Reading FC Match Preview - Wigan (away), 01/02

When	Tuesday 22 January 2002, 7.45pm kick-off
Who and Where	WIGAN ATHLETIC (Home, JJB Stadium, Wigan, League Division Two)
Ticket Info	Pay in advance or on the day. Tickets are available from the Madejski Stadium ticket office for those making the trip. Adults: Ł13 Concessions: Ł8 Only seating is available. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling the ticket office on 0118 968 1000.
Travel, Food and Beer.	By Car Leave at junction 25 off the M6 (signposted A49 to Wigan). Follow the road into Wigan until a junction at Aldi, turn left at the fire station traffic lights and then turn right at the second set of lights. By Rail Wigan Wallgate and Wigan North West are both a bus or taxi journey away. Food Food inside the ground isn't too great, but right outside the ground there's a restaurant and just down the road there's a Pizza Hut. Walk a bit further and you'll also find a drive-through Burger King and another restaurant. Pubs Although there are plenty of similarities between the JJB and the Madejski (although the Madejski is better of course), there are actually some nearby pubs to Wigan's ground. The Bowling Green on Ormskirk Road and The Douglas Bank on Woodhouse Lane are the closest. Beer at The Douglas Bank is rumoured to be cheap!
Team news	Reading - from: Roberts, Murty, Williams, Mackie, Shorey, Igoe, Hughes, Parkinson, Gamble, Salako, Rougier, Henderson, Forster, Cureton, Ashdown, Jones, A.Smith. Wigan - from: Filan, Green, Croft, McGibbon, De Zeeuw, Teale, Brannan, Dinning, McMillan, Liddell, McCulloch, Haworth, Kilford, Roberts, Mitchell, Dalglish.
Form Guide	View Latest Second Division Table And Form Table
Previous Meetings	Reading wins: 9 Draws: 7 Wigan Athletic wins: 11 Figures include League, League Cup, and FA Cup only. 2001/2002 Season: Last month the Royals managed a 1-1 draw at home with Wigan. It didn't seem that good at the time but it kicked off our current run of form that's put us top of the table: 22 Dec 2001: Reading 1 Wigan Athletic 1 (Division Two) 2000/2001 Season: Last season's encounters against Wigan included the most memorable Madejski Stadium game ever - the dramatic 2-1 play-off second leg victory that sent us through to the final at Cardiff. Reading were trailing with five minutes to go before two late goals from Butler and Forster saw the stadium erupt in celebration. Reading did half the job in the first leg with a 0-0 draw away. In our two league meetings Reading managed to earn four points off Wigan. We beat Wigan 1-0 at the Madejski Stadium in March, and earlier in the season, Martin Butler scored the goal which gave the Royals a draw at Wigan. 16 May 2001: Reading 2 Wigan Athletic 1 (Division Two Play Off, Second Leg) 13 May 2001: Wigan Athletic 0 Reading 0 (Division Two Play Off, First Leg) 9 March 2001: Reading 1 Wigan Athletic 0 (Division Two) 6 October 2000: Wigan Athletic 1 Reading 1 (Division Two) 1999/2000 Season: Wigan took the full six points during the 1999/2000 season: 22 April 2000: Wigan Athletic 1 Reading 0 (Division Two) 16 October 1999: Reading 0 Wigan Athletic 2 (Division Two) 1998/1999 Season: Wigan enjoyed another double over the Royals during the 1998/1999 season - including an impressive 4-1 victory over us. 24 April 1999: Wigan Athletic 4 Reading 1 (Division Two) 11 November 1998: Reading 0 Wigan Athletic 1 (Division Two) Click on the results for full match reports.
Match Odds	Odds offered at on-line book maker William Hill:
Predictions	A draw would be a great result to keep the good run going. What do you think? Enter your Prediction now!
Opposition Site	Latic Fanatic Crazy colours, but some useful news and views. http://www.laticfanatic.co.uk/

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Pre-Match Opinions

It is only a matter of weeks since Reading last faced Wigan in a frustrating encounter which ended up with both teams sharing the points. Looking back on my match report, I can't believe the transformation the side has managed in such a short space of time and certainly the Christmas period was a turning point in our season. The fact that Wigan hardly struggled against Reading at the Mad Stad could work in our favour and their run of form has to come to an end at some stage. Reading on the other hand have the best away record in the league and may benefit from an open contest with both teams going for promotion points. Tuesday night will be an important test of character for Reading and if we can pull off another three pointer or a draw then everyone will sit up and take notice. Pardew and Dillon have got to motivate the team and get them up again for this tough match and I feel that Reading's team spirit, which has come together over the past few weeks may be the key to our recent success and give us the impetus to take all three points at the JJB Stadium. Reading certainly should not get negative, as despite Wigan's recent run, the team they face on Tuesday night is not the same Reading team they drew with back in December. Mackie and Williams will have to continue their good form, whilst another captains performance in midfield by Parkinson will be key to getting a result. Travelling support may not be at the same level as against Huddersfield, but the fans will begin to expect and that isn't a bad thing. There will certainly be ten thousand or more tuned into the radio willing the lads on, lets hope its another result to celebrate.
-- Paul Finch

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