Match Preview

When Saturday 3 March 2001, 3.00pm kick-off
Who and Where Rotherham United (Home, Madejski Stadium, League Division Two)
Ticket Info

Pay in advance or on the day, normal home match prices apply.
Upper West Stand: Adults: £18 in advance, £20 on the day. Concessions: £12 in advance, £14 on the day.
Lower West, East and North Stands:
Adults: £12 in advance, £14 on the day. Concessions: £7 in advance, £8 on the day.
(These prices also apply for visitors in the South stand)
The East Stand is unreserved seating.
The North Stand in unreserved seating.

Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling the ticket office on 0118 968 1000.

With Rotherham being Reading's biggest rivals for the second automatic promotion spot be sure to expect a big crowd with a sold out East Stand. If you want to sit in the East Stand then it's worth purchasing your ticket in advance otherwise you might end up in the North Stand on the day of the game.

Travel,
Food and Beer.

Home match - See away fans guide for travel, food and beer guide.

Team news

Rotherham expect to have a near full squad available for selection to face Reading. Meanwhile the Royals will be able to play new signing James Harper who signed on Wednesday from Arsenal. Harper may well make a start with Reading hit by a flu crisis. Whitbread and Newman are both suspended for the Royals.

Reading - from: Whitehead, Viveash, Hunter, Gray, Caskey, Jones, Murty, Igoe, Parkinson, Cureton, Butler, McIntyre, Smith, Hodges, Howie, Gurney, Harper.

Rotherham - from: Pettinger, Artell, Scott, Branston, Garner, Watson, Talbot, Hurst, Warne, Barker, Lee, Robins, Sedgwick, Gray, Wilsterman, Bryan.

Form Guide

Big game is an understatement.
This is make or break time for the Royals, who simply must win this game to close the gap on second place - and have a game in hand. The winner will be set up nicely as favourites to join Millwall automatically in Division One next season. Sure there's plenty of games left - but points dropped now in such vital games are sure to affect either team badly as the season draws to a close. Apart from Millwall, the league leaders, Reading and Rotherham are the two most in form sides in the Division. Reading may have won three games on the trot away from home - all impressive wins - but Rotherham have won their last five straight.

However a closer look reveals Rotherham's run of five straight wins haven't seen them leave their own ground. In fact Rotherham's last two league fixtures saw a heavy defeat (1-4) at Notts County and a 1-1 draw at Walsall. Rotherham's last game saw them go behind against Colchester - and they needed a winner six minutes from time to keep their winning streak going. Meanwhile the Royals have only lost the two league games at home all season. Reading's last league match at home was the unconvincing draw against Peterborough and we'll be looking to go one better than that.

Reading's Last Five Games
Most recent last

W: Reading 1 Port Vale 0 (League)
W: Brentford 1 Reading 2 (League)
D: Reading 1 Peterborough 1 (League)
W: Oldham Athletic 0 Reading 2 (League)
W: Swansea City 0 Reading 1 (League)
Current Position: 5th

Rotherham United's Last Five Games
Most recent last
W: Rotherham 3 Port Vale 2 (League)
W: Rotherham 3 Cambridge 0 (League)
W: Rotherham 2 Wrexham 0 (League)
W: Rotherham 2 Stoke 1 (League)
W: Rotherham 3 Colchester 2 (League)
Current Position:
2nd

View Latest Second Division Table

Previous Meetings 

Reading have had double the number of wins over Rotherham through history:
Reading wins: 14
Draws: 11
Rotherham United wins: 7
Figures include League, League Cup, and FA Cup only.

2000/2001 Season:
Butler, Cureton and McIntyre all scored at Rotherham earlier this season as Reading took the full three points:
30 September 2000: Rotherham United 1 Reading 3 (Division Two)

Click on the results for full match reports.

Match Odds

Odds available at William Hill, where you can get £25 back on your first bet:
It's tight but Reading are favourites for home victory.
Reading win: 10/11
Draw: 9/4
Rotherham United win: 5/2

Predictions A home victory for the Royals.
This is of course the kind of game we always end up cocking up to chuck the season in the bin. However, we just have to win, and so it's time to have some faith.
What do you think?
You can enter your Prediction on-line within the Hob Nob Anyone? Prediction League - and also be in with the chance of winning up to £150 worth of Reading FC vouchers.
Opposition Site Millers On-Line - The original Rotherham United site:
http://www.supermillers.co.uk/

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