Match Preview

Match date Saturday 4 November 2000, 3.00pm kick-off
Opposition Walsall (Away - League)
Ticket information

This match is all ticket for Reading fans.
There are approxmiately 200 tickets left on Tuesday 31 October, out of the Reading allocation of 2,000.
You'll need to get in there very quick before they sell out!
Tickets prices are £14 for adults and £10 for concessions.
Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling the ticket office on 0118 968 1000.

Travel, pubs, food 

Walsall, Bescot Stadium, Bescot Crescent, WS1 4SA
Telephone:
01922 622 791

Walsall moved to The Bescot Stadium just ten years ago, but the stadium definately doesn't count as one of the more modern stadium with a bit of an old fashioned design - and the capacity is just 9,000. However, it's known for creating a decent atmosphere with all sides and ends covered, and a decent away end which will be holding nearly 2,000 fans on Saturday as Reading look to increase their lead at the top of the division. The ground is easy enough to find since it's right next to the M6, at junction 9. If you're coming by railway then the ground has it's own station right opposite the ground - just catch a train to Bescot Stadium station and you're there.

By car, get off at junction 9 of the M6 and turn towards the A461. Almost straight away you'll see the turning for the A4148 (Wallows Lane), pop down there and you're right by the ground. There's street parking available, but also a couple of car parks for a few quid. The station car park is also very close to the ground.

The stadium suffers from a similar problem as the Madejski with a lack of decent pubs right next to the ground. However, you'll drive past the King George V on the way to the ground. The pub is just on the A4148 and is a decent sized pub with cheap beer. Further away is The Tiger on Walstead Road which sells food and is suitable for families.

The food inside the ground is a bit above average, and Walsall's Balti pies are well known as being a bit special. Outside the ground there's a McDonalds in the retail park and a chippie close by too.

Team news Playing away from home Pardew may be a bit cautious about playing a full out attacking formation - which could mean Saturday's two goal hero Tony Rougier could remain on the bench. Up front the lethal combination of Butler and Cureton seems set to continue - which means we could be left with quite an attacking bench should McIntyre and Rougier be substitutes for the game.

Reading - from: Whitehead, Gurney, Viveash, Mackie, Newman, Caskey, Jones, Igoe, Parkinson, Cureton, McIntyre, Rougier, Butler, Hodges, Murty.

Walsall - from: Emberson, Brightwell, Barras, Tillson, Aranalde, Bennett, Hall, Wright, Bukran, Keates, Matias, Leitao, Byfield, Angell, Walker, Roper.
Form Guide

Walsall shot to the top of the Second Division at the start of the season with a run of five straight wins - and they stayed in the number one spot until last Saturday when they were knocked off by the Royals! Naturally enough the now second placed team will be looking to regain their lead of the division with the new leaders the next visitors to the Bescot. After an amazing start to the season Walsall's form has slipped right off. Although Walsall are unbeaten at home all season and beat Stoke 3-0 in their last home game they've been a bit shakey away from home and have also picked up a couple of home draws recently. Last Saturday Walsall travelled to Brentford and were beaten 1-2 to lose their lead, with Reading beating Oxford at home 4-3. Before that Walsall lost at Wycombe 1-3, and the two home games before their victory over Stoke were two draws against Bristol City and Peterborough.

With that in mind Reading will be on the hunt for at least a point and should be well capable of getting it if they can carry through their home form. Reading are of course unbeaten at home like Walsall but, excluding the 0-4 defeat at Bristol City, we've also started playing better away from home. Reading's last outing was a 2-0 victory at Bury - a result they'll be hoping to match.

If Reading are to be champions this season this is the kind of game they must get something out of. Now we've got the first spot in the division we need to hang onto it. I'd probably settle for a draw, but this Reading side should be capable of taking all three points and inflicting Walsall's first home defeat of the season in the league. Lets play for the win!

Match Odds

Available at Bet 247, where you can currently get a free 5 quid bet:
Walsall are favourites for home victory - but the odds are very tight. A repeat of the Bury score would be nice and also gives some decent odds - Reading are 12/1 to pull off a 2-0 victory.
Reading Win: 7/4
Draw:
9/4
Walsall Win:
5/4
Draw 0-0: 8/1
Draw 1-1: 11/2
Draw 2-2: 14/1
Draw 3-3: 50/1
Reading win 1-0: 7/1
Reading win 2-0: 12/1
Reading win 2-1: 10/1
Reading win 3-0: 25/1
Reading win 3-1: 22/1
Reading win 3-2: 28/1
Reading win 4-0: 90/1
Reading win 4-1: 80/1

Opposition Site http://steveroy.com/walsall/
Decent unofficial site that's predicting a 1-1 draw for the game.
The site is also running a poll that suggests that suggests the players are too big for the pitch...!
Got an Opinion?
Feel this preview is missing something? - email previews@royals.cx with additions!
Appropriate submissions will appear on match preview pages!