By Mark Sugar
April 6 2004

Reading have slipped to 8th place in the Nationwide League Division 1 following Wigan's 3-0 win over Gillingham at Priestfield.Sunderland sent Wimbledon to Division 2 after a 2-1 win while Rotherham remain in deep trouble following a 2-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace.

Reading have dropped 1 place to 8th following this evening's game in the Division.

In the game at Priestfield, Gillingham suffered another defeat as they were beaten 3-0 by Wigan Athletic. First half goals from Nathan Ellington and Jason Roberts set Wigan on their way and then midway through the 2nd half, Alan Mahon finished the scoring to send Wigan up to 4th.

Rotherham remain in danger after being beaten by Iain Dowie's Crystal Palace 2-1 at Millmoor. 2 quick first half goals by first Julian Gray in the 9th minute then Neil Shipperley in the 27th minute gave the Eagles a 2 goal advantage. But a late strike by Michael Proctor wasn't enough to rescue a point.

In the final game, losing FA Cup Semi Finalists Sunderland put those bad memories of Old Trafford behind them as they beat Wimbledon 2-1 at the National Hockey Stadium, which has sent Wimbledon into the 2nd Division. They are the first club to be relegated in the country. Marcus Stewart put the Black Cats straight ahead in the 1st half before Malvin Kamera gave Wimbledon hope. But a 73rd minute striker by Darren Byfield kept the pressure on Norwich and West Browm.

		Played	Goal Difference	POINTS
1	Norwich	39	29	76
2	West Brom	39	24	76
3	Sunderland	38	17	68
4	Wigan Athletic	40	15	65
5	West Ham Utd	40	15	63
6	Millwall	38	14	63
7	Sheff Utd	40	11	63
8	Reading	40	-1	63
9	Ipswich Town	40	9	62
10	Cardiff City	39	13	58
11	Crystal Palace	39	4	57
12	Coventry City	40	9	55
13	Preston	40	3	55
14	Stoke City	39	1	55
15	Nottm Forest	40	-1	48
16	Crewe	40	-7	48
17	Walsall	40	-10	48
18	Rotherham Utd	40	-10	46
19	Watford	39	-13	44
20	Burnley	39	-14	44
21	Gillingham	40	-18	44
22	Derby County	40	-19	42
23	Bradford City	40	-25	33
24	Wimbledon	39	-46	21