Bolton Wanderers return to the Toughsheet Community Stadium for their second home outing of the season, eager to rediscover that winning feeling as they prepare to lock horns with a Reading side already feeling the weight of expectation.
Ian Evatt's men have had a mixed start to the new campaign. A disappointing opening-day setback against Stockport County was quickly forgotten with a commanding victory over Plymouth Argyle. But the momentum stalled with a penalty shootout exit at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday, followed by a battling 1-1 draw away at Barnsley, though the Tykes played most of that clash with ten men.
Their visitors, Reading, arrive under heavy scrutiny. A summer takeover had sparked fresh optimism around the club, but the Royals have flattered to deceive so far. Three games in, they remain pointless and anchored to the bottom of the table, a situation that heaps pressure on Noel Hunt's side to turn things around quickly.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch, including TV channel information, streaming details, and more.
How to watch Bolton vs Reading online - TV channels & live streams
| Country | TV channel / live stream |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, Sky GO |
| United States | Paramount+ |
| Australia | beIN Sports Connect, Amazon Prime Video, beIN SPORTS 3 |
| Canada | Fubo, Amazon Prime Video |
| Germany | Sky Sports Premier League |
| India | FanCode |
| Republic of Ireland | Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky GO |
| Spain | DAZN |
| Netherlands, Norway | Viaplay |
In the United Kingdom (UK), the League One match between Bolton and Reading will be broadcast live on TV on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR, and is available to stream online live through Sky Go.
The match will be shown live on Paramount+ in the US.
Live updates can be found here on GOAL.
How to watch anywhere with VPN
If you are abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out GOAL's guide to the best VPNs for streaming sport.
Bolton vs Reading kick-off time
The match will be played at Toughsheet Community Stadium in Horwich, England, on Wednesday, August 20, with kick-off at 3:00 pm ET / 12:00 pm PT / 5:00 pm BST for fans in the US.
Team news & squads
Bolton vs Reading lineups
4-2-3-1
Formation
4-3-3
REABOL-Line up
BOLManager
S. Schumacher
Injuries and Suspended players
Injuries and Suspensions
- No sidelined players
Injuries and Suspensions
- No sidelined players
Bolton team news
Bolton had to dig deep at Oakwell, snatching an equaliser in the 86th minute through John McAtee against a Barnsley side reduced to ten men.
With both teams still trying to find their rhythm, this clash has the look of a cagey affair, the kind that could fizzle out with neither side able to truly stamp their authority and ultimately settle for a share of the spoils.
Reading team news
Right now, Reading look like a side searching for answers, hardly surprising given the upheaval of new ownership and a major squad overhaul.
The Royals lost two key pillars at the back in Amadou Mbengue and Tyler Bindon, both defenders who appear destined to make the leap beyond League One level. Their absence has left a noticeable void in the heart of the defence.
Patience will be required, with Noel Hunt expected to steady the ship and gradually lift the team’s standards as the season wears on. Still, it may take some time before they find their rhythm. On a brighter note, Lewis Wing provided a spark last weekend, grabbing Reading’s first goal of the campaign — a small step forward as they search for momentum.
Form
BOL-Form
BOLBarnsley
1
-
1
Bolton
D
Bolton
3
-
3
Sheffield Wednesday
L
Bolton
2
-
0
Plymouth
W
Stockport County
2
-
0
Bolton
L
Bolton
2
-
0
Preston
W
- Goal Scored (Conceded)
- 8/6
- Games over 2.5 goals
- 1/5
- Both teams scored
- 2/5
REA-Form
REAReading
1
-
2
AFC Wimbledon
L
Portsmouth
1
-
2
Reading
W
Reading
0
-
2
Huddersfield
L
Lincoln City
2
-
0
Reading
L
Reading
0
-
4
Portsmouth
L
- Goal Scored (Conceded)
- 3/11
- Games over 2.5 goals
- 3/5
- Both teams scored
- 2/5
Head-to-Head Record
BOLLast 5 matches
REA2
Wins
1
Draw
2
Wins
Goals scored
8- Games over 2.5 goals
- 3/5
- Both teams scored
- 4/5