Bradford City Vs Reading Match Preview
By Mark Sugar
April 8 2004
The Royals travel north to face relegation doomed Bradford City at Valley Parade.Reading have been in fine form recently and will feel very confident after a fantastic 2-0 victory over Alan Pardew's West Ham United.Another 3 points will do nicely!
Bradford City Vs Reading
Saturday,10th April 2004
Nationwide League Division 1
Valley Parade, Bradford
Kick Off 15:00pm
Team News
Steve Coppell faces very some difficult decisions to make regarding his team
selection following a convincing 2-0 victory over promotion rivals West Ham last
Saturday at the Madejski Stadium. The big question Royals supporters will be
asking themselves is the strike force he decides to start the game with. Dean
Morgan and the 2 goal hero Dave Kitson did impress and have done so before for
the reserves. Should he continue with the front two then new signing Lloyd Owusu
and Shaun Goater will start the game on the bench. But Owusu is rated doubtful
for the game after getting a chest injury. However it is possible that
Nicky Forster could earn a place on the bench. He has missed the last 3 months
with a stomach injury but Coppell may decide to include him. Also back from
injury is club Captain Adie Williams after a month out with a knee infection. He
will probably make the bench due to the Royals lack of cover in defence. Jamie
Ashdown will continue in goal as first choice goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann is
still out injured with a medial knee ligament injury. Jamie Young will continue
as back up goalkeeper. Andy Hughes will continue at left back after impressing
Steve Coppell in the last 2 games. This should mean Dean Gordon will stay on the
bench or possibly make the final 16. But with Steve Sidwell suspended, Coppell
has the option of either putting Hughes back into central midfield to partner
James Harper or leave him as left back and recall Kevin Watson back into the 1st
team. Paul Brooker should start for the Royals after a solid performance against
West ham. The on-loan Leicester City winger is staying with the club until the
end of the season. Nicky Shorey and Steve Brown miss out due to respective
injuries. Shorey has a foot infection while Brown underwent knee surgery on
Monday. Joe Gamble is out on-loan at Conference side Barnet. But Coppell surely
must take into consideration the fact that Reading are playing again on Monday
against top of the table Norwich City. Their is the possibility he may rest a
couple of players against Bradford who are doomed for relegation along with
Wimbledon.
Bradford team news to be added.
Key player for Bradford City: Dean Windass
Bradford City Goal Scorer's:
| Name | League | FA
Cup |
Carling
Cup |
Other |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dean Windass | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Michael Branch | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Andy Gray (now at Sheffield Utd) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Ronnie Wallwork (back at West Bromwich Albion) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Paul Evans (now at Nottingham Forest) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Danny Cadamarteri | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Ben Muirhead | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Nicky Summerbee | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Lewis Emanuel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Alun Armstrong (back at Ipswich) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Peter Atherton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Referee: Keith Hill: (Hertfordshire)
Form Guide
The Royals kept themselves with the Playoff pact with a fantastic 2-0 win over
West Ham United. A goal in each half by Dave Kitson was good enough.
Bradford suffered another defeat as they went
down 1-0 at Preston North End. A second half strike from on-loan Everton
midfielder Scott Gemmill was enough to condemn Bradford to another defeat.
Previous Meetings
04/10/2003 Reading 2-2 Bradford
City
22/03/2003 Bradford City 0-1 Reading
29/10/2002 Reading 1-0 Bradford City
27/01/1998 Bradford City 4-1 Reading
30/08/1997 Reading 0-3 Bradford City
15/03/1997 Reading 0-0 Bradford City
17/12/1996 Bradford City 0-0 Reading
15/03/1994 Reading 1-1 Bradford City
15/09/1993 Bradford City 2-4 Reading
24/04/1993 Bradford City 3-0 Reading
17/10/1992 Reading 1-1 Bradford City
Thanks to www.soccer-stats.com for the above information
Ticket and Travel News
Click here for the Ticket
and Travel News regarding the game
Bradford City Guide
Click here for the Bradford City Guide
Division 1 Fixtures
Friday 9th April 2004
Sunderland Vs Sheffield United 15:00pm
Norwich City Vs Wigan Athletic 17:30pm
Saturday 10th April 2004
West Ham United Vs Derby County 12:15pm
Bradford City Vs Reading 15:00pm
Cardiff City Vs Crystal Palace 15:00pm
Coventry City Vs Millwall 15:00pm
Nottingham Forest Vs Stoke City 15:00pm
Rotherham United Vs Ipswich Town 15:00pm
Walsall Vs Burnley 15:00pm
Watford Vs Crewe Alexandra 15:00pm
West Bromwich Albion Vs Gillingham 15:00pm
Wimbledon Vs Preston North End 15:00pm
League Table
| Current League Positions | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | POINTS | |
| 8th | Reading | 40 | 18 | 9 | 13 | 51 | 52 | 63 |
| 23rd | Bradford City | 40 | 9 | 6 | 25 | 32 | 57 | 33 |
Anything Else
Remember to make your Prediction on the match on the Prediction League.
BACK THE BOYS AND MAKE SOME NOISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
COME ON URZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!