Ahead of the game | Trotters test this weekend in RG2

Bolton are the latest visitors to Madejski Stadium

17 August 2018

Get the lowdown as the Royals return to league action this weekend...

Interviews

Clement looking forward to facing a ‘great servant’ for Royals

16 August 2018

Reading vs Bolton Wanderers
Saturday 18th August
3pm kick-off
Sky Bet Championship
Madejski Stadium

Following a safe passage into the Second Round of the Carabao Cup, Paul Clement's Royals will be hoping to bring that level of performance and result into the league when Bolton visit RG2 on Saturday.

Yakou Méïte and John Swift were both on target for the Royals during the week as they overcame Birmingham City, with a well-earned 2-0 win at Madejski Stadium.

Focus now turns to the Trotters, who have started the 2018-19 campaign brightly after surviving in the most dramatic manner at the end of last season. Having trailed 2-1 going into the final five minutes against Nottingham Forest, Phil Parkinson's side rallied and an 89th-minute winner from Aaron Wilbraham earned their Championship safety with just moments of the season remaining.

Parkinson, who made more than 400 appearances as a Royal in his playing days, led his Bolton side to an unlikely victory away at West Bromwich Albion on the opening day, before following that up with a point at home against Bristol City last time out.

The Trotters exited the Carabao Cup in the week at the hands of Leeds United, but will be striving to continue their unbeaten start to the league campaign.

For the Royals, their performances have merited more in the Championship, and a win would get their first points of the season on the board.

Tickets

For all ticketing enquiries, follow the link to our Ticket Office page or contact the Ticket Office by phone on 0118 968 1313.

For full pricing information and seating arrangements for this fixture, click the button below.

Sky Bet Championship

Bolton Wanderers

Saturday 18th August 2018, 3pm (Madejski Stadium)

Pre-Match Chat

Interviews

Mannone and the team looking to ‘take control’

17 August 2018

Travel

All of our usual travel options are available for this match, with Park & Ride, matchday bus services and stadium parking all available.

To see a full list of travel options, click here.

Please note, there have been a number of changes to Stagecoach bus timetables for the upcoming season, click here to see the updated timetable which will be in use for Saturday's game.

Odds

Championship title sponsors, Sky Bet, make the Royals 21/20 favourites for victory on Saturday, with Bolton available at 14/5 for all three points, with the draw priced at 11/5.

After making his first Reading start in the week, Marc McNulty is the 9/2 favourite to open the scoring on Saturday afternoon, while Yakou Méïte is priced at 9/4 to follow up his midweek goal by scoring any time on Saturday.

Follow it Live!

If you can't make it to Madejski Stadium, we've got you covered!

- Keep up with minute-by-minute action through our live Match Centre, available on the club website prior to kick-off.

- We'll have you covered on our Reading FC social media channels - on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

- iFollow will also have audio coverage available to UK and international subscribers - with international viewers able to purchase a match pass and watch the game live for the equivalent of £5.

Reminder

We wish to politely remind supporters that the football club is responsible for their conduct at all matches (home or away) and any person committing a football-related offence or involved in serious misconduct at any match will result in a club ban. Examples of serious misconduct include discriminatory, offensive or abusive chanting, entering the pitch, persistent standing and throwing a missile. Supporters witnessing any incidents of serious misconduct are encouraged to report this to the football club by texting 80800, beginning your message with the word SAFE.

Season Tickets 2018/19...

Match Reports

Report | Royals frustrated as Wildschut hands Bolton win

Reading defeated 1-0 on Saturday afternoon

18 August 2018

It was a frustrating afternoon for the Royals as Yanic Wildschut's strike for left Reading with a 1-0 defeat on Saturday.

Méïte and Swift go close for the Royals in the first half
Wildschut opens the scoring for Bolton after 48 minutes
Royals almost equalise through Baldock and Böðvarsson
Bolton run out 1-0 winners at Madejski Stadium

The Royals started with four changes to the midweek victory against Birmingham City, restoring Paul McShane, Vito Mannone, David Meyler and Liam Kelly to the line-up.

Bolton started on the front foot, attacking from the get-go as Josh Magennis cut back across goal for Josh Vela - cut out well by Paul McShane.

John Swift scored a free-kick in the week against Birmingham, and went close again with a strike from similar range testing Ben Alnwick in the Bolton goal. The goalkeeper dived at full stretch to his left to save, and managed to smother the attempted rebound.

The teams found it tricky to break each other down in the first 20 minutes, with efforts limited to pot-shots from range as the defences were on top in RG2.

Sam Baldock and Marc McNulty started up front once more, with Baldock lofting over the top for the former Coventry man to chase into the area - the striker went down under a challenge in the box but the referee waved play on.

Swift, playing on the left flank in the absence of Mo Barrow, cut inside on a bursting run forward and squared across to Méïte to shoot - but his effort was tame as Alnwick gathered.

McNulty then split the defence with a well-placed ball to the edge of the box, Méïte beat his man to it, rounded the goalkeeper and was only stopped by a last-second sliding tackle by Bolton skipper David Wheater.

Wanderers could, and probably should, have made it 1-0 after the half-hour mark. Magennis broke forward with room to press on, he found Will Buckley with yards of room 18 yards out, but his shot lacked conviction and Mannone could comfortably save.

Baldock quickly had a chance at the other end, latching onto Kelly's ball, neatly turning away from his marker and curled an effort towards the top corner - but Alnwick was there to palm away with a smart stop.

Reading shaded the half in terms of chances, but the teams went in goalless.

Half-time: Reading 0-0 Bolton Wanderers

Yanic Wildschut was introduced at the break for Wanderers, and had an immediate impact as he gave the visitors the lead just three minutes into the second half. A throw-in was flicked on and Vela lifted a fantastic ball over the top for Wildschut to chase.

He was clean through on goal and made no mistake as he slotted past Mannone to put Bolton ahead.

Reading responded after going behind, playing the ball round on the edge of the Bolton area for Meyler to drive at goal - narrowly going over the bar.

Swift showed his trademark footwork on the left to take his marker out of commission and play Blackett through on the flank. He found Baldock in the area, who curled a shot just wide of the post.

Time ticked on quickly as Bolton looked to extend every gap in play for as long as they could as they hoped to preserve their advantage.

Kelly whipped in an enticing free-kick, McShane and Moore were both waiting at the back post, but neither could apply the finishing touch as Alnwick gathered.

Baldock stole the march on Alnwick as Swift played him through in the box, nicking the ball away from the goalkeeper away from goal, the ball found its way back to substitute Böðvarsson but a last-ditch block from Jason Lowe stopped the equaliser 15 minutes from time.

Reading continued to commit players forward but nothing appeared to be able to break Bolton's five-man defence down.

Reading were dominant on the ball and looked the only side likely to score in the closing stages, but Wanderers held firm and took all three points back to Lancashire.

Full-time: Reading 0-1 Bolton Wanderers

Reading: Mannone, Yiadom, Blackett, McShane (c), Moore, Meyler (Bacuna 73), Kelly, Swift (Popa 85), Méïte, Baldock, McNulty (Böðvarsson 73).
Unused subs: Walker, O'Shea, Ilori, Clement.
Yellow: Blackett, Kelly

Bolton Wanderers: Alnwick, Taylor, Lowe, Beevers, Wheater (c), Olkowski, Vela, Buckley (Wildschut HT), Noone (Donaldson 81), Murphy (O'Neil 65), Magennis.
Unused subs: Matthews, Oztumer, Wilson, Grounds.
Goals: Wildschut 48
Yellow: Wheater

Attendance: 13,318 (856 away)

Referee: Mr J Linington