When : Saturday February 14 2026, 12.30pm
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161
**** me an actual home game next! It’s Wycombe on the telly (they'll fall off!) with a 12.30 kick off, just like last season, seems SKY are starting to use this fixture just to fill up air time like they use Reading’s home games against QPR.
This should be as even as a game can be in this division after half a season. Wycombe and Reading are respectively in 9th and 10th in the table separated by just 5 goals so I'd suggest there're won't be much between them after 90 minutes either.
Michael Duff is now the manager at Wycombe after replacing Mike Dodds who was sacked September after a 1 win in 8 start to the league campaign. He's certainly turned around the league form and propelled the mighty Chairboys ahead of Reading and now we all await one of the meanest and hottest local derbies played anywhere in the world.
Wycombe's current form is rather good with 4 wins and draw from their last 6 games so this really isn't going to be anything other than a very difficult game for Reading. However, overall Wycombe haven't travelled that well this season and are 18th in the divisional away form table while Reading are currently 9th in the equivalent home table. Their current good form is seeing the away form pickup though and they've not yet lost on travels this year, the last away defeat being a 4-0 capitulation at Luton on Boxing Day.
The January window brought 4 new players to their squad with midfielders Aaron Morley arriving from Bolton for an undisclosed figure and Andre Vidigal coming in from Stoke on a free. In addition loan midfielder Luke Harris arrived from Fulham as well as loan striker Nathan Lowe from Stoke.
Other than Luke Leahy, the obvious threats to enjoying the game come in the shape of lively forward Sam Bell, former Barnsley striker Cauley Woodrow and the midfield nuisance that is Fred Onyedinma who have been responsible for 18 league goals between them so far this season. Unusually for a club on the doorstep there is only goalkeeper Stuart Moore on their books who is a former Reading player.
Wycombe have had the week off while Reading had a long trip north to Wigan on Tuesday, however Reading don't seem to be very good if they have any length of time away from kicking a ball about so hopefully the midweek efforts will actually produce something positive rather than the tendency towards total let down that we seem to get after not playing for a while.
Wycombe will be on a bit of a high after demolishing Doncaster 4-0 at Adams Park last time out, they also have pretty much a full strength squad with just Caolan Boyd-Munce being their injury concern. Meanwhile Reading could only struggle to a 1-1 when they played Doncaster at home and have an injury list you'd rather forget with 2 x Williams, a Keane, a Kyerewaa and an Elliott all out with only Williams D standing a chance of coming back in time.
Finally the HNA website is doubtful for this one and will have to undergo a late fitness test. The Biscuit Tin is therefore standing by.
Referee
Martin Woods
Previously
02 Aug 25 > Lincoln City 2-0 Reading
29 Dec 24 > Reading 2-1 Mansfield Town
23 Dec 23 > Reading 2-0 Wigan Athletic
Historically
Reading have won 6 out of 7 games against Wycombe at home in the league. However the 1 defeat they’ve they suffered was on their return to this level two seasons ago.
How to follow the game
- Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
- Sky/Now
- Ring/text a mate for updates
- Use an RoyalTV subscription
- BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)
- Or you can always just go and get a ticket