By Mark Sugar
April 16 2004

The longest serving football League Manager Dario Gradi brings his Crewe side to the Madejski Stadium for their 1st visit to Reading since 1997.Steve Coppell's side must get a win in order to keep with the Playoff pact but will be without striker Nicky Forster.A massive match for Reading!

Reading Vs Crewe Alexandra
Saturday,17th April 2004
Nationwide League Division 1
Madejski Stadium, Reading
Kick Off 15:00pm

Team News
Steve Coppell will probably be without striker Nicky Forster after the front man requires more stomach surgery. He will miss the rest of the season. His place should go to 1 out of Lloyd Owusu, Shaun Goater and Dean Morgan. Dave Kitson has been confirmed as a definite starter. Also out is full back Nicky Shorey with a foot infection. He has missed the past month with the injury and like Forster won't play again this season. Andy Hughes is definitely out with ankle ligament damage sustained in the 1-0 defeat to Norwich City. Dean Gordon is very doubtful after receiving a foot injury. The left back role will therefore go to Ricky Newman should Gordon not be passed fit. Steve Brown is still on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery last week. He could be out until the new year. American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann is still a bit short of fitness after a medial knee ligament injury. Local lad Jamie Ashdown will continue between the sticks with Jamie Young on the bench. Ivar Ingimarrson could play his last match of the season as he is suspended from the Millwall game until the Watford game. He should start with Royals skipper Adie Williams. On-loan Leicester City winger Paul Brooker should be fit despite coming off at half time in the 1-0 defeat to Norwich City on Easter Monday. He got a knock on the Achilles. Should he not be fit Andy Hughes will move back to right midfield. Kevin Watson is still doubtful with a calf injury. He hasn't featured much since picking up the injury in February. Joe Gamble is still on-loan at Conference side Barnet.

Crewe Alexandra team news to be added.

Key player for Crewe Alexandra: Dean Ashton

Crewe Alexandra Goal Scorer's:

Name	League	FA Cup	Carling Cup	Other	Total
Dean Ashton	16	0	1	0	17
Steve Jones	15	0	1	0	16
Kenny Lunt	4	0	0	0	4
Stephen Foster	2	0	0	0	2
Ben Rix	2	0	0	0	2
Dave Brammer	1	0	0	0	1
Michael Symes (on loan from Everton)	1	0	0	0	1
Richard Walker	1	0	0	0	1
Luke Varney	1	0	0	0	1
David Wright	1	0	0	0	1
James Robinson	1	0	0	0	1
Andrew Barrowman (back at Birmingham City)	1	0	0	0	1
Michael Higdon	1	0	0	0	1
Billy Jones	1	0	0	0	1

Referee: Paul Danson (Leicestershire)

Form Guide
The Royals enter the match on the back of a fluke 1-0 defeat to top of the table Norwich City which was their 2nd defeat in a row.

Crewe come to the Madejski Stadium in good spirits after a good 3-1 win over Coventry City at Gresty Road. Michael Higdon, on loan Everton striker Michael Symes and the highly rated Dean Ashton got the goals which should secure their place in Division 1 for next season.

Previous League Meetings

01/11/2003 Crewe 1-0 Reading
28/02/1998 Crewe 1-0 Reading
11/10/1997 Reading 3-3 Crewe

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 17th April 2004
Bradford City Vs Wimbledon 15:00
Cardiff City Vs Burnley 15:00
Crystal Palace Vs Wigan Athletic 15:00
Derby County Vs Preston North End 15:00
Gillingham Vs Ipswich Town 15:00
Norwich City Vs Walsall 15:00pm
Nottingham Forest Vs Millwall 15:00
Reading Vs Crewe 15:00pm
Rotherham United Vs Watford 15:00pm
Sheffield United Vs Stoke City 15:00pm
West Ham United Vs Coventry City 15:00pm

Sunday 18th April 2004
Sunderland Vs West Bromwich Albion 16:00pm

League Table

Current League Positions		P	W	D	L	F	A	P
10th	Reading	42	18	9	15	52	55	63
15th	Crewe Alexandra	42	14	9	19	52	58	51

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