Gillingham Vs Reading Match Preview

By Mark Sugar
February 20 2004

An injury hit Reading team travel to Kent as they take on Gillingham at Priestfield.The Royals last match was against Rotherham with them losing 5-1,and now they must look to put things right as they enter the final third of the season.

Gillingham Vs Reading
Saturday,21st February
Nationwide League Division 1 Kick Off 15:00
Priestfield Stadium

Team News
Royals boss Steve Coppell will be forced to make changes after injuries have been picked up since the Rotherham game back on the 7th February.
Skipper Adie Williams will miss through suspension but Williams is also suffering from a toe infection.
Steve Brown picked up a heavy knock in the knee in the defeat to Rotherham and he hasn't recovered in time.
The 2 centre backs for the game will be Ivar Ingimarrson and Ricky Newman,but Coppell must face the prospect of possibly losing Ingimarrson as his wife is due to go into labour any moment now.
Also missing will be Kevin Watson.The midfielder picked up a calf injury and was rated 50/50 on Tuesday when asked.Looking to take his place will either be Andy Hughes or James Harper.
Scott Murray looks set to earn a recall to the right wing spot after not playing since the Nottingham Forest win.
Former Gillingham striker Nicky Forster misses the trip to Kent after being ordered to rest for 4 weeks at least with a stomach injury.
Greame Murty will continue at right back after playing for Scotland Vs Wales in midweek.
Lloyd Owusu's loan spell starts again on Friday after it expired after the Rotherham defeat.He will stay with the Royals untill after the West Ham game.

Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler has injury worries of his own.
Out of the game is 1st Choice goalkeeper Jason Brown.He picked up a thigh strain in a friendly win over Gravesend.
Also missing is Chris Hope who turned his ankle in training.Hope is involved in a major court case regarding the sacking of a female sports scientist.
Mark Saunders misses out after undergoing ankle surgery.
David Perpetuini misses out due to a knee injury.
Darius Henderson will undergo surgery on Monday due to a stomach injury.
Nyron Nosworthy adds to the list with a groin injury.
Ian Cox has an ankle injury so this is a worrying time for Gillingham.

KEY PLAYER FOR GILLINGHAM:Patrick Agyemang

Form Guide
Reading's last match was against Rotherham in which the Royals lost 5-1.Shaun Goater was the Royals goalscorer that day.
Gillingham's last match was against Burnley.The Gills lost 1-0 thanks to a late Glen Little winner.

Previous Meetings
14/10/2003 Reading 2-1 Gillingham
10/02/2003 Reading 2-1 Gillingham
09/11/2002 Gillingham 0-1 Reading
07/04/2000 Reading 2-2 Gillingham
03/01/2000 Gillingham 2-2 Reading
31/03/1999 Gillingham 2-1 Reading
17/10/1998 Reading 0-0 Gillingham

Thanks to www.soccer-stats.com for the Previous Meetings information.

Tickets and Travel
The Royals were allocated 1,402 Tickets priced at £16 Adults,£14 Over 60's and Students with NUS Card and £10 for Under 16's.Tickets are on general sale now with the Reading FC Ticket Office reporting 700 have been sold so far.Supporters can Pay on the Day.

NOTE=The stand is uncovered so if you get wet you have been warned.

STAR and YR Coaches leaves Staion Hill at 10:15am and the Madejski Stadium at 10:30am.

Division 1 Fixtures
Bradford City Vs Crewe 15:00
Burnley Vs Ipswich Town 15:00
Cardiff City Vs Sunderland 15:00
Derby County Vs Crystal Palace 15:00
Gillingham Vs Reading 15:00
Norwich Vs West Ham Utd 15:00
Preston Vs Millwall 15:00
Rotherham Utd Vs Nottm Forest 15:00
Sheff Utd Vs West Brom 15:00
Stoke City Vs Wigan Athletic 15:00
Walsall Vs Watford 15:00
Wimbledon Vs Coventry City 15:00

Thanks to www.bbc.co.uk/football for the Fixture List.