- Reading have conceded only five goals in four away League One games this season
- Wigan have scored only three goals in total in their four home League One matches this season
- Reading have won two of their last three visits to Wigan in this fixture and 4 of the last 5 meetings overall
Latics likely to get out of their depth
Reading have been the better team than Wigan in League One 2026-2027 so far, so it's the Royals that are favourites to win their latest matchup with the Latics at 11/10 - and it's too early to say it's not justified.
Leam Richardson's team are sixth in the table with 15 points from nine games while Wigan sit 24th with four from eight and the head-to-head also favours Reading.
They are clearly in better form than the hosts with two wins, two draws and only one defeat in their last five in all competitions, although it is still early to judge momentum.
Reading have drawn 1-1 at home to Bradford and thumped Milton Keynes Dons 5-1 away in League One this week and the contrast between Richardson's Royals and Gary Caldwell's Wigan could be decisive in this game.
The Latics have only scored three times in four home League One fixtures this term and that looks like a problem for them as Reading tend to be very compact on the road. Caldwell is not the sort of coach to encourage his team to chase a goal at all costs if they get behind, although his three-centre-back formation usually has the wing-backs pushing forward when in transition.
Richardson has his men set up in a pragmatic 4-2-3-1 system, with the double pivot usually in control of the game and the team rarely pressing full-throttle.
Marriott the man who can make the difference
So this has the feel of a game that Reading are better equipped to win, but Wigan's need to have a go at home should make this a close contest.
Reading can get behind the ball and absorb the pressure before hitting Wigan on the counter attack and they look to have the man who can score a goal or two on an away day.
Jack Marriott is Reading's main man and he has been their most efficient finisher with eight goals in seven League One appearances, scoring two of their last five. Jensen Weir has been Wigan's main goal source with only two goals in the same number of appearances and they will not have the same cutting edge on Saturday.
The odds on Reading to get the three points are attractive, but the safest bet here is Both Teams to Score - Yes at 57/100, although 7/10 still looks a decent price on Over 2.5 goals.
