By Mark Sugar
January 15 2004

The Royals travel to the City Ground on Saturday in a must win clash for both sides. Paul Hart's Forest side were tipped for promotion at the start of the season,but with David Johnson suffering a broken leg and Marlon Harewood's departure to West Ham,they have struggled badly.A big game for all. Nottingham Forest Vs Reading
17th January 2004
Nationwide Division 1
City Ground,Kick Off 15:00

Team News
Steve Coppell will make changes to his Royals side after there defeat to Preston on Tuesday.
Both Dave Kitson and Lloyd Owusu were cup-tied,and both should expect to be in the 16.Owusu yesterday agreed to a new loan deal expiring on the 14th February.
Nicky Forster is rated 50/50 after recent a stomach injury.The striker hasn't played all year and Steve Coppell will be desperate to link him up with Shaun Goater again.
Steve Brown should come back into the side after being rested in midweek.The star defender played very well last Saturday against Ipswich but looked tired towards the end.Ivar Ingimarrson should be the central defender who drops to the bench.
Nathan Tyson has recovered from an ankle injury sustained at Wycombe,but has gone back to Wycombe to resume his loan spell.
Jamie Ashdown is still on-loan at Rushden & Diamonds,so Jamie Young will be on the bench.
Joe Gamble has been on-loan at Barnet all season and is scheduled to stay there untill the end of May.
John Mackie signed for Leyton Orient yesterday,bringing an end to his 4 and 1/2 year spell at the club.We all wish him the best at Leyton Orient.
Omar Daley won't be included after a hamstring injury.He is hopefull of being fit for Jamaica's next games at the end of January.


Nottingham Forest have doubts over Gareth Taylor.The striker has a long standing knee injury which may need surgery.
David Johnson is still out with a broken leg he sustained earlier in the season.
Highly rated defender Michael Dawson will miss the game.Dawson hasn't had the season he hoped for with a series of injuries.
Versatile John Thompson is a doubt with a knee injury and if he misses Eoin Jess will come in.
Michael Stewart,on-loan from Manchester United picked up a knee injury in the last few weeks and didn't feature against Sunderland.
Belgian defender Davy Oyen is back in training after 4 months out on the sidelines.

KEY PLAYER FOR NOTTINGHAM FOREST:Andy Reid

Form Guide
Reading held fellow promotion chasers Ipswich to a 1-1 draw last week at the Madejski Stadium. Lloyd Owusu was the Royals goalscorer.
Nottingham Forest were beaten 1-0 at Sunderland.Julio Arca was the goalscorer.

Previous Meetings
16/08/2003 Reading 3-0 Nottingham Forest
18/04/2003 Reading 1-0 Nottingham Forest
21/12/2002 Nottingham Forest 2-0 Reading
26/04/1998 Nottingham Forest 1-0 Reading
24/10/1997 Reading 3-3 Nottingham Forest

Tickets and Travel
Tickets are available from the Stadium.Our allocation was 1,300 with 300 left.Tickets are priced as follows:

£22 Adults
£15 Over 60's
£10 Under 16's and Under 23's with NUS Card

STAR and Young Royals coaches leave the Stadium at 09:45 and Station Hill 10:00

Division 1 Fixtures
Saturday January 17th 2004

Preston Vs Wigan Athletic 12:30
Bradford City Vs Cardiff City 15:00
Burnley Vs West Brom 15:00
Derby County Vs Gillingham 15:00
Ipswich Town Vs Crewe 15:00
Millwall Vs Sunderland 15:00
Nottingham Forest Vs Reading 15:00
Rotherham Utd Vs Norwich 15:00
Walsall Vs Coventry City 15:00
Watford Vs Crystal Palace 15:00
Wimbledon Vs Stoke City 15:00
Sheff Utd Vs West Ham Utd 17:35 (LIVE ON SKY)