Match Preview

When Wednesday 16 March 2001, 7.45pm kick-off
Who and Where SECOND DIVISION PLAY OFF - Semi-Final, Second Leg.
Wigan Athletic
(Home, Madejski Stadium)
Ticket Info

This match is ALL-TICKET and tickets will be sold out well in advance of the game.
Tickets went on sale to season ticket holders immediately after the Bournemouth fixture. Tickets remain on sale to season ticket holders only until Tuesday 8 May when tickets will be on sale to RFSC members. A maximum of four tickets can be purchased by one person. Any tickets left over will go on general sale from Wednesday 9 May. Tickets are expected to sell out well before the day of the game.
All seats are on sale at normal advance ticket prices.


All tickets for home fans have now sold out.
Upper West Stand:
(SOLD OUT) Adults: £18 in advance. Concessions: £12 in advance.
Lower West Stand:
(SOLD OUT) Adults: £12 in advance. Concessions: £7 in advance.
East Stand: (SOLD OUT) Adults: £12 in advance. Concessions: £7 in advance.
North Stand: (SOLD OUT) Adults: £12 in advance. Concessions: £7 in advance.

South Stand: (SOLD OUT) Adults: £12 in advance. Concessions: £7 in advance.

The South Stand has been split in half for home and away fans, with 1,800 allocated to Reading fans. These tickets are now on sale. Wigan are expected to bring approximately 1,500 fans to fill their allocation of the South Stand.

ALL STANDS ARE RESERVED SEATING FOR THIS FIXTURE.
Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling the ticket office on 0118 968 1000.

Travel,
Food and Beer.

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

Team news

Graeme Murty is expected to miss the second leg fixture as well as the first leg after a head injury during training last week. Murty will probably be available for selection if we progress to the final. Andy Gurney, who did such a good job at Wigan on Sunday looks set to continue in the full back position. Robinson, Hunter and Viveash will make up the rest of the defence. Caskey may start in place of Jones in the midfield - but James Harper is also competing for a start. Rougier could be recalled to the bench as the Royals look for the essential home victory.

Reading - from: Whitehead, Gurney, Viveash, Hunter, Robinson, Parkinson, Jones, Caskey, Igoe, Cureton Forster, Butler, McIntyre, Williams, Harper.

Wigan - from: Carroll, Bradshaw, McGibbon, De Zeeuw, Sharp, Green, Nicholls, Martinez, Beagrie, Roberts, Liddell, Ashcroft, McCulloch, Haworth, Stillie, Sheridan.

Form Guide

The first leg of this semi-final ended in a 0-0 draw at Wigan's JJB stadium on Sunday. Reading got the result they needed to bring the fixture back to the Madejski Stadium needing a win to progress to the final in Cardiff on the 27th of May.

Reading's Last Six Games Of The Season
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)
D: Reading 3 Bournemouth 3 (League)
Final League Position: 3rd

Wigan Athletic's Last Six Games Of The Season
Most recent last
L: Wigan 1 Brentford 3 (League)
W: Wigan 3 Oxford 2 (League)
W: Bury 0 Wigan 1 (League)
L: Wigan 0 Rotherham 2 (League)
W: Cambridge 1 Wigan 2 (League)
D: Wigan 0 Bristol City 0 (League)
Final League Position:
6th

Semi-Final First Leg Fixture: Wigan Athletic 0 Reading 0

View Final Second Division Table

Previous Meetings 

Wigan have the edge through history:
Reading wins: 8
Draws: 6
Wigan Athletic wins: 11
Figures include League, League Cup, and FA Cup only.

2000/2001 Season:
In our two league meetings this season Reading managed to earn four points off Wigan. We beat Wigan 1-0 at the Madejski Stadium in March, and earlier this season, Martin Butler scored the goal which gave the Royals a draw at Wigan. Of course, last Sunday, we drew 0-0 at the JJB stadium in the first leg of this play-off semi-final fixture:
13 May 2001: Wigan Athletic 0 Reading 0 (Division Two Play Off, First Leg)
9 March 2001: Reading 1 Wigan Athletic 0 (Division Two)
6 October 2000: Wigan Athletic 1 Reading 1 (Division Two)

1999/2000 Season:
Wigan took the full six points last season...
22 April 2000: Wigan Athletic 1 Reading 0
(Division Two)
16 October 1999: Reading 0 Wigan Athletic 2
(Division Two)

1998/1999 Season:
Wigan enjoyed a double over the Royals during the 1998/1999 season - including an impressive 4-1 victory over us.
24 April 1999: Wigan Athletic 4 Reading 1
(Division Two)
11 November 1998: Reading 0 Wigan Athletic 1
(Division Two)

Click on the results for full match reports.

Match Odds

Odds available at William Hill, where you can get £25 back on your first bet:
Well worth betting on a Royals victory!
Reading win 1-0: 6/1
Reading win 2-0: 11/2
Reading win 2-1: 7/1
Reading win 3-0: 11/1
Reading win 3-1: 11/1
Reading win 3-2: 25/1
Reading win 4-0: 33/1
Wigan win 1-0: 10/1
Wigan win 2-0: 33/1
Wigan win 2-1: 16/1
Wigan win 3-0: 80/1
Wigan win 3-1: 66/1
Draw 0-0: 17/2
Draw 1-1: 11/2
Draw 2-2: 12/1
Odds for scores after 90 minutes.

Predictions Reading went to Wigan on Saturday to get the draw - and managed exactly that. We now need to follow that up with the vital victory. The tactics have paid off so far - and a victory at home over a Wigan side that failed to beat us at their place seems likely.
A win for the Royals.
Opposition Site Latic Fanatic
Crazy colours, but some useful news and views.
http://www.laticfanatic.co.uk/

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