LATEST NEWS ON 'The Royals'
March 2003
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25th March 2003 - Little In, Igoe Out

Reading have signed Burnley winger Glