Wednesday, July 19, 2006

News about tonight's friendlies .......


Firstly, today is probably the hottest July day in history, in the UK. Fitness will be severely tested in the conditions tonight.

I am going to keep stakes smallish because of that, but am very confident about the selections, hope that makes sense.

Two managers that will have their players fit and ready to go, are Steve Coppell and Billy Davies (Derby).

Coppell's Reading are taking a strong squad to Rushden tonight, just two days after the Conference side lost a hard fought game,
2-0 at home to Nottingham Forest.

Do not think that two games in 48 hours, in these conditions, is very wise and I can see them getting very tired in the second half.

Reading have forgotten how to lose and will want to keep that feeling going into their first ever Premiership season.

Derby County are in good shape, winning on a short tour of Austria and, at MK Dons over the weekend. They travel to Mansfield who are still players short for the coming season and for whom, this is their first proper warm up game. County have been in training almost a week longer than their Division 2 opponents, which will stand them in good stead tonight.

3 points Reading -1 goal asian line 1.81
2.5 points Derby -1/2 1.90 asian line.

Good Luck.

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