| Competition | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
| Nationwide League Division 2 | Sunday, 7th April (3pm) | Tranmere Rovers | Away | Drew 2-2 |
Match facts:
Reading goals: Anthony Rougier (50
minutes), John Salako (72 minutes)
Assists: Phil Parkinson, Kevin Watson
Opposition goals: After 41 and 48 minutes
Half-time: Tranmere Rovers 1 Reading 0
Gamebreaker: Final whistle
Attendance: 9,282
Referee: Clive
Wilkes (Gloucester)
Reading line-up: 1 Phil Whitehead;
7 Graeme Murty, 5 Adi Viveash, 23 John Mackie, 28 Nicky Shorey;
11 Andy Hughes, 6 Kevin Watson, 16 Phil Parkinson, 29 John
Salako; 10 Nicky Forster, 7 Anthony Rougier
Subs not used: 30 Frank Talia, 8 Adie Williams, 14 Sammy Igoe, 12
Jamie Cureton, 20 Bas Savage
Reading yellow cards: None
Reading red cards: None
Match report:
Match notes:
Compared to the Northampton Town game, Anthony Rougier replaced Jamie Cureton, who dropped to the bench. Sammy Igoe and Bas Savage were named as substitutes in place of James Harper and the injured Darius Henderson.
This was the first time Bas Savage was named in the 16, but he did not get on to make his debut.
Anthony Rougier's goal was his first since 28th October, 2000 when he scored two against Oxford United.
Match preview:
I suppose I could start the preview with "it's time to return to winning ways" again but that would be wrong. The time to return to winning ways was last weekend. I think it is just possible that three draws will be enough to gain promotion, but let's hope the management aren't thinking like that.
Assuming that we do go to Tranmere and look for a win, there is a fair chance that we might be able to get one. The home side have just ceased to be in the running for a play-off place, and it's not uncommon for a set of players to take a weekend off once that happens, regardless of comments about playing for pride or new contracts. Also, Tranmere's best player Jason Koumas will be suspended. But the main reason for being confident is that our away form is so so good - even though we only managed a draw at Ashton Gate the performance was good and we should have had all three points.
I think I know what the Reading starting line-up is going to be, so just in case the Tranmere manager Dave Watson is reading, I'm not going to speculate. What will be interesting is to see whether Bas Savage or Sammy Igoe are on the bench instead of Darius Henderson. I'm sure that one of them will be, as Igoe appears to be fit enough to play a part and Savage has been added to the Reading squad.
Trips to Tranmere in the recent past have generally been unsuccessful, with the one shining exception being the 3-1 play-off win in 1995, the best Reading performance I have seen. From a purely personal point of view, the trip to Tranmere also always meant I was home 45 minutes after the final whistle, which is no longer the case since I moved to Reading. Having lived in Merseyside for 15 years, and this being my first return there since moving to Reading, I expect to feel home-sick!
Ticket information:
This game has been moved from the Saturday to the Sunday because the Grand National takes place in Merseyside on the Saturday and the police have forced Tranmere Rovers to change the date. At the moment, there is no confirmed kick-off time.
Since our last visit, the away accommodation at
Prenton Park has changed and is now the opposite end from where
it used to be. Reading have 2,450 seats, which go on sale to
season ticket holders from Monday, 25th March (maximum of two per
season ticket), Supporters' Club members from Thursday, 28th
March (one ticket per member), and on general sale from Friday,
29th March. Prices are as follows:
Adults - £15
Over-60s - £8
Under-16s - £3
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