Rotherham United Vs Reading Match Preview

By Mark Sugar
February 5 2004

The Royals travel up north this weekend to face Ronnie Moore's Rotherham United.Reading will be looking to continue there good form after 2 straight wins in the league as they look to claim a Playoff spot.The game also see's the return of ex Royal Martin Butler who will be looking to do well.

Rotherham United Vs Reading
7th February 2004
Nationwide Division 1
Millmoor,Kick Off 15:00pm

Team News
Steve Coppell can welcome back Scott Murray after missing last Saturday's game over Derby with a knee injury sustained against Nottingham Forest 3 weeks back.Murray played 70 minutes in the reserves defeat to Cardiff City.
Nicky Forster is ruled out after an ongoing stomach injury.The injury saw Fozzy on the sidelines for the early games in January,and now physio Jon Fearn has recommended Forster misses the game in order to be fully fit.
Lloyd Owusu will continue in the place of Forster.Owusu's loan deal expires on the 14th February,and manager Coppell must decide if the deal should be extended for a 3rd and final month,or possibly sign him on a permanent deal or decide to send him back to Sheffield Wednesday.
Joe Gamble,Nathan Tyson,Jamie Ashdown won't feature.All 3 are currently on-loan with other Nationwide clubs as they look to gain 1st team football.
Omar Daley and Simieon Howell are still on International duty with Jamaica as they look to qualify for the Olypmic Games to be held in Athens later this year.

Rotherham United should welcome back ex Royal Martin Butler after the striker missed the defeat to West Ham due to a knee injury.
Paul Hurst and Shaun Barker missed training this week earlier due to injury,but both should be fit for the game tomorrow.
Defender Chris Swailes needed 5 stiches in the eye at West Ham last week,but should feature.
But long term injury victims Martin McIntosh and Rob Scott will both miss.

KEY PLAYER FOR ROTHERHAM:Martin Butler

Form Guide
Reading recorded their 1st win at home since the end of November last week as they beat Derby County 3-1 after goals from Shaun Goater (2) and Steve Sidwell.
Rotherham suffered a 2-1 away defeat at Alan Pardew's West Ham.

Previous Meetings
25/08/2003 Reading 0-0 Rotherham
22/02/2003 Reading 3-0 Rotherham
07/09/2002 Rotherham 0-0 Reading
03/03/2001 Reading 2-0 Rotherham
30/09/2000 Rotherham 1-3 Reading
16/04/1994 Reading 0-0 Rotherham
02/11/1993 Rotherham 2-2 Reading
09/01/1993 Rotherham 3-2 Reading
16/09/1992 Reading 3-1 Rotherham

Thanks to www.soccer-stats.com for the above information.

Tickets and Travel
The Royals were allocated 1,300 tickets for the game and the Ticket Office have said that 500 have been sold so far.Supporters can pay on the day at Millmoor with Tickets priced at £16 for adults and £8 for children.
STAR and Young Royals coaches are leaving the Madejski Stadium at 09:30am and Station Hill 09:45am.

Division 1 Fixtures
Sat Feb 07 2004
Derby County Vs Cardiff City 13:00
Bradford City Vs West Ham United 15:00
Burnley Vs Gillingham 15:00
Millwall Vs Stoke City 15:00
Nottm Forest Vs Coventry City 15:00
Preston Vs West Brom 15:00
Rotherham Utd vs Reading 15:00
Sheffield United Vs Crystal Palace 15:00
Walsall Vs Crewe 15:00
Watford Vs Sunderland 15:00
Wimbledon Vs Norwich 15:00
Ipswich Town Vs Wigan Athletic 17:35

Thanks to www.bbc.co.uk/football