| Competition | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
| Nationwide League Division 2 | Tuesday, 18th September (7.45pm) | Cambridge United | Home | Won 1-0 |
Match facts:
Reading goal: James Harper (63
minutes)
Assist: None (goalkeeper spilled ball)
Opposition goals: None
Half-time: Reading 0 Cambridge United 0
Gamebreaker: Final whistle
Attendance: 8,348
Referee: Lee
Cable (Woking)
Reading line-up: Phil Whitehead;
Graeme Murty, Adrian Whitbread, Adie Williams, Matt Robinson;
Sammy Igoe, James Harper, Phil Parkinson, Alex Smith (Neil Smith,
74 minutes); Martin Butler (Darius Henderson, 67 minutes), Nicky
Forster (Anthony Rougier, 87 minutes)
Subs not used: Jamie Ashdown, Jamie Cureton
Reading yellow cards: Alex Smith (foul, 29 minutes)
Reading red cards: None
Match report:
To follow.
Match notes:
Compared to the Stoke City game, the only change to the starting line-up was that Nicky Forster replaced Jamie Cureton.
Neil Smith made his first appearance of the season, coming on as a second-half substitute.
Match preview:
After two League defeats and two poor performances, we have an excellent chance to get back on track against Cambridge. Despite their win over Cardiff last Saturday, they are clearly still one of the worst teams in the division.
Alan Pardew has suggested that he will make changes to the Reading line-up for this game, although it's not immediately obvious how. Adie Williams played badly at Stoke, so perhaps Adi Viveash might come in for him. Then again Adrian Whitbread didn't look much better. In midfield, we might well see Keith Jones get a start, although he hardly covered himself in glory in the second half on Saturday either. Sooner or later, James Harper is going to get dropped as a motivational tool, and this might be the game. Neither Jamie Cureton or ex-Cambridge star Martin Butler were up to the normal standard on Saturday, so what are the chances of a starting pair of Darius Henderson and Nicky Forster up front? In fact the only players who are surely certain to retain their place are Phil Whitehead and Graeme Murty.
We might be making changes, but Cambridge have already done so. Having started the season in traditional John Beck Route One style, and having failed to win a game, they have tried to switch their style of play. This was successful on Saturday, and they picked up three points - the switch was to a 4-3-3 formation but by all accounts their most dangerous moves still came from free-kicks and long throws.
Marcus Richardson, who had a trial with Reading last season and who caused us problems with his height in the away game last April, will not be playing as he has just joined Torquay United. In his place, Cambridge have a French player with the confusing surname of One, who is apparently "huge". Now given the number of 6 foot 4 players they already have, it's difficult to imagine what this guy is going to be like.
Ticket information:
Prices and details are the same as for standard home games, and are available here.
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