When | Tuesday 1 January 2002, 3.00pm kick-off |
Who and Where | PORT VALE (Home, Madejski Stadium, League Division Two) |
Ticket Info |
Pay in advance or
on the day, normal home match prices apply. |
Travel, Food and Beer. |
Home match
- See away fans guide for travel,
food and beer guide. |
Team news |
Reading - from: Hahnemann, Murty, Williams, Mackie, Shorey, Hughes, Jones, Gamble, A.Smith, Rougier, Igoe, Cureton, Forster, Henderson, Parkinson, Ashdown. Port Vale - from: Goodlad, Walsh, Carragher, Burton, Rowland, Cummins, McClare, Durnin, Armstrong, Webber, Brooker, McPhee, Delaney, Byrne, Paynter, Burns. |
Form Guide | |
Previous Meetings |
Reading made the statistics level last season with a double over Port
Vale in the league. 2001/2002 Season: 2000/2001 Season: |
Match Odds |
Odds offered at on-line book maker William
Hill: |
Predictions | Reading have returned to form... and need a home win! What do you think? Enter your Prediction now! |
Opposition Site | Potteries Football: http://www.potteriesfootball.com/vale.html |
Pre-Match
Opinions
|
Looking at the statistics Reading have the best away record in the
second division, where we have given everyone a head start is at home. Is
this because our opponents raise their game when they visit the Mad Stad,
or are our tactics away from home better suited to the squad we have. Consistency
seems to have been a big issue so far this season, with players like Rougie
apparently playing out of his skin away from home, but failing to make an
impression or create much needed chances at the Mad Stad. It has to be said
that Reading have been through some highs and lows so far this season, the
coach dismissed, home defeats similar to the humiliation that Millwall dished
out last year and a string of injuries. I have to say that after the Wigan
draw, my expectation for Xmas was a thrashing at Cardiff and a long slow
trip back from Wrexham, with no points to show for our efforts. Just as
the criticism starts to mount on Pardew again, he confounds us all and delivers
four points to keep us in it. Looking at the league this year it does seem
wide open and you can see any of the top ten teams in the league who put
a run together snatching automatic promotion. Brentford and Brighton have
both suffered some bad results as did Cardiff on Saturday. Bristol City
were my tip at the start of the season and Reading now have to look at the
league table and make sure they don't get left in the playoffs again. Come
on lads get us to the first division, where the gates will average 17000
every week and the football will get the crowd singing. Reading have now
got to show that they are a cut above the rest of the division and payback
the chairman for his commitment to the club and the achievements todate.
Readings setup deserves to grace the first division, now its time for the
team to work like hell and get us there. Nothing but stout professional
performances will do from here on in and if the results come the confidence
will flow. From the accounts of Cardiff and Wrexham I have read, Pardew
seems to have got the midfield working and certain players seem to have
come to life. Lets hope the team and the manager maintain this form and
go on another unbeaten run to promotion. Well done lads you did shape up, now keep it up. Prediction: Reading 3 Port Vale 0. Come on you Royals! -- Paul Finch |
Got
an Opinion?
|
Feel
this preview is missing something? - email previews@royals.cx
with additions!
Appropriate submissions will appear on match preview pages! |
Copyright
Hob Nob Anyone? © 1994-2002
The Original
Reading Football Club Internet Site