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2002/03 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goals: Andy Hughes (13 minutes), Nicky Forster (32 minutes), Alan Pouton (own goal, 95 minutes, in second-half injury-time)
Assists: Anthony Rougier (2), none for third goal
Opposition goals: None
Half-time: Grimsby Town 0 Reading 2
Gamebreaker: Reading's first goal (Grimsby were that bad)
Attendance: 5,582
Weather: Cloudy
Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham)

Reading line-up: 21 Jamie Ashdown; 2 Graeme Murty, 8 Adie Williams, 29 Matthew Upson, 3 Nicky Shorey; 7 Anthony Rougier (24 Darius Henderson, 79 minutes), 25 Ricky Newman, 4 Kevin Watson (15 James Harper, 77 minutes), 17 John Salako; 11 Andy Hughes; 10 Nicky Forster
Subs not used: 32 Jamie Young, 9 Martin Butler, 12 Jamie Cureton
Approximate starting formation:

Reading yellow cards: Kevin Watson (taking a free-kick too early!, 19 minutes), Ricky Newman (foul, 73 minutes)
Reading red cards: None

Match report:

Grimsby proved to be an exceptionally poor side, and Reading cruised to victory. Two first half goals, brought about by the pace of Andy Hughes and Nicky Forster respectively, were enough to completely kill the game. Really, we should have gone on to score many more, but sat back on the two-goal lead and were content to play out time.

The home side forced one save out of Jamie Ashdown, from a first-half free-kick, and they managed to get back into the game early in the second half without ever looking like scoring. The scoring was completed by a bizarre own goal, which will be repeated many times over the years. Darius Henderson lost the ball in midfield and a Grimsby player stretched to reach it before Henderson could recover. By getting there quickly the home player got enough power on the ball to send it 40 yards in the direction of his own goal, where his hapless keeper could only back-pedal vainly to stop it going in the top corner. Tremendous fun! Bet he couldn't do that again.

Match notes:

Compared to the Stoke City starting line-up, Jamie Ashdown replaced the injured Marcus Hahnemann, Nicky Shorey effectively replaced the suspended John Mackie (combined with a switch in formation) and Nicky Forster came off the bench to swap places with Jamie Cureton. Jamie Young, James Harper, Darius Henderson and Martin Butler were named on the bench to fill the vacancies created by Ashdown and Shorey ad well as to replace Sammy Igoe and Nathan Tyson.

Ahmet Rifat travelled with the first team squad and took part in the pre-match warm-up but was not otherwise involved.

Jamie Ashdown made his first start of this season for Reading, and also kept his first clean sheet.

Reading's third goal was a bizarre own goal, which may yet be officially credited to Darius Henderson. Having seen the goal on television, I think it has to class as an own goal and I have also decided that there should be no assist. (Note: The goal was officially classed as an own goal.)

Reading have now not conceded an away League goal since the 5th minute of the game against Leicester City on 24/8/2002. That's a total of 445 minutes on our travels without the home sides scoring a goal, and that run has been combined by three different goalkeepers - Phil Whitehead, Marcus Hahnemann and Jamie Ashdown.

Match preview:

John Mackie is suspended for this game, so we know that Alan Pardew has to make a change to his team. To me, it is certain that Nicky Shorey will be back in the starting line-up as otherwise he would have played a part in the reserve game on Wednesday. Therefore we must be returning to four at the back, and John Salako will be back in his proper position of left winger.

I'd like to see Nicky Forster partnering Jamie Cureton up front, but it's far more likely that this is the game when Cureton will be dropped to the bench with Forster returning as a striker. Martin Butler's hat-trick for the reserves may have earnt him a recall but only as far as the bench. Marcus Hahnemann has been struggling all week with a calf injury picked up during the Stoke City game, so we might also see Jamie Ashdown back in the starting line-up.

The home side's team should contain two ex-Reading players. Darren Barnard played for us on loan eight years ago, whilst Shaun Allaway is on loan at Blundell Park. Barnard is likely to have to switch position for this game, as the normal left-back is suspended and he is the obvious replacement. Allaway has been an unused sub for his spell with Grimsby, and that's likely to continue. He can still earn us a lot of money following his transfer to Leeds United, so if he does get on and play a blinder it won't be all bad news. The rest of Grimsby's outfield defenders are reported to be slow and should be vulnerable to the pace of Forster and Andy Hughes.

Grimsby are on an appalling run - the only League game they have won this season was last Saturday at Zamora FC. In other words the only team they've been able to beat is the one who have failed to take a single point all season against any side keeping eleven men on the pitch. If we are a mid-table side we have to win games such as these.

Ticket information:

Every time we visit Blundell Park the away end seems to change. As far as I know, it is currently the Osmond Stand (again different from the last time we visited!) containing just under 2,000 seats, whilst the family section of the Main Stand also admits visiting supporters.

Entry is pay-on-the -day. Prices are:
Adults - £15
Concessions - £9
(but two free junior tickets are available with every adult ticket purchased on the day of the game from the Grimsby Town main ticket office)

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