HT, 0-0. Closest was Reading's Harper ringing a volley off the post. Hahnemann is without both starting centerbacks; Brown didn't start, and Williams limped out after 36'.
Buff, Any idea what, if any, kind of seeding advantage there is in finishing 3rd as opposed to 4th, 5th or 6th? Will Reading really have anything to play for once it's clear they'll be in the play-off but not finish as high as second?
(GP, PTS, GD, Goals Scored) Portsmouth 35 73 39 73 Leicester 35 70 26 57 ------------------------- Reading 35 61 12 45 Nottm Forest 34 58 26 60 Sheff Utd 33 58 15 51 Wolverhampton 35 56 24 61 ------------------------- Norwich 34 49 10 44
With the addition of the away goals tiebreaker at the end of extratime in the second leg if the aggregate score is level at that point.
This was a very important win for Reading now . Their next two games will be at home one against Wolverhamton. Reading's GD is the worst at + 12 among the top 6 or 7 teams, looks like they don't score much. I think they definetly need some better strikers.
Division One -------------P--W--D--L--F--A-----Pts-GD Portsmouth---35 21 10 4 73 34 73 39 Leicester----35 20 10 5 57 31 70 26 Reading------35 19 4 12 45 33 61 12 Nottm Forest-34 16 10 8 60 34 58 26 Sheff Utd----33 17 7 9 51 36 58 15 Wolver,------35 15 11 9 61 37 56 24 Norwich------34 13 10 11 44 34 49 10
That rule has been dispensed with in the play-offs. It was deemed to be unfair as it gave the team finishing lower in the division an extra half hour to score an away goal if the scores were tied. If the aggregate scores are level after extra time it goes straight to a penalty competition.
This was a HUGE win for Reading. Norwich was seventh in the table, and after the loss, is 12 points behind Reading with a game in hand. Had Norwich won, they would have been six points back with a game in hand. Thus, Reading has gone a fair bit towards securing at the minimum a playoff birth.