Wycombe make their shortest journey of the season when they travel 20 miles along the M4 to Reading on Saturday, seeking a first ever away win against their Berkshire neighbours.

Wanderers have lost five of their six previous visits to the Royals, a 1-1 draw in the League Cup in 1996 being the only time they have avoided defeat in the Berks-Bucks clash.

Reading were relegated to League One last season after a decade in the Championship and before that, the Premier League, and their season has been dogged by financial problems and fan protests against the owner.

They are currently below Wanderers in the table but only because they had six points deducted due to failing to pay wages on time. They have been in excellent form over the last ten games with a record of W5 D3 L2, and in that spell, they beat top six teams Derby County and Stevenage

In all competitions, the Chairboys have beaten Reading just three times in fifteen meetings, all coming at Adams Park.

Their most memorable win was in Division Two in 1999 when they triumphed 5-3 with striker Sean Devine scoring a hat-trick.

Wycombe’s most recent success was a 1-0 victory in 2021 in a Championship fixture played behind closed doors during the Covid lockdown season. That remains their only success in the last nine games between the clubs.

Reading won 2-1 in the reverse fixture at Adams Park last November with all three goals coming late in the first half.

Sam Smith put the Royals in front on thirty minutes, Killian Phillips equalised two minutes later and what proved to be the winning goal was scored by former Chairboys player Lewis Wing just before half time.

Their attack is spearheaded by two former Cambridge United strikers, Harvey Knibbs is top scorer with ten goals followed by Smith on eight, while Wing has found the net five times.

Reading have proved to be consistent scorers this season but they have one of the worst defensive records in the division, so this local derby promises goals and entertainment.