Match Preview

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.

Upper West Stand:
Adults: £18 in advance, £20 on the day.
Concessions: £12 in advance, £14 on the day.
The Upper West Stand is RESERVED seating

Lower West, East, North and South Stands:

Adults: £13 in advance, £15 on the day.
Concessions: £8 in advance, £9 on the day.
The East and West Stands are RESERVED seating.
The North Stand is RESERVED seating.


A big crowd is expected with Reading currently top of the table and Stoke potential promotion rivals.
The East Stand is now SOLD OUT for this game.
The North Stand is now SOLD OUT for this game.
Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling the ticket office on 0118 968 1000.

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.

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

Stoke City from: Cutler, Flynn, Shtaniuk, Handyside, Clarke, Gudjonsson, Henry, O'Connor, Vandeurzen, Iwelumo, Goodfellow, Thordarson, Cooke, Viander, Neal, Wilson.

Form Guide

View Latest Second Division Table And Form Table

Previous Meetings 

The previous meetings between Stoke and Reading have seen 12 wins for the Royals - two less than Stoke:
Reading wins:
12
Draws: 10
Stoke City wins: 14
(includes League, League Cup and FA Cup)

2001/2002 Season:
Earlier this season Reading went down 0-2 at Stoke - and slipped to 10th in the table.
15 Sep 2001: Stoke City 2 Reading 0 (Division Two)

2000/2001 Season:
Last season there was nothing to seperate the two teams with two draws in the league.
13 Jan 2001: Stoke City 0 Reading 0 (Division Two)
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.
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.

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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.
-- Paul Finch

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!
However, our record against top teams is poor.
We have already lost to Stoke, Cardiff, Brentford, Brighton. These teams represent half of our losses this season. Last season was the same and in my opinion why we didn't get promoted.
Millwall - 0 points from 6
Walsall - 1 point from 6
Stoke - 2 points from 6
and to be fair..
Wigan 4 points from 6
Rotherham 6 points from 6 (1 win against 10 men)
The team that played against QPR at home and Blackpool at home and the one which beat Huddersfield and Wigan away had something which we don't always see Reading produce in the 'big' games - A huge desire to win and even more importantly, every player wanted to be first to the ball and every player wanted the ball, feeling that THEY could be the difference between the teams. Let's try and play well, but above all else show the fans that our desire and hunger as a team is as big as the fans desire to see our beloved Royals get in to Division 1 and beyond. Finally, people are wondering about Cureton and Forster together and will the partnership work. The truth is last year Cureton benefitted from superb passes from both Butler and Caskey. This year he hasn't had that. Whether it's Parkinson, Igoe, Gamble, Hughes or Salako let's get some quality service to Jamie and Nicky and they WILL do the business.
Don't wait for luck, make it happen for ourselves.

-- Dean, Crowthorne Royal

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