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City won promotion from Division 3 back to Division 2 the following season so we kicked off the 2001/2002 season with another trip planned to Reading. This game came on September 8th.
It was a day of joy again for City and for Leo FW, the big striker scoring both goals in a 2 - 1 win. Nigel's report for that game can be found here.
Reading were unbeaten previous to that game and we earned a lot of respect from Reading fans and players alike. The Royals had the last laugh though, they were promoted automatically 1 point ahead of City and then we lost in the play offs.
Last season Reading made the Div 1 play offs, losing to the eventually promoted Wolves over two legs. Cardiff of course won their play off battle and now the teams meet at the Madjeski for a third time only in Division 1.
Reading are in the news lately. Their manager Alan Pardew was named as No. 1 target for the West Ham job. He asked permission from his chairman to speak to the Hammers but was refused. He then resigned but that's not been accepted by John Madejski.
Pardew now finds himself on the outside, not at Reading, not at West Ham and in a very difficuly position. Let's hope the disruption shows on the field and Reading follow up defeat ironically at West Ham on Saturday with a bad performance against City.
Cardiff have a testing week. If Reading away wasn't hard enough then it's Sheff Utd on Saturday. These fixtures though are what the fans have been waiting years for. 1st division football in quality stadiums. So far this season we are unbeaten away from home and playing scintillating football. We go to Reading on the same number of points but with a better goal difference, City are 6th, Reading 7th and Tuesday night promises to be a cracker.
You can add some more ingredients into the mix. City's old arch enemy Scott Murray is playing for Reading, potential summer target Shaun Goater will start up front for the Royals. Former City loan player James Harper is a regular in the Reading side.
There have been no injuries reported yet from Ninian Park so City would expect to start with the same team that blew Gillingham away 5 - 0. Team news to follow later on Monday or ahead of the game on Tuesday.
Tickets are available for the game at the Madejski with reports that close on 3,000 have been sold so far. Season ticket holders and members can purchase them from the ticket office at Ninian Park. The game kicks off at 8:00pm.