Match Preview

When Saturday 16 December 2000, 3.00pm kick-off
Who and Where Notts County (Away, Meadow Lane, League Division Two)
Ticket Info

Meadow Lane is always a decent trip with a huge away end to attempt to fill. With 5,000 seats in the covered Cop Stand the game is pay on the day and they'll be no need to race to the ground to get a good seat either.
Adult admission is £13
Concessions admission is £7

Travel,
Food and Beer.

If you're coming by train then Meadow Lane is in walking distance from Nottingham station. Turn left out of the station into Queen's Road and then take a right down London Road - you'll see the ground.

By Car, exit the M1 at Junction 24 and turn towards South Nottingham on the A453 and then follow signs towards the A52 towards Grantham. After a bit down the A52 get on the A6011 towards Nottingham and you'll see signposts for the grounds. Make sure you end up on the right side of the river or you'll end up at the City Ground. For parking you'll find a handy little market right near the away end of Meadow Lane - it costs a couple of quid if I remember rightly, and strangely always seems to have spaces.

Notts County is one of the very few Second Division teams to serve beer actually inside the ground. It may only come out of cans but it's still quite handy for a pre-match drink when pushed for time attempting to find a pub. If you prefer a pub and have the time then there's plenty around - if you cross over the river you'll find the Larwood which is a decent sized pub which also serves food on matchdays.

Team news

Notts County have Matt Redmile suspended and also might be without midfielder Gary Owers who could be ruled out with a head injury sustained against Wigan. Meanwhile, striker Sean Farrell could also be missing with a knee injury, but Adam Newton is available for selection again. Caskey is likely to remain on the bench - and it's possible that Pardew might start to the same starting eleven.

Reading - from: Whitehead, Gurney, Viveash, Mackie, Robinson, Igoe, Smith, Jones, Caskey, Parkinson, Cureton, Butler, Hodges, Rougier, Hunter, Newman, Gray.

Notts County - from: Ward, McDermott, Liburd, Fenton, Richardson, Pearce, Jacobsen, Owers, Hughes, Murray, Bolland, Stallard, Hamilton, Gibson, Brough, Joseaf, Newton.

Form Guide

Notts County are currently ten places behind the Royals in 15th place with 7 wins and 3 draws from their 19 league fixtures so far this season. Strangely their best form has come away from home with five victories away and just two in the league at Meadow Lane! County have hit 12 goals in the league at home this season - but conceeded 13, which Reading should see as a good sign that they can take some points from this game. Reading have won three times away from home but if we're to keep in touch with the leaders this is the kind of game we'll need to win.

While Reading were drawing 2-2 with York City last week in the second round of the FA Cup, Notts County went straight through with a 2-1 away win at non-league Gravesend. County took a 2-0 lead in the game, with goals from Stallard and Hughes, before the home side grabbed a goal with 15 minutes to play. In the league their last three matches have all been away from home - losing 0-4 at Bristol City, beating Oxford away 3-2, and being beaten by Colchester most recently 0-2. Notts County last played at home at the end of October - beating Swindon 3-2. Reading's last league trips away from home saw the unlucky 1-2 defeat at Walsall and the 2-0 victory over Bury before that.

View Latest Second Division Table

Previous Meetings 

Notts County have just about enjoyed the upper hand over the Royals through history. The two sides have only met the once outside the League though with Reading recording an FA Cup victory.
Reading wins: 17
Draws: 12
Notts County wins: 19

Last season produced two entertaining league fixtures - we may have drawn 0-0 draw at home but it was a day on which we did everything but score. Away from home we pulled off an excellent 2-1 victory with Forster and Newman getting the goals for the Royals:
15 April 2000: Notts County 1 Reading 2
28 December 1999: Reading 0 Notts County 0

The 1998/1999 season also saw Reading take four out of six points from County, but in not quite so much style. The home victory will be well remembered - not for the quality of the football but for the freak own goal from County that gifted us victory:
30 January 1999: Notts County 1 Reading 1
28 December 1998: Reading 1 Notts County 0

Click on the result for match reports.

Match Odds

Available at William Hill, where you can get permanent tax free betting!
The bookies can't decide either way and so have put both the Royals and County as having an equal chance of victory.
The following are returns on a £1 bet:
Reading win: £2.50
Draw: £3.20
Notts County win: £2.50

Predictions A draw.
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 NottsCountyfan.net
http://www.nottscountyfan.net/

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