Match Preview

When Saturday 13 January 2001, 3.00pm kick-off
Who and Where Stoke City (Away, Britannia Stadium, League Division Two)
Ticket Info

Tickets are pay on the day with a large seated allocation for Reading fans.
Adults: £16
Concessions: £9

Travel,
Food and Beer.

Click here to get the latest travel information from the RAC

Stoke City have set aside a limited number of reserved parking spaces for travelling fans - these need to be purchased in advace from the Reading FC ticket office and cost three quid each.

Team news

After fielding a mixture of first team and fringe players against Hereford United midweek, Reading are expected to return to a similar team to the one that lost 3-4 at home against Millwall last week. Phil Parkinson is likely to start after being suspended midweek. Whitehead will be back in goal but Robinson will be missing through injury.

Reading - from: Whitehead, Newman, Viveash, Hunter, Caskey, Parkinson, Smith, Cureton, Rougier, Butler, Hodges, Igoe, Howie, Gurney, Mackie, Jones.

Stoke City from: Ward, Muggleton, Hansson, Mohan, Gunnarsson, Gudjonsson, Risom, Lightbourne, Connor, O'Connor, Petty, Fenton, Thordarson, Thomas, Heath, Woolliscroft.

Form Guide

The last time Reading won away in the league was way back in October with a 2-0 victory over Bury. Since then the Royals have lost against Walsall and Notts County and earnt a point against Bristol Rovers with a 2-2 draw on Boxing Day.

Stoke are one place above the Royals in fifth place - so there's no doubt Reading have to get something out of this game. At home Stoke have won six games, drawn two and lost three - but only let in 10 goals in the process all season. Their away form might not be so good, but the statistics point to a home win.

View Latest Second Division Table

Previous Meetings 

The previous meetings between Stoke and Reading have seen 12 wins for the Royals - one less than Stoke:
Reading wins:
12
Draws: 9
Stoke City wins: 13
(includes League, League Cup and FA Cup)

2000/2001 Season:
29 Aug 2000: Reading 3 Stoke City 3 (Division Two)

1999/2000 Season:
6 May 2000: Reading 1 Stoke City 0 (Division Two)
9 Oct 1999: Stoke City 2 Reading 1 (Division Two)

1998/1999 Season:
10 March 1999: Stoke City 0 Reading 4 (Division Two)
14 Nov 1998: Reading 0 Stoke City 1 (FA Cup)
3 Oct 1998: Reading 2 Stoke City 1 (Division Two)
(click on the result for match reports of previous games)

Match Odds Available at William Hill, where you can get £25 back on your first bet.
Unsuprisingly Stoke City are favourites for a home victory. But what that does mean is, if you're confident, it's worth flining a bit of cash on a Reading win for some reasonable returns.

Reading win: 11/4
Draw: 12/5
Stoke City win: 4/5
Predictions It's hard to see Reading winning it - but I'd like to see a draw...
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.
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