Reading will travel to London for their first league away match of the 2026/27 season, taking on AFC Wimbledon on Saturday. The Dons have already endured a cup run and a home defeat to Luton Town, and now face a Wimbledon side that survived relegation last season after a 19th-place finish.
A fan interview with Robert Smith of the Wombles Downunder fanzine revealed that Reading supporters are wary of another tough campaign. Smith said the club’s hopes are dampened by the lack of financial backing that Wimbledon has struggled with for years. He added that the club’s minority outside owners are expected to inject funds soon, but the debt on the stadium remains a concern.
Wimbledon’s 2025/26 season was a narrow escape. The club finished 19th with 57 points, their best since the 2016/17 season when they were 15th under former manager Neal Ardley. Injuries, a dry spell in front of goal and a late winner by substitute Antwoine Hackford at Wigan were key factors in the club’s survival.
The Dons have made several changes to their squad. They lost Joe Lewis, Patrick Bauer and Omar Bugiel, and sent skipper Jake Reeves on a season-long loan to Barnet. Retained players include Steve Seddon and Callum Maycock. New signings are defenders Dan Sweeney and Steve Sessegnon, and permanent additions of Zach Nelson and James Tilley, who were on loan last season.
The most high-profile acquisition is target man Jayden Stockley from Port Vale, signed with just under two weeks left in the summer window. The club also secured Chelsea midfielder Ollie Harrison on loan and signed former Reading captain Andy Yiadom on a six-month deal until January. Fans anticipate a few more signings before the window closes.
A key departure is young winger Junior Nkeng, who is linked with a move to Premier League side Nottingham Forest. The transfer could fetch the academy-raised talent a fee above £1 million over time.
Against this backdrop, the fan’s prediction for Saturday’s game is a 2-1 win for Reading. The Dons will need to rely on the new front-line signings and a tight back-line to keep the scoreline respectable.
The match will test Reading’s ability to perform away after a home defeat, while Wimbledon will look to build on their survival and prove they can compete in League One.
