Match Preview

When Saturday 25 November 2000, 3.00pm kick-off
Who and Where Bournemouth (Away, Dean Court, Bournemouth, League Division Two)
Ticket Info

This match is all-ticket for Reading fans.
Tickets must be purchased in advance from the ticket office, for the away end at Dean Court which is uncovered terraces.
Adult tickets are £12, concessions are £5.


Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling the ticket office on 0118 968 1000.

Travel,
Food and Beer.

Pop down the M3 and turn onto the M27 signposted towards Bournemouth. Keep going onto the A31 and eventually follow signs to the A338 towards Bournemouth. Stay on the A338 until you come to the A3049 signposted to Boscombe and then you're pretty much there. Car parking is available at the ground as long as you don't mind spending an hour or two in the car park after the final whistle. Another option is the train - the taxi to the ground from Bournemouth central station will set you back about four quid.

The trip to Bournemouth is always a great day out - well worth making a day of it if the weather holds out. There's plenty of options for food and beer both in the town centre, in Boscombe or right next to the ground. Some pubs stop you getting in after two so it's worth turning up with a bit of spare time for a pre-match drink. Next to the ground there's a couple of pubs down Holdenhurst Road, the closest is the Queens Park right by the ground which is recommended, otherwise The Portman is close by down Ashley Road. There's plenty of take aways down Holdenhurst Road too.

Team news

Reading will be without Ricky Newman who is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season so far, meaning Pardew will be forced to alter the defence. Gurney will be returned after missing last weeks FA Cup game due to suspension - he appears likely to play in defence with Stuart Gray the other full-back. Meanwhile Robinson could also feature on the bench as he make he's return from injury. Murty is obviously out injured, but Darren Caskey makes a welcome return back in midfield. Up front Pardew is likely, and should, play Jamie Cureton alongside Martin Butler - the most lethal striking partnership in the Second Division.

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

Bournemouth - from: Stewart, Narada, Purches, Howe, Tindall, Day, O'Connor, Hughes, Elliott, Jorgensen, Eribenne, Fletcher, Hayter, Menetrier, Broadhurst, Smith.

Form Guide

While Reading's form has dropped off recently with two straight league defeats against Walsall (1-2, away) and Colchester (0-1, the first home defeat of the season) Bournemouth's has done the opposite. After a poor start to the season they've won their last two league games to move up to 18th in the table. Last week while Reading were beating non-league Grays Athletic 4-0 at the Madejski Stadium, Bournemouth were victorious at home in their FA Cup Round One game against Swansea City. Before that Bournemouth won 3-0 away at Northampton and beat Peterborough 2-1 at home in the league.

Reading may be 5th in the league, but this is certain to be a hard away fixture against a side with a positive overall goal difference despite their position in the league. Away from home the Royals have lost five matches already this season with just three wins and a draw. Thankfully Bournemouth have already lost three games at home this season, draw four, and won just the two. Bournemouth may be starting to come into form but Reading will know this is a vital match to get back on track for promotion. As long as we adopt a positive approach to the game and don't settle for a draw we could be in for some ponts.

View Latest Second Division Table

Previous Meetings 

Reading and Bournemouth have met 102 times for competitive fixtures with the Royals just about having the upper hand.
Reading wins: 41
Draws: 22
Bournemouth wins: 39

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

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 Bet 247, where you can currently get a free 5 quid bet:
Reading are narrow favourites for victory - presumably because we're thirteen places above Bournemouth in the league. However Bournemouth have home advantage - the odds are very close. A repeat of the victory at Bury, 2-0, attracts odds of 10/1.
Reading win: 5/4
Draw: 9/4
Bournemouth win: 7/4
Draw 0-0: 8/1
Draw 1-1: 11/2
Draw 2-2: 14/1
Draw 3-3: 50/1
Reading win 1-0: 6/1
Reading win 2-0: 10/1
Reading win 2-1: 8/1
Reading win 3-0: 20/1
Reading win 3-1: 16/1
Reading win 3-2: 28/1
Reading win 4-0: 50/1

Predictions A 2-1 win to Reading would go down very nicely.
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 The official site really isn't that special.

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