Match Preview

When Saturday 5 May 2001, 3.00pm kick-off
Who and Where Bournemouth (Home, Madejski Stadium, League Division Two)
Ticket Info

Pay in advance or on the day, normal home match prices apply.
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 unreserved seating.
The North Stand in unreserved seating.

Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling the ticket office on 0118 968 1000.
ALL TICKETS ARE NOW SOLD OUT.

Although this game now means nothing in terms of Reading's finish in the table this season, plenty of people bought their tickets in advance when they thought it could be the game that determined promotion. Reading will finish third now whatever the result of this game and will need to go through the play-offs - but it could still be the Madejski Stadium's biggest ever crowd in the first ever sold out match.
If you have a ticket make sure you turn up to give the team a much needed confidence boast before the play-offs.
If you don't have a ticket then it's too late!

Travel,
Food and Beer.

Home match - See away fans guide for travel, food and beer guide.

Team news

Alan Pardew may choose to rest a couple of key players ahead of the play-offs - or he may use the game to give his first choice team a full game together to prepare for the continuing promotion battle. If Reading lose then we could face Bournemouth in the play-offs so Pardew may well experiment with his tactics if Bournemouth take the lead.

Reading - from:
Whitehead, Murty, Viveash, Whitbread, Robinson, Rougier, Parkinson, Harper, Caskey, Igoe, Cureton, Butler, McIntyre, Forster, Howie, Hunter, Henderson, Jones.

Bournemouth - from: Stewart, Broadhurst, Tindall, Howe, Elliott, Carl Fletcher, Hughes, Jorgensen, Narada, Hayter, Purches, Feeney, Defoe, Steve Fletcher, Eribenne, O'Connor.

Form Guide

The game may make no difference to the Royals - but Bournemouth need victory to have a chance of a play-off place. Victory for Bournemouth could set up another two games for the two sides this season - as we could end up meeting in the play-offs. There's no doubt that Reading's form has dipped while Bournemouth are the most inform side in the entire Second Division:

Reading's Last Five Games
Most recent last

W: Bournemouth 1 Reading 2 (League)
W: Reading 4 Bury 1 (League)
W: Oxford United 0 Reading 2 (League)
D: Reading 2 Walsall 2 (League)
L: Colchester United 1 Reading 2 (League)
Current Position: 3rd

Bournemouth's Last Five Games
Most recent last
W:
Notts Co 0 Bournemouth 2 (League)
W: Bournemouth 1 Stoke 0 (League)
W: Peterborough 1 Bournemouth 2 (League)
W: Bournemouth 2 Wycombe 0 (League)
W: Bournemouth 2 Northampton 0 (League)
Current Position: 7th

View Latest Second Division Table And Form Table

Previous Meetings 

Reading and Bournemouth have met 103 times for competitive fixtures with the Royals just about having the upper hand.
Reading wins: 42
Draws: 22
Bournemouth wins: 39
Results include league, FA Cup and league cup fixtures only.

2000/2001 Season:
It took three attempts to play our fixture at Dean Court earlier this season. When the game eventually did go ahead it gave our promotion hopes a massive boast with a 2-1 victory for the Royals.
10 April 2001: Bournemouth 1 Reading 2

1999/2000 Season:
Last season Reading beat Bournemouth at home but lost at Dean Court:
4 March 2000: Reading 2 Bournemouth 0
11 September 1999: Bournemouth 3 Reading 1

1998/1999 Season:
The season before that Reading met Bournemouth three times - including a memorable away win in the league, a 3-3 home draw and a defeat at Dean Court in the Auto Windscreens:
13 March 1999: Bournemouth 0 Reading 1
8 December 1998: Bournemouth 2 Reading 0
7 November 1998: Reading 3 Bournemouth 3

Click on the result for match reports.

Match Odds

Available at William Hill, where you can get £25 back on your first bet:

Reading win:
Draw:
Bournemouth win:

Predictions The result now means nothing.
Reading finish third whatever... however with the pressure off perhaps we'll put on a decent performance in the last normal league game of the season before the play-off fixtures. A win for the Royals.
What do you think?
You can enter your Prediction on-line within the Hob Nob Anyone? Prediction League - and also be in with the chance of winning up to £150 worth of Reading FC vouchers.
Opposition Site  

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