Match Preview

Match date Monday 11 February 2002, 7.45pm kick-off
Opposition Brighton and Hove Albion (League Division Two)
Ticket information

This game is ALL-TICKET.
All tickets are now sold out for Reading fans.

Travel, pubs, food 

Withdean Stadium, Brighton.

Team news

Reading - from: Roberts, Murty, Mackie, Williams, Shorey, Igoe, Gamble, Cureton, Hughes, N Smith, Salako, Rougier, Henderson, Forster, Ashdown, Robinson.

Brighton - from: Kuipers, Watson, Cullip, Morgan, Mayo, Brooker, Oatway, Carpenter, Jones, Hart, Zamora, Rogers, Lehmann, Melton, Virgo, Pethick.

Form Guide

The game we've all been waiting for...
A victory on the back of the current run will see Reading take a massive step towards the championship against our closest rivals for the title.

Reading FC Fixtures And Results

View Latest Second Division Table And Form Table

Previous Meetings 

Reading wins: 27
Draws: 25
Brighton and Hove Albion wins: 26
Figures include league, FA Cup, and League Cup only.

Reading and Brighton have met four times in the last ten years - with Reading taking the full 12 points over the four Division Two fixtures.

1993-1994 Season:
The 2-0 home victory over Brighton was a memorable game at Elm Park...
30 April 1994: Reading 2 Brighton 0 (League Division Two)
20 November 1993: Brighton 0 Reading 1 (League Division Two)

1992-1993 Season:
16 January 1993: Reading 3 Brighton 0 (League Division Two)
26 September 1992: Brighton 0 Reading 1 (League Division Two)

Match Odds

Odds offered at on-line book maker William Hill:

Predictions A draw would be great in this vital top of the table fixture...
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Opposition Site  

Pre-Match Opinions

Reading travel to Brighton possibly feeling that this maybe our season, you make your own luck and looking back at how things were earlier on in proceedings, Pardew will feel that our league position is nothing to do with luck, but more to do with a change in the coaching staff and a few strategic loan signings which have turned Royals season around. In this respect you have to give the management team credit as well as JM for sticking by his man. This was a huge test of faith for JM and we will never know how close Pardew was to being replaced. Everywhere you look and listen, the Royals are being quoted as the best team in the division, and certainly Brighton will want to have their say about that on Monday night when they take on Reading at home. Brighton's form has been patchy of late, but despite their indifferent performance on Saturday against Vale, they have lost only 5 league matches this season. They are still behind Reading as despite the inform Zamora, they have played out too many draws, an outcome which would suit Reading more than Brighton tomorrow! Although Reading are not firing as well as they were a few weeks ago, unusually I have a positive feeling about our chances, as Brighton have been scraping results a little like the Royals last year and when they are asked the question tomorrow night they maybe found wanting especially if they take the game too us and give our team the room to play. Despite Readings inability to get to grips with Notts County on Saturday, we played well enough in patches to feel that we can repeat the terrific away results recently achieved at Huddersfield and Wigan. If the squad is fit then the main preparation will be in the motivational area and I think games where the opposition will take us on is all the motivation we need at the moment. Good luck lads see you at Swindon hopefully to celebrate another victory with revenge over our old rivals.
-- Paul Finch

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