Match Preview

When Saturday 20 January 2001, 3.00pm kick-off
Who and Where Bristol Rovers (Home, Madejski Stadium, League Division Two)
Ticket Info

Pay in advance or on the day, normal home match prices apply. With a big crowd expected Reading Football Club have made the East stand reserved seating for this match.
Upper West Stand: Adults: £18 in advance, £20 on the day. Concessions: £12 in advance, £14 on the day.
Lower West, East and North Stands:
Adults: £12 in advance, £14 on the day. Concessions: £7 in advance, £8 on the day.
(These prices also apply for visitors in the South stand)
The East Stand is RESERVED seating.
The North Stand in 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: Whitehead, Newman, Mackie, Hunter, Murty, Caskey, Smith, Parkinson, Cureton, Rougier, Butler, Hodges, Igoe, Howie, Gurney, Jones.

Bristol Rovers - from: Culkin, Pethick, Wilson, Foster, Thomson, Astafjevs, Mauge, Meaker, Bryant, Walters, Ellington, Ellis, Evans, Vaaler, Plummer, Challis.

Form Guide

Reading's form has dipped recently but we did well to get a point at Stoke City last week. The Royals last home game was the disappointing 3-4 home defeat against league leaders Millwall. That was only Reading's second defeat of the season - so we'll be looking to bounce back with a home win.

Bristol Rovers' away form is actually pretty good despite the side lying just six places off the bottom of the second division. The side have won five and drawn three of their 12 away games in the league so far this season - scoring twenty goals away from home in the process. Rovers are without a home win all season in the league, but they've managed an amazing seven draws from eleven home games. Rovers last away trip was before Christmas a 2-3 defeat against Bristol City. After that match Reading travelled to Bristol to share the points (Bristol Rovers 2 Reading 2), and that's been followed by a home win in the LDV trophy (beating Plymouth 3-0), and a 0-0 draw last week against Brentford.

View Latest Second Division Table

Previous Meetings 

Reading have had the upper hand over Rovers through history with eight more wins:
Reading wins: 39
Draws: 19
Bristol Rovers wins: 31
Figures include League, League Cup, and FA Cup only.

2000/2001 Season:
Earler this season Reading earned a 2-2 draw at the Memorial Stadium, after leading 2-1 with goals from Neil Smith and Phil Parkinson.
26 December 2000: Bristol Rovers 2 Reading 2 (Division Two)

1999/2000 Season:
Last season Reading pulled off an amazing triple over Bristol Rovers - winning twice in the league and once at Bristol in the Auto Windscreens trophy. Rovers managed just the one goal in all three meetings - and that was scored by Jamie Cureton when Reading won at the Memorial against the odds.
4 April 2000: Bristol Rovers 0 Reading 1
(Division Two)
22 March 2000: Reading 2 Bristol Rovers 0
(Division Two)
24 January 2000: Bristol Rovers 1 Reading 2
(Auto Windscreens)

1998/1999 Season:
Who can forget the 0-6 home defeat against Bristol Rovers? - still our heaviest defeat at the Madejski Stadium. Rovers beat us by an amazing 10-1 over the two Division Two fixtures:
16 January 1999: Reading 0 Bristol Rovers 6 (Division Two)
15 August 1998: Bristol Rovers 4 Reading 1 (Division Two)

Click on the results for full match reports.

Match Odds


Odds available at William Hill, where you can get £25 back on your first bet:
Reading are hot favourites for victory.
Reading win: 8/15
Draw: 12/5
Bristol Rovers win: 5/1

Predictions Reading need a home win to get back on track...
What do you think?
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