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Reading find reprieve as Bolton rue missed chances

Reading find reprieve as Bolton rue missed chances

Will Davies
Will Davies
AUG 21, 2025

League One played host to a single game on Wednesday evening, as struggling Reading visited Bolton Wanderers. The hosts came into the game having had a mixed beginning to the season, while the visitors were looking to get their first points on the board in the league this season.

Line-ups and form

Bolton

The home side made four changes from their weekend clash at Barnsley. Jordi Osei-Tutu and Chris Forino-Joseph came in at the back for Eoin Toal and Josh Dacres-Cogley, while Dutch forward Ibrahim Cissoko replaced Thierry Gale and the Scottish midfielder Ethan Erhahon stepped in for Josh Sheehan. Steven Schumacher’s side came into the game having had a mixed start to the season, with an even 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss in the league, scoring 3 and conceding 3, while they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Championship side Sheffield Wednesday on penalties.

Reading

The Royals travelled to Bolton in search of their first points of the season, and Irish manager Noel Hunt made five changes in the hopes of improving his side’s fortunes. Three incomings at the back, with Kelvin Abrefa, Jeriel Dorsett and Derrick Williams coming in for Matty Jacob, Michael Stickland and Ashqar Ahmed. Up-front, Kamari Doyle and Mark O’Mahony replaced Andre Garcia and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan. Hunt’s men had lost every league game so far this season, conceding two goals in every game and only scoring once. Their victory over Championship side Portsmouth in the Carabao Cup was a sign of hope that they can improve their position in the table.

First half

Reading started the game well, pressing Bolton high and winning the ball from the defence, although the cross from Kyerewaa was easily handled by the keeper. Bolton largely attacked down their left, with Cissoko providing the most threat cutting inside. As the half wore on, Bolton began to assert themselves by beating Reading’s press, either by playing over it and into the midfield or by finding space with quick passing centrally. For all their control, however, there was almost no creation. Cissoko had two shots blocked well, and a chance off the right from Amario Cozier-Duberry was struck, but bounced through to hit the post. But for all their possession and shots, Bolton offered no real threat. At the end of the half, the shots were 9-0 in favour of the home side, but 0-0 in terms of shots on target. A very, very poor first half where both sides showed a complete lack of attacking intent, with Bolton’s wingers offering the only sign of any goalscoring threat.

Second half

Bolton resume their dominance as the half begins, with Reading’s press still unable to accomplish anything meaningful. Early in the half this leads to a breakthrough, as Cozier-Duberry received the ball off the left and played it to Burstow just inside the area, whose shot deflects to wrong-foot the keeper and puts the hosts in front. Cozier-Duberry began to dictate everything for Bolton, as he saw a powerful driven shot narrowly wide of the post. Reading made the first change, bringing on Cameroonian Ben Elliot for Liam Fraser. This did not change much, as Bolton continued to dominate. Fullback Osei-Tutu had a powerful shot from the right saved, and Cozier-Duberry also forced a weak parry from Joel Pereira that luckily for the Royals didn’t drop in a dangerous position. More subs, as Mamadi Camará replaced Kamari Doyle for Reading and Bolton's Sissoko left the field for Thierry Gale. In the final 20 minutes, Reading finally began their push for an equaliser, relentlessly crossing the ball and forcing a high volume of clearances by the Bolton defence. New signing Sam Dalby made his debut for the Trotters, replacing the goalscorer Burstow, before the final round of subs for both teams as Andre Garcia and Matty Jacob came on for Dorsett and Kyerewaa for the Royals and John McAtee and Josh Sheehan replaced Erhahon and Randall for Bolton. Reading would find their reprieve within these subs, as 17 year old Andre Garcia received the ball on the right, cut in a shot, seeing his shot deflect and loop over the keeper and in for Reading’s equaliser and his first career league goal. Bolton would respond but it was too late for them to restore their advantage, and the game ended 1-1 with the hosts ruing their inability to make the most of their mid-game dominance.

Man of the match

While the first half lacked any quality, Bolton were the superior side across the whole game, and in particular Amario Cozier-Duberry had a storming game at times, assisting the opener and generally being at the heart of his team’s creation. A consistent spark in what was at times a very drab game.

Final thoughts

Bolton will be very frustrated to not have made their control count, especially against a team struggling as much as Reading have been. The Royals will not have been content with their performance, being completely out of the game for much of the 90 minutes, but ultimately they have gotten themselves on the board in terms of points this season and so will look to use the game as a building block. Bolton’s next game sees them host Lincoln City, who have had a strong start to the season, while Reading travel to fellow strugglers Wycombe, who they are now level on points with.

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