Wycombe Wanderers will be without three key players for their League One clash with Reading this Saturday due to international call-ups. The match at Adams Park goes ahead after the visitors chose not to request a postponement, setting up a tight contest between two sides separated by just one point in the table.
Midfielder Andy Rinomhota, who has started all six of Reading's league games this term, is away with Zimbabwe for Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Charlie Savage, the 23-year-old who has made six substitute appearances, has been recalled by Wales. Defender Jeriel Dorsett, with two league starts, is with Montserrat for their upcoming fixtures. Their absence is a significant blow for Wycombe, who sit 12th in League One with 10 points from eight games.
League context and recent form
Wycombe's recent form has been solid, unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions. This run includes a 2-2 draw with Reading just days ago on September 26, a result that highlighted the fine margins between the sides. Jayden Wareham and a late Danny Ings strike secured a point for Wycombe in that encounter. Despite this resilience, scoring has been a persistent issue; the Chairboys have netted just three times in their last five league outings. Their joint-top scorers this season are Jayden Wareham, Dan Casey, Cauley Woodrow and Fred Onyedinma, each with two goals.
Reading arrive in eighth place, one point and four positions above their hosts. They are expected to field a strong side led by their top scorer Jack Marriott and chief creator Kyreece Lisbie. Their predicted lineup includes goalkeeper Joel Pereira and a back line of Udoka Godwin-Malife, Paudie O’Connor, Benn Ward and Haydon Roberts. Manager Leam Richardson's decision to play the game, despite EFL rules allowing postponement for three or more call-ups, shows the fixture's importance. Five of the nine League One games scheduled for this Saturday have already been called off.
The referee and recent history
The official for the 3pm kick-off will be Tom Reeves, who averages 3.8 yellow cards per match. The recent history between these teams is fiercely competitive. "Wycombe have always provided a tough challenge for Reading, with matches finishing either in a draw or with one goal between the teams," a club statement noted. The last league meeting at Adams Park finished in a 2-2 draw, while the previous encounter was a 3-2 Reading victory where Marriott scored a hat-trick.
Wycombe will look to build on their positive momentum, with their next assignment an away trip to face 19th-placed Bromley on October 3. The full schedule for the coming weeks is available on our fixtures page. For now, focus turns to handling the challenges of an international break and securing a positive result against a close rival in the League One standings.
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