Football: Last meeting could lead to bad blood; SPREADWISE.

Byline: By Mark Langdon

WILL there be any bad blood left over from Reading and Watford's last Championship meeting in September?

That is the question spread punters must ask themselves when the sides clash tonight after the bizarre fixture when Reading were awarded a phantom goal as the ball went nowhere near the net.

Arbiter Stuart Atwell dished out six cards for a bookings spread make-up of 60 on that strange September afternoon, but Sporting are trading tonight's market at 27-31.

The stats would point to a sell. Reading and Watford are among the cleaner teams in the Championship and referee Andy D'Urso averages only 19.4 this season.

However, Watford may still be of the opinion that Reading should have either told Atwell the ball did not cross the line or, more likely, that the Royals should have allowed the Hornets a goal to override the obvious rick.

And D'Urso is still capable of losing control, just like when he was a top-flight ref. He sent off two players in Sheffield United's 2-1 win at Barnsley and no bet looks by far the safest play.

WEEKEND REFEREES

Tomorrow

Arsenal v Bolton C Foy

Aston Villa v West Brom M Riley

Everton v Hull M Atkinson

Fulham v Blackburn R Styles

Middlesbro v Sunderland P Dowd

Newcastle v West Ham A Wiley

Portsmouth v Man City M Dean

Stoke v Liverpool L Mason

Sunday

Man Utd v Chelsea H Webb

Wigan v Tottenham A Marriner

CAPTION(S):

Watford players gather around Stuart Attwell in September