By Mark Sugar
March 19 2004

The Royals welcome FA Cup Semi Finalists Sunderland to the Madejski Stadium for another big promotion clash.The Royals are back in the Playoff's with a fantastic 3-2 victory over Cardiff City on Tuesday night but no anything less than a win will see them move out of it again.

Reading Vs Sunderland
Saturday,20th March 2004
Nationwide League Division 1
Madejski Stadium, Reading
Kick Off 15:00pm

Team News
The Royals will be without a number of first team players. Adie Williams has been added to the player set to miss key games after undergoing knee surgery on Monday. He will be missing for around a month. Steve Brown will partner Ivar Ingimarrson. Nicky Shorey is doubtful after being admitted to hospital with a foot infection. He missed the 3-2 win over Cardiff City in midweek. Should he not be fit Ricky Newman will step in again at left back. Nicky Forster will once again be missing because of stomach surgery. Lloyd Owusu is still suspended after his sending off in the 2-1 defeat to Preston North End. Its likely Dave Kitson will start the match up front. Kevin Watson is back in the squad after a calf injury. Marcus Hahnemann misses out after a medial knee ligament injury so Jamie Ashdown will continue in goal with Jamie Young on the bench. John Salako will probably start the game on Saturday leaving Paul Brooker on the bench again. Andy Hughes will continue on right midfield leaving Scott Murray on the bench.

For the Black Cats, they won't be able to rely on the services of Colin Healy. He is still injured with a broken leg sustained in the draw at Coventry. Marcus Stewart misses out with a stomach injury. Julio Arca could possibly make a return at the Madejski Stadium. He was injured in the FA Cup win over Sheffield United. Jason McAteer should return to skipper the side. He has missed the last 2 games with an abdominal strain. Darren Byfield could partner Kevin Kyle up front as Tommy Smith has struggled to score in the league this season.

Key player for Sunderland: Kevin Kyle

Sunderland Goal Scorer's:

Name	League	FA Cup	Carling Cup	Other	Total
Marcus Stewart	13	0	0	0	13
Kevin Kyle	8	1	3	0	12
Julio Arca	4	2	0	0	6
Tommy Smith	1	4	0	0	5
John Oster	4	0	0	0	4
Sean Thornton	3	0	0	0	3
Gary Breen	2	0	0	0	2
Darren Byfield	2	0	0	0	2
Jason McAteer	2	0	0	0	2
Jeff Whitley	1	0	0	0	1
Mart Poom	1	0	0	0	1
Stephen Wright	1	0	0	0	1

Referee: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire)

Form Guide
The Royals recorded a fantastic 3-2 victory over Cardiff City on Tuesday night. Icelandic defender Ivar Ingimarrson had put the Royals in front on 35 minutes in the first half before Robert Earnshaw equalised for the Bluebirds. Then just before half time Dave Kitson headed in his 1st goal for the 1st team since signing. But Lee Bullock pulled Cardiff back level again on 72 minutes with a low drive past Jamie Ashdown. But in injury time substitute Paul Brooker delivered a fantastic cross for Dean Morgan to head past helpless City keeper Martyn Margeston.

Sunderland were held to a 1-1 draw by Tony Pulis Stoke City at the Stadium Of Light. City took the lead Darel Russell laid the ball on for on-loan midfielder Sebastian Svard, who struck the ball into the top right corner. But Sunderland hit back when Matthew Piper crossed and Darren Byfield headed into the bottom left corner to share the points.

Previous Meetings

27/09/2003 Sunderland 2-0 Reading
17/02/1998 Sunderland 4-1 Reading
04/10/1997 Reading 4-0 Sunderland
16/12/1995 Reading 1-1 Sunderland
30/09/1995 Sunderland 2-2 Reading
03/12/1994 Sunderland 0-1 Reading
22/10/1994 Reading 0-2 Sunderland

Thanks to www.soccer-stats.com for the above information

Ticket News

Click here for the Ticket News for the game

Division 1 Fixtures

Saturday 20th March 2004

Ipswich Town Vs Watford 12:00
Crewe Alexandra Vs Cardiff City 15:00
Crystal Palace Vs Norwich City 15:00
Derby County Vs Nottingham Forest 15:00
Gillingham Vs Rotherham United 15:00
Preston North End Vs Walsall 15:00
Reading Vs Sunderland 15:00
Sheffield United Vs Bradford City 15:00
Stoke City Vs West Bromwich Albion 15:00
Wigan Athletic Vs Coventry City 15:00
Burnley Vs Wimbledon 15:00

Sunday 21st March 2004

Millwall v West Ham United 12:00

Thanks to www.bbc.co.uk/football for the fixture list

League Table

Current League Positions		P	W	D	L	F	A	P
6th	Reading	37	16	9	12	47	49	57
7th	Sunderland	34	15	11	18	47	35	56

Anything Else
Remember to make your Prediction on the Prediction League.

BACK THE BOYS AND MAKE SOME NOISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

COME ON URZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!