Matchday 18 ~ Reading vs Sunderland

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 10:54 PM

Reading vs Sunderland

Premier League 2007/2008 | Campeonato | Day 18


Reading				Sunderland

Date
2007-12-22 15h00

City
Reading

Stadium
Madejski Stadium

Referee

Oscar Cardozo · 12-16-2007, 11:02 PM

Reading 3-1

Cristiano Best 07 · 12-16-2007, 11:12 PM

I agree. Only I say Reading 2-0.

Brasil · 12-17-2007, 07:22 AM

Reading

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:01 AM

Reading v Sunderland

Madejski Stadium
Saturday, 22 December
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
BBC coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match of the Day. Featured game on Score and Final Score.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:03 AM

Reading are waiting on Brynjar Gunnarsson who is struggling with a knee injury, so Kalifa Cisse stands by.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:03 AM

Royals boss Steve Coppell has no new injury worries but is still without wingers John Oster (ankle) and Glen Little (heel).

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:03 AM

Sunderland, still chasing their first away win this season, are again without suspended midfielder Liam Miller.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:03 AM

Injury victims Nyron Nosworthy, Kieran Richardson and Russell Anderson are close to returns.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:03 AM

Reading (from): Hahnemann, Federici, Murty, de la Cruz, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Duberry, Bikey, Shorey, Convey, Harper, Cisse, Fae, Gunnarsson, Hunt, Kitson, Doyle, Long, Lita.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:03 AM

Sunderland (from): Ward, Gordon, McShane, Halford, Harte, Higginbotham, Collins, Yorke, Etuhu, Leadbitter, Wallace, Whitehead, Kavanagh, O'Donovan, Jones, Chopra, Connolly, Murphy, Stokes, Cole.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:03 AM

Reading manager Steve Coppell:
"Last season, we had two batches of games where we won four or five on the bounce - and that made all the difference.

"It is not until you go five or six games unbeaten that you think of yourselves as a strong team.

"At the moment we are still trying to convince ourselves."

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:03 AM

Sunderland boss Roy Keane on refusing to use the word "survival":
"I see it as a tough few months coming up for us, but I am not going to use that word.

"We knew it was going to be tough and that's the way it is panning out.

"But as the games come thick and fast - we hope to get one or two players back and add one or two in January - we will get stronger as the season goes on."

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:03 AM

BIG-MATCH FACTS

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:04 AM

The second weakest defence plays host to the second bluntest attack in the Premier League, in the first ever top-flight meeting of Reading and Sunderland on Reading turf.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:04 AM

Reading's only victory in six Premier League matches was the amazing 3-1 eclipse of Liverpool in their last home fixture. They are four places and four points superior to the Black Cats, yet have conceded two more goals.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:04 AM

Roy Keane's side travel to the Madejski Stadium, in the hope of becoming the first team from the north-east to win a Premier League match there.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:04 AM

Sunderland did the double over Reading for the first time in 2003-04, in the Championship. The Black Cats could do it again here, at the first opportunity at the highest level.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:04 AM

CLUB FORM

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:04 AM

READING
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 12th
Lowest could fall: 15th

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:04 AM

1. Picked up five points from a last available nine.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:04 AM

2. Scored in each of the last 12 Premier League fixtures, since the 0-2 home loss to West Ham on 1 September.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:04 AM

3. The 1-0 home victory over Derby on 7 October is their only clean sheet in 14; conceded one goal in each of the last three.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:04 AM

4. Eight points down on their total to this stage of last season, when 26 points were bagged after 17 matches.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:04 AM

5. Drawn only three Premier League matches so far this term; no club has finished level less often; two of those stalemates have come in the last three outings.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:04 AM

6. The second best club to watch for Premier League goals. Their 17 matches have yielded 56 (22 for, 34 against); at 3.29 it's only inferior to Tottenham's 3.41 goals per game average.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:04 AM

7. Conceded 34 times in the highest league at one every 45 minutes on average; only Derby exceed that with a goal shipped every 39 minutes.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:05 AM

8. Earliest league goal scored from open play so far this season was in the 29th minute.

Freddy Adu · 12-22-2007, 04:05 AM

9. Gained 14 more Premier League points at home than away (16 at the Madejski, two on the road). Only Manchester City have a wider such disparity of 21 points.

