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2001/02 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goals: Andy Hughes (25 minutes), Nicky Forster (42 minutes)
Assists: John Salako (none for second goal)
Opposition goals: None
Half-time: Wigan Athletic 0 Reading 2
Gamebreaker: About five minutes from the end, when Wigan just seemed to accept their fate
Attendance: 5,546
Referee: Mike Pike (Barrow-in-Furness)

Reading line-up: 31 Ben Roberts; 2 Graeme Murty, 8 Adie Williams, 23 John Mackie, 28 Nicky Shorey; 14 Sammy Igoe, 11 Andy Hughes, 4 Keith Jones, 29 John Salako; 10 Nicky Forster (24 Darius Henderson, 88 minutes), 7 Anthony Rougier (12 Jamie Cureton, 88 minutes)
Subs not used: 21 Jamie Ashdown, 3 Matthew Robinson, 19 Joe Gamble
Reading yellow cards: Keith Jones (foul, 44 minutes)
Reading red cards: None

Match report:

To follow

Match notes:

The only change in the starting line-up was that Keith Jones came in for Phil Parkinson, due to an illness in the Parkinson family. On the bench Matt Robinson replaced Alex Smith (told you!).

This was Reading's sixth consecutive win, all of which saw a clean sheet. Six wins on the trot is seven short of the club record in League games (13 in 1985/86) and six short of the record in all competitions (12 in 1966/67 running into 1967/68). Six clean sheets on the trot is five short of the club record (11 in 1978/79). But the combination of six wins AND six clean sheets on the trot equals a club record set in 1966/67.

The number of minutes without conceding a goal is up to 563, just over halfway to the club record of 1103.

Match preview:

A trip to Wigan certainly ought to be a daunting prospect, for Reading have never won a game in that town. We may not have played them that many times, because Wigan only entered the Football League in 1978, but it's still enough times to have gained at least one win. Last season we got two draws at the JJB Stadium, in the League when totally outplaying the home side, and in the play-offs when we decided to go for a 0-0 draw and were fortunate to get it.

Last season's Friday night League trip also saw an excellent turnout by Reading fans, and with us currently four points clear at the top of the table (OK, three points after the Monday night game) we should hope for the same again.

Wigan are currently on a long unbeaten run, but most of their games seem to be draws (their last two games were wins, one apparently fortunate, but the previous six were draws including the game at Madejski Stadium). They have had some players out injured, although a couple of key players have just returned, and they have also lost one Canadian to the Gold Cup tournament.

Reading have announced an unchanged squad for the game, and I would expect the same line-up as Saturday. I've had a feeling in recent weeks that Alan Pardew has been more cautious about the substitutes named away from home, so we might see Matthew Robinson on the bench instead of Alex Smith.

Historically, we have been on the receiving end of some very poor and biased referees in games at Wigan (1985/86 and 1999/2000 being the worst). We shall have to see whether Mike Pike will be added to that list. However, he isn't normally biased against us because in the last three Reading games he took charge of we didn't concede a goal.

Ticket information:

The JJB Stadium has room for 7,000 away fans in the side stand. For some reason that I just can't begin to understand, Reading fans are expected to buy tickets in advance for this game. Initially Reading have 1,000 seats for sale. Season ticket holders can purchase two from 5pm on Saturday, 5th January. Supporters club members can purchase one from Thursday, 10th January, and any remaining (!) will go on general sale from Friday, 11th January. Prices are:
Adults - £13
Seniors (over 65) / Under-16s - £8

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