Reading Vs Sunderland Match Preview
By Mark Sugar
March 19 2004
The Royals welcome FA Cup Semi Finalists Sunderland to the Madejski Stadium for another big promotion clash.The Royals are back in the Playoff's with a fantastic 3-2 victory over Cardiff City on Tuesday night but no anything less than a win will see them move out of it again.
Reading Vs Sunderland
Saturday,20th March 2004
Nationwide League Division 1
Madejski Stadium, Reading
Kick Off 15:00pm
Team News
The Royals will be without a number of first team players. Adie Williams has
been added to the player set to miss key games after undergoing knee surgery on
Monday. He will be missing for around a month. Steve Brown will partner Ivar
Ingimarrson. Nicky Shorey is doubtful after being admitted to hospital with a
foot infection. He missed the 3-2 win over Cardiff City in midweek. Should he
not be fit Ricky Newman will step in again at left back. Nicky Forster will once
again be missing because of stomach surgery. Lloyd Owusu is still suspended
after his sending off in the 2-1 defeat to Preston North End. Its likely Dave
Kitson will start the match up front. Kevin Watson is back in the squad after a
calf injury. Marcus Hahnemann misses out after a medial knee ligament injury so
Jamie Ashdown will continue in goal with Jamie Young on the bench. John Salako
will probably start the game on Saturday leaving Paul Brooker on the bench
again. Andy Hughes will continue on right midfield leaving Scott Murray on the
bench.
For the Black Cats, they won't be able to rely on the services of Colin Healy. He is still injured with a broken leg sustained in the draw at Coventry. Marcus Stewart misses out with a stomach injury. Julio Arca could possibly make a return at the Madejski Stadium. He was injured in the FA Cup win over Sheffield United. Jason McAteer should return to skipper the side. He has missed the last 2 games with an abdominal strain. Darren Byfield could partner Kevin Kyle up front as Tommy Smith has struggled to score in the league this season.
Key player for Sunderland: Kevin Kyle
Sunderland Goal Scorer's:
| Name | League | FA
Cup |
Carling
Cup |
Other |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Stewart | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Kevin Kyle | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
| Julio Arca | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Tommy Smith | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| John Oster | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Sean Thornton | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Gary Breen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Darren Byfield | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jason McAteer | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jeff Whitley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mart Poom | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Stephen Wright | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Referee: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire)
Form Guide
The Royals recorded a fantastic 3-2 victory over Cardiff City on Tuesday night.
Icelandic defender Ivar Ingimarrson had put the Royals in front on 35 minutes in
the first half before Robert Earnshaw equalised for the Bluebirds. Then just
before half time Dave Kitson headed in his 1st goal for the 1st team since
signing. But Lee Bullock pulled Cardiff back level again on 72 minutes with a
low drive past Jamie Ashdown. But in injury time substitute Paul Brooker delivered
a fantastic cross for Dean Morgan to head past helpless City keeper Martyn
Margeston.
Sunderland were held to a 1-1 draw by Tony Pulis Stoke City at the Stadium Of Light. City took the lead Darel Russell laid the ball on for on-loan midfielder Sebastian Svard, who struck the ball into the top right corner. But Sunderland hit back when Matthew Piper crossed and Darren Byfield headed into the bottom left corner to share the points.
Previous Meetings
27/09/2003 Sunderland 2-0
Reading
17/02/1998 Sunderland 4-1 Reading
04/10/1997 Reading 4-0 Sunderland
16/12/1995 Reading 1-1 Sunderland
30/09/1995 Sunderland 2-2 Reading
03/12/1994 Sunderland 0-1 Reading
22/10/1994 Reading 0-2 Sunderland
Thanks to www.soccer-stats.com for the above information
Ticket News
Click here for the Ticket
News for the game
Division 1 Fixtures
Saturday 20th March 2004
Ipswich Town Vs Watford 12:00
Crewe Alexandra Vs Cardiff City 15:00
Crystal Palace Vs Norwich City 15:00
Derby County Vs Nottingham Forest 15:00
Gillingham Vs Rotherham United 15:00
Preston North End Vs Walsall 15:00
Reading Vs Sunderland 15:00
Sheffield United Vs Bradford City 15:00
Stoke City Vs West Bromwich Albion 15:00
Wigan Athletic Vs Coventry City 15:00
Burnley Vs Wimbledon 15:00
Sunday 21st March 2004
Millwall v West Ham United 12:00
Thanks to www.bbc.co.uk/football for the fixture list
League Table
| Current League Positions | P | W | D | L | F | A | P | |
| 6th | Reading | 37 | 16 | 9 | 12 | 47 | 49 | 57 |
| 7th | Sunderland | 34 | 15 | 11 | 18 | 47 | 35 | 56 |
Anything Else
Remember to make your Prediction on the Prediction League.
BACK THE BOYS AND MAKE SOME NOISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
COME ON URZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!