12-16-2007, 11:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cristiano Best 07 Soccer Forums All Star Offline Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,126 vCash: 518 Rep Points: 56	I agree. Only I say Reading 2-0. __________________

12-16-2007, 11:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Oscar Cardozo Soccer Forums Rookie Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California Posts: 54,038 vCash: 294 Rep Points: 985	Reading 3-1

12-17-2007, 07:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
Brasil Soccer Forums Rookie Offline Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 20,159 vCash: 23720747 Rep Points: 1487	Reading

12-22-2007, 04:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Reading are waiting on Brynjar Gunnarsson who is struggling with a knee injury, so Kalifa Cisse stands by.

12-22-2007, 04:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Royals boss Steve Coppell has no new injury worries but is still without wingers John Oster (ankle) and Glen Little (heel).

12-22-2007, 04:03 AM	#8 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Sunderland, still chasing their first away win this season, are again without suspended midfielder Liam Miller.

12-22-2007, 04:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Injury victims Nyron Nosworthy, Kieran Richardson and Russell Anderson are close to returns.

12-22-2007, 04:03 AM	#10 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Reading (from): Hahnemann, Federici, Murty, de la Cruz, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Duberry, Bikey, Shorey, Convey, Harper, Cisse, Fae, Gunnarsson, Hunt, Kitson, Doyle, Long, Lita.

12-22-2007, 04:03 AM	#11 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Sunderland (from): Ward, Gordon, McShane, Halford, Harte, Higginbotham, Collins, Yorke, Etuhu, Leadbitter, Wallace, Whitehead, Kavanagh, O'Donovan, Jones, Chopra, Connolly, Murphy, Stokes, Cole.

12-22-2007, 04:03 AM	#12 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Reading manager Steve Coppell: "Last season, we had two batches of games where we won four or five on the bounce - and that made all the difference. "It is not until you go five or six games unbeaten that you think of yourselves as a strong team. "At the moment we are still trying to convince ourselves."

12-22-2007, 04:03 AM	#13 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Sunderland boss Roy Keane on refusing to use the word "survival": "I see it as a tough few months coming up for us, but I am not going to use that word. "We knew it was going to be tough and that's the way it is panning out. "But as the games come thick and fast - we hope to get one or two players back and add one or two in January - we will get stronger as the season goes on."

12-22-2007, 04:03 AM	#14 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	BIG-MATCH FACTS

12-22-2007, 04:04 AM	#15 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	The second weakest defence plays host to the second bluntest attack in the Premier League, in the first ever top-flight meeting of Reading and Sunderland on Reading turf.

12-22-2007, 04:04 AM	#16 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Reading's only victory in six Premier League matches was the amazing 3-1 eclipse of Liverpool in their last home fixture. They are four places and four points superior to the Black Cats, yet have conceded two more goals.

12-22-2007, 04:04 AM	#17 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Roy Keane's side travel to the Madejski Stadium, in the hope of becoming the first team from the north-east to win a Premier League match there.

12-22-2007, 04:04 AM	#18 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Sunderland did the double over Reading for the first time in 2003-04, in the Championship. The Black Cats could do it again here, at the first opportunity at the highest level.

12-22-2007, 04:04 AM	#19 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	CLUB FORM

12-22-2007, 04:04 AM	#20 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	READING Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 12th Lowest could fall: 15th

12-22-2007, 04:04 AM	#21 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	1. Picked up five points from a last available nine.

12-22-2007, 04:04 AM	#22 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	2. Scored in each of the last 12 Premier League fixtures, since the 0-2 home loss to West Ham on 1 September.

12-22-2007, 04:04 AM	#23 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	3. The 1-0 home victory over Derby on 7 October is their only clean sheet in 14; conceded one goal in each of the last three.

12-22-2007, 04:04 AM	#24 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	4. Eight points down on their total to this stage of last season, when 26 points were bagged after 17 matches.

12-22-2007, 04:04 AM	#25 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	5. Drawn only three Premier League matches so far this term; no club has finished level less often; two of those stalemates have come in the last three outings.

12-22-2007, 04:04 AM	#26 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	6. The second best club to watch for Premier League goals. Their 17 matches have yielded 56 (22 for, 34 against); at 3.29 it's only inferior to Tottenham's 3.41 goals per game average.

12-22-2007, 04:04 AM	#27 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	7. Conceded 34 times in the highest league at one every 45 minutes on average; only Derby exceed that with a goal shipped every 39 minutes.

12-22-2007, 04:05 AM	#28 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	8. Earliest league goal scored from open play so far this season was in the 29th minute.

12-22-2007, 04:05 AM	#29 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	9. Gained 14 more Premier League points at home than away (16 at the Madejski, two on the road). Only Manchester City have a wider such disparity of 21 points.