That was then, and this is now. Reading remain unbeaten and are deservedly heading up to the Premiership. They have steadily built their team under the same manager, backed by the Madejski millions. As for Saints, we will have a new manager and almost an entirely different team.
The team that played against Reading was the following:
Niemi
Hajto, Lundekvam, Powell, Higginbotham
Oakley, Wise, Quashie, Kosowski
Jones, Fuller
Only six of that line-up are still at the club and only Higginbotham and Lundekvam can consider themselves first choice. With Niemi departed, Polish boy mountain Bialkowski will continue in goal after a series of impressive performances.
At the back, Burley has addressed our lack of specialist full backs with the recruitment of the solid Brennan and solid in more ways than one Ostlund. Higginbotham is back in his natural position in central defence and has the makings of a good partnership with born-again Claus Lundekvam.
It will be all change again in midfield after the invisible display against Derby. Chaplow will make his debut and then Burley has some tough choices to make as he looks to find the right balance of energy and creativity.
He has shown he is not afraid to give players their debut straight away and with Jermaine Wright a holding player, Matthew Oakley may miss out after his anonymous display on Saturday. With Saints now having good options up front, if he can get over another illness then Marian Pahars could come in at left midfield, with Potter moving to his more usual Liverpool position at right midfield. Surman could deputise if Marian is unavailable or pushed up front.
Up front Rasiak is a certainity to start and Burley will be hoping for more sharpness from Masden, but the Danish international should retain his place as Burley looks to play very much his team.
As for predictions, another point would represent a good result for us. Reading are riding high and are full of goals, and it is too early to expect our new look team to gel. If we do indeed lose, then we have to look on it as another 90 minutes of fitness for our new arrivals and more experience for our fledgling team.