirely on their league campaign.

The quartet of Richard Taylor, William Forrester, Kyle Dempsey, and Victor Adeboyejo are still recovering from long-term injuries, while 25-year-old striker Sam Dalby is edging closer to a return from a hamstring problem, though the clash with Reading may come too soon for him.

Speaking of Reading, they fell just three points short of securing a playoff spot last term, which is a bitter disappointment, yet it also marks a notable improvement compared to their return to the 2023-24 season, when they finished a lowly 16th.

Manager Noel Hunt, who nearly guided his side to the final promotion battles last term, remained at the helm with high hopes for the 2025-26 season, but his team has faced unforeseen challenges and currently stand out for all the wrong reasons as one of the few sides yet to pick up a point.

After failing to score and suffering identical 2-0 defeats to Lincoln and Huddersfield in the opening third-tier fixtures, the Royals offered a slightly sterner challenge on matchday three, but still fell short of claiming points, going down 2-1 to Wimbledon on home turf.

Reading’s only bright spot this season remains their 2-1 victory over Championship side Portsmouth, which saw them progress to the second round of the EFL Cup, but they urgently need to find a way to turn around their league form and escape a nightmare start to their League One campaign.

Despite featuring in pre-season friendlies, Paudie O’Connor is still waiting for his first competitive appearance of the new campaign, while Abraham Jeriel Richard Dorsett and Andy Yiadom remain sidelined for the foreseeable future.