Preview: Reading vs. Wigan Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

Having seen their nine-game unbeaten run come to an end last time out, Shaun Maloney's men will head into the weekend looking for a positive response.

Match preview

With just three games to go before the start of the new year, Reading will look to finish 2023 on a strong note following what has been a truly forgettable year of football for the Berkshire outfit.

Having started off the year in the Championship, Ruben Selles's men would go on to win just two of their 21 league matches before relegation to the third tier after finishing with 44 points from 46 matches.

The Royals have also struggled to impose themselves in the League One and find themselves scrambling for points in the bottom end of the table after a disappointing first half of the season.

Reading currently holds the division's poorest record away from home, where they have picked up just four points from 10 matches so far, and this was further highlighted last weekend when they could only salvage a 1-1 draw at Lincoln City.

However, with that result, they have now gone unbeaten in four of their last five league games, claiming eight points from a possible 15, having failed to win any of their nine matches preceding that run.

Reading have won just five of their 21 League One games so far while losing 12 and picking up four draws to collect 15 points and sit bottom but one in the league table, two points above last-placed Cheltenham United.

Like this weekend's host, Wigan Athletic were also relegated from the Championship earlier this year after picking up 42 points from 46 matches to finish rock-bottom in the table.

Maloney's side have also struggled for consistency since their demotion, winning only nine of the 21 League One matches to sit 17th in the table, just seven points above the relegation zone.

Wigan head into the weekend off the back of a narrow 3-2 defeat against Port Vale at Vale Park, where Ethan Chislett netted a hat-trick to hand the hosts their seventh win of the season.

Prior to that, the Latics were unbeaten in nine consecutive matches across all competitions, a run which has seen them reach the third round of the FA Cup courtesy of victories over Exeter City and York City in the opening two rounds respectively.

While Wigan will be looking to return to winning ways, they will have to show their mettle against a Reading side who are undefeated in seven of their last eight meetings, claiming five wins and three draws since November 2016.

Reading League One form:

L

W

W

L

D

D

Reading form (all competitions):

W

L

W

L

D

D

Wigan Athletic League One form:

W

D

D

W

D

L

Wigan Athletic form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

D

L

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Team News

Reading will be without the services of 25-year-old defender Tom McIntyre, who has been out of action since coming off injured in the game against Burton Albion on September 30.

Teenage striker Dominic Ballard, who has three league goals to his name this season, has missed the Royals' last five matches and is a doubt for this weekend's matchup.

Wigan will take to the pitch without 20-year-old midfielder James Balagizi, who has missed the last five games after coming off injured in November's game against Tranmere.

Scottish defender Jason Kerr will also play no part in this weekend's tie as he continues his long road to full fitness after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament in November 2022.

They are joined on the Latics' injury table by 21-year-old Thelo Aasgaard, who has been sidelined since early November, while fellow midfielder Matt Smith came off injured in September's 4-1 loss to Bristol Rovers.

Wyke came off the bench to record his seventh goal of the season against Port Vale last time and the former Sunderland striker should come into the starting XI this weekend.

Reading possible starting lineup:

Button; Dorsett, Abbey, Holmes, Yiadom; Mukairu, Wing, Craig, Azeez; Knibbs, Smith

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Tickle; Watts, Hughes, Clare, Sessegnon; Adeeko, S Smith; Jones, Lang, J Smith; Wyke

We say: Reading 1-1 Wigan Athletic

Reading and Wigan have endured a disappointing first half of the season and will both head into the weekend looking to return to winning ways. While Reading have enjoyed the better of this fixture, they have struggled to get going at home in the league and we predict both sides will settle for a share of the spoils in this one.

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