Reading vs Bolton prediction 17.02.2026 | League One
Reading
Kick off:
Date:
Bolton Wanderers
1
3.10
X
3.45
2
2.16
Contents
- Competition: League One
- Date: 17th February 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 UK / 21:00 CET
- Venue: Select Car Leasing Stadium
Tuesday night under the lights in Berkshire usually means something is on the line. This time, it really is. Seventh hosts third. Three points separate the Royals from the playoff spots, while the Trotters sit six off automatic promotion. That is not a gap, it is a chase. Bookmakers seem hesitant to pick a clear favorite. Fair enough. Both sides have reasons to believe. Let’s walk through it properly. Form, fitness, and where the value might sit.
Reading vs Bolton Wanderers Head to Head (H2H) stats
-
Bolton Wanderers
1 : 1
Reading
League One
-
Reading
1 : 0
Bolton Wanderers
League One
-
Bolton Wanderers
5 : 2
Reading
League One
-
Bolton Wanderers
5 : 2
Reading
League One
-
Reading
2 : 1
Bolton Wanderers
League One
-
Bolton Wanderers
1 : 1
Reading
Championship
Since 2016, Reading and Bolton have met 11 times. The Royals hold a slight edge with four wins and three clean sheets. The Trotters have three victories. Four matches ended level, including the reverse fixture in August. The average of 2.82 goals per game suggests this matchup rarely stays quiet.
Reading team overview
This is Reading’s third straight season in League One. After relegation in 2022-23, the aim was always to bounce back quickly. Last year’s seventh place finish stung. Missing the playoffs on fine margins tends to linger in a dressing room.
Leam Richardson’s side appear sharper now. A 3-2 win over Wycombe last weekend made it back to back victories, only the second time that has happened in 2026. The Royals sit three points off the top six with a game in hand.
Home form has been reliable. Six matches unbeaten at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, four wins and two draws. You can sense a bit of authority in their approach there. Jack Marriott’s hat trick against Wycombe took his league tally to 15. That is not streaky form, that is consistency. He should lead the line again.
Midfielder Daniel Kyerewaa is sidelined with a muscle issue. Beyond that, Richardson has a near full squad and no suspensions to manage.
Last matches of Reading
-
Reading
3 : 2
Wycombe Wanderers
League One
-
Wigan Athletic
1 : 2
Reading
League One
-
AFC Wimbledon
3 : 2
Reading
League One
-
Northampton Town
0 : 2
Reading
League One
-
Reading
2 : 2
Exeter City
League One
Reading lineup
Goalkeeper
-
1
Joel Castro Pereira
Defenders
-
15
Paudie O'Connor
-
17
Andy Yiadom
-
3
Jeriel Dorsett
-
16
Benn Ward
Midfielders
-
29
Kamari Doyle
-
10
Lewis Wing
-
6
Liam Fraser
-
19
Kadan Young
Forwards
-
32
Paddy Lane
-
7
Jack Marriott
Bolton team overview
Seven straight seasons in League One can start to feel long. Bolton have had their shots at escape, especially those third place finishes in 2020/21 and 2023/24. Close enough to taste it, yet not enough to leave. The Trotters are third again now. This time, automatic promotion feels like a fair demand.
Steven Schumacher’s men are unbeaten in seven, five wins in that stretch. You can sense belief building. However, both dropped results came away from home. Only two wins in the last seven on the road is not ideal for a promotion push.
Sam Dalby has eight goals and looks sharp in the box. John McAtee and Ibrahim Cissoko offer movement and have four between them. Amario Cozier-Duberry is still sidelined with a knee injury. Otherwise, the squad looks stable.
Last matches of Bolton Wanderers
-
Lincoln City F.C
1 : 1
Bolton Wanderers
League One
-
Bolton Wanderers
3 : 2
Barnsley
League One
-
AFC Wimbledon
0 : 1
Bolton Wanderers
League One
-
Bolton Wanderers
2 : 1
Burton Albion
League One
-
Bolton Wanderers
2 : 1
Leyton Orient
League One
Bolton Wanderers lineup
Goalkeeper
-
1
Jack Bonham
Defenders
-
14
Jordi Osei-Tutu
-
18
Eoin Toal
-
6
George Johnston
-
3
Chris Forino-Joseph
Midfielders
-
21
Ethan Erhahon
-
22
Kyle Dempsey
-
15
Rob Apter
Forwards
-
20
Ibrahim Cissoko
-
10
Sam Dalby
-
45
John McAtee
Prediction
Reading come into this unbeaten in six at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. That sounds solid. Still, five of the Royals’ last seven matches have produced four or more goals, so calm rarely lasts long.
Bolton are unbeaten in seven themselves, with three of the last five clearing 2.5 goals. Four of the previous 11 meetings ended level. A 2-2 draw makes sense.
Three reasons we expect at least three goals in this game
- Three of the last five games of Bolton finished with over 2.5 goals.
- Bets on over 2.5 goals won in three of the last five meetings between Reading and Bolton.
- Five of the last seven games of Reading produced four or more goals.
Main prediction Reading - Bolton Wanderers
Over 2.5 goals
Best Odds:
Megapari
1.85
Reading vs Bolton Wanderers standings in League One
| Regular Season | P | W | D | L |
G - A
|
GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff City | 31 | 20 | 6 | 5 | 58 - 30 | +28 | 66 |
| 2 | Lincoln City | 31 | 18 | 8 | 5 | 53 - 31 | +22 | 62 |
| 3 | Bolton Wanderers | 32 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 42 - 30 | +12 | 56 |
| 4 | Stockport County | 30 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 42 - 35 | +7 | 53 |
| 5 | Bradford City | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 39 - 33 | +6 | 52 |
| 6 | Huddersfield Town | 32 | 14 | 7 | 11 | 53 - 43 | +10 | 49 |
| 7 | Reading | 31 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 46 - 41 | +5 | 46 |
| 8 | Luton Town | 31 | 13 | 6 | 12 | 41 - 38 | +3 | 45 |
| 9 | Stevenage | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 32 - 30 | +2 | 45 |
| 10 | Peterborough United | 32 | 14 | 2 | 16 | 45 - 43 | +2 | 44 |
| 11 | Wycombe Wanderers | 31 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 42 - 34 | +8 | 43 |
| 12 | Plymouth Argyle | 31 | 12 | 4 | 15 | 41 - 46 | -5 | 40 |
| 13 | Mansfield Town | 29 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 37 - 32 | +5 | 39 |
| 14 | Exeter City | 30 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 33 - 30 | +3 | 39 |
| 15 | AFC Wimbledon | 30 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 35 - 41 | -6 | 39 |
| 16 | Barnsley | 28 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 47 - 49 | -2 | 38 |
| 17 | Northampton Town | 31 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 29 - 39 | -10 | 34 |
| 18 | Leyton Orient | 30 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 40 - 49 | -9 | 33 |
| 19 | Blackpool | 31 | 9 | 6 | 16 | 37 - 48 | -11 | 33 |
| 20 | Doncaster Rovers | 30 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 33 - 50 | -17 | 33 |
| 21 | Burton Albion | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 33 - 45 | -12 | 32 |
| 22 | Wigan Athletic | 30 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 31 - 42 | -11 | 31 |
| 23 | Rotherham United | 29 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 31 - 43 | -12 | 31 |
| 24 | Port Vale | 28 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 22 - 40 | -18 | 22 |