When | Saturday 23 February 2002, 3.00pm kick-off |
Who and Where | STOKE CITY (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 |
Mackie and Williams
are both doubtful - although both players are hoping to be fit. Meanwhile
Ben Roberts has ended his loan spell, leaving Ashdown on the bench to
cover for Whitehead. Stoke City from: Cutler, Flynn, Shtaniuk, Handyside, Clarke, Gudjonsson, Henry, O'Connor, Vandeurzen, Iwelumo, Goodfellow, Thordarson, Cooke, Viander, Neal, Wilson. |
Form Guide | |
Previous Meetings |
The previous meetings between Stoke and Reading have seen 12 wins for
the Royals - two less than Stoke: 2001/2002 Season: 2000/2001 Season: |
Match Odds | Available at William
Hill. Reading are favourites for home victory. |
Predictions | Back to winning ways! What do you think? Enter your Prediction now! |
Opposition Site | RAW Stoke City http://www.rawstokecity.net/ Decent unofficial Stoke City website. |
Pre-Match
Opinions
|
As quickly as the form came it has disappeared. I can remember feeling
low before the Cardiff and Wrexham matches, not expecting a thing after
a disappointing home match against Wigan. In fact looking at the league
at the time and our form I thought only a miracle could change our season
around. In the following weeks impressive performances at home and away
saw Reading emerge from the pack to start to dominate the head of the
table, whilst teams like Cardiff and Bristol City began to struggle and
falter. Against Notts County we failed to deal with a bottom of the table
side convincingly and against Brighton the second division crown which
was beginning to look like Readings has started to look less of a foregone
conclusion. If we could have regrouped against Swindon and got revenge
for the home result the last few weeks could have been put behind us as
a minor glitch in proceedings. That wasn't to be and on the night despite
the ref we were lucky to take a point. Where has the football gone, the
dominance, flare and organisation? Have our opponents rumbled our system,
are the lads coasting too much, or have we just run out of fresh ideas?
I am at a loss to put my finger on why a team who should travel to Huddersfield
and then Wigan and get such convincing results, should then struggle against
teams in the lower half of the table. Rougie has not been quite so devastating,
Salarko seems a little subdued and there have been a number of injuries
and suspensions, nothing that really sticks out though. Hopefully Pardew
and Dillon can put their finger on it before the Stoke game which is now
crucial not only to our championship desires, but also to promotion. I
suppose there was a few weeks where the results seemed to be going Readings
way and perhaps the pendulum will swing back in our favour again if we
can get a win on Saturday. There were few encouraging points to take from
the Swindon match, Whitehead's return, Mackie's performance, I am sure
he is Tony Adams brother! Perhaps the man of the match for the Royals
was the number 13. You know who you are, and it was a nice touch for JM
to acknowledge us before the kick off. I hope for John our form is restored
this coming Saturday and whilst it is premature to become negative, having
got used to the flare of our performances, you begin to expect. Lets hope
Pardew puts that positive step back in the players game, they certainly
need to get back the confidence of a few weeks ago or Brighton will start
to look Championship favourites. Come on Reading find that extra gear
and deal with Stoke professionally. People often make the comment about which 'Chelsea' team will turn
up on the day of a game. To be honest I find myself asking the same question
of this Reading side. There is absolutely no doubt that we have a great
team and squad and can go up.... as Champions! |
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