Sat 4th Oct - JJB Stadium
Last updated: 16th July 2008
Harper: Happy where he is
Steve Coppell insists James Harper is happy to stay at Reading, despite the club's relegation from the Premier League.
Harper has been linked with a return to the top flight, with Bolton Wanderers and Middlesbrough rumoured to be showing an interest.
However, Reading boss Coppell does not expect the midfielder to demand a move away from the Madejski Stadium.
"It was in his contract that he goes on the transfer list if we got relegated," Coppell told the Evening Post.
"He's on the transfer list - if someone meets our valuation then I'll put it to him. But he's quite happy to stay here and play.
"He's spent a number of years at the club and, in a way, is excited about trying to get back in the Premier League.
"He just loves his football; he just wants to play week in, week out. In the Premier League I don't think there are enough games for him: he'd like twice as many games.
"He just says, 'If I'm going I'll go, and if I'm staying I'll stay' and you'll know you'll get 100 per cent. That's perfect with me."
Reading Specials 2008/09 Win Special: To win Championship 7/1| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 18th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Middlesbrough vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Blackburn vs Middlesbrough |
| Saturday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs West Ham |
| Sunday 16th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Everton vs Middlesbrough |
| Saturday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Bolton |
| Saturday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Newcastle |
| Saturday 6th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Middlesbrough |
| Saturday 13th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Arsenal |
| Saturday 20th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Middlesbrough |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Everton |
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Sunderland |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Middlesbrough |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 4th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 0 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 27th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 0 - 1 West Brom | |
| Tuesday 23rd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Man Utd 3 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 20th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 2 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 13th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 2 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 30th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Tuesday 26th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Middlesbrough 5 - 1 Yeovil | |
| Saturday 23rd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 2 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 16th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Friday 8th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Sparta Rotterdam 1 - 6 Middlesbrough | |
| Tuesday 5th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Darlington 0 - 5 Middlesbrough | |
| Saturday 2nd August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Hibernian 2 - 3 Middlesbrough | |
| Tuesday 29th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Carlisle 1 - 2 Middlesbrough | |
| Thursday 24th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Guimaraes | |
| Tuesday 22nd July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Celtic | |
| Friday 18th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| York 2 - 2 Middlesbrough | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Blackburn Rovers | 7 | 10 |
| 11 | Manchester City | 7 | 9 |
| 12 | Middlesbrough | 7 | 9 |
| 13 | Wigan Athletic | 7 | 8 |
| 14 | Sunderland | 7 | 8 |
The first weekend of October in the Premier League finds harmony in performance analysis.
Charlie Nicholas says Middlesbrough's centre-backs deserve all of the plaudits after their 1-0 win at Wigan.
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate admits Tuncay Sanli is champing at the bit to return to action.
Middlesbrough defender Robert Huth will see a specialist on Monday to assess his ankle injury.
Gareth Southgate has promised Ross Turnbull and Brad Jones that he will be looking at their contract situations.
Lampard & Gerrard, record wins, new foes and Under 21 info. Martin Tyler is all over England this week...
Man Utd and Arsenal's Boxing Day games will be shown live as part of Sky Sports' festive fixtures.