Reading FC Match Preview - Port Vale (Home), 01/02

When	Tuesday 1 January 2002, 3.00pm kick-off
Who and Where	PORT VALE (Home, Madejski Stadium, League Division Two)
Ticket Info	Pay in advance or on the day, normal home match prices apply. Upper West Stand: Adults: Ł18 in advance, Ł20 on the day. Concessions: Ł12 in advance, Ł14 on the day. The Upper West Stand is RESERVED seating Lower West, East, North and South Stands: Adults: Ł13 in advance, Ł15 on the day. Concessions: Ł8 in advance, Ł9 on the day. The East and West Stands are RESERVED seating. The North Stand is UNRESERVED seating. 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	Reading - from: Hahnemann, Murty, Williams, Mackie, Shorey, Hughes, Jones, Gamble, A.Smith, Rougier, Igoe, Cureton, Forster, Henderson, Parkinson, Ashdown. Port Vale - from: Goodlad, Walsh, Carragher, Burton, Rowland, Cummins, McClare, Durnin, Armstrong, Webber, Brooker, McPhee, Delaney, Byrne, Paynter, Burns.
Form Guide	View Latest Second Division Table And Form Table
Previous Meetings	Reading made the statistics level last season with a double over Port Vale in the league. Reading wins: 24 Draws: 14 Port Vale wins: 23 Figures include League, League Cup, and FA Cup only. 2001/2002 Season: Earlier this season Reading were victorious thanks to two goals by Jamie Cureton at Port Vale: 1 September 2001: Port Vale 0 Reading 2 (Division Two) 2000/2001 Season: Towards the start of last season a single Jamie Cureton goal was enough to give Reading the full three points at Port Vale. Reading followed this up with a home victory by the same score-line with Martin Butler securing the victory twelve minutes from time. 3 February 2001: Reading 1 Port Vale 0 (Division Two) 2 September 2000: Port Vale 0 Reading 1 (Division Two) 1997/1998 Season: Before last season the last time the two sides met in league action was back during the 1997/1998 season when we were both up in Division One. Reading came out worst though - despite getting a point away from home in a 0-0 draw Port Vale stuffed us 0-3 at Elm Park and Terry Bullivant wasn't feeling too secure in his job. 7 March 1998: Reading 0 Port Vale 3 (Division One) 1 November 1997: Port Vale 0 Reading 0 (Division One) Click on the results for full match reports.
Match Odds	Odds offered at on-line book maker William Hill: Reading are favourites for home victory.
Predictions	Reading have returned to form... and need a home win! What do you think? Enter your Prediction now!
Opposition Site	Potteries Football: http://www.potteriesfootball.com/vale.html

Pre-Match Opinions

Looking at the statistics Reading have the best away record in the second division, where we have given everyone a head start is at home. Is this because our opponents raise their game when they visit the Mad Stad, or are our tactics away from home better suited to the squad we have. Consistency seems to have been a big issue so far this season, with players like Rougie apparently playing out of his skin away from home, but failing to make an impression or create much needed chances at the Mad Stad. It has to be said that Reading have been through some highs and lows so far this season, the coach dismissed, home defeats similar to the humiliation that Millwall dished out last year and a string of injuries. I have to say that after the Wigan draw, my expectation for Xmas was a thrashing at Cardiff and a long slow trip back from Wrexham, with no points to show for our efforts. Just as the criticism starts to mount on Pardew again, he confounds us all and delivers four points to keep us in it. Looking at the league this year it does seem wide open and you can see any of the top ten teams in the league who put a run together snatching automatic promotion. Brentford and Brighton have both suffered some bad results as did Cardiff on Saturday. Bristol City were my tip at the start of the season and Reading now have to look at the league table and make sure they don't get left in the playoffs again. Come on lads get us to the first division, where the gates will average 17000 every week and the football will get the crowd singing. Reading have now got to show that they are a cut above the rest of the division and payback the chairman for his commitment to the club and the achievements todate. Readings setup deserves to grace the first division, now its time for the team to work like hell and get us there. Nothing but stout professional performances will do from here on in and if the results come the confidence will flow. From the accounts of Cardiff and Wrexham I have read, Pardew seems to have got the midfield working and certain players seem to have come to life. Lets hope the team and the manager maintain this form and go on another unbeaten run to promotion.
Well done lads you did shape up, now keep it up.
Prediction: Reading 3 Port Vale 0.
Come on you Royals!
-- Paul Finch

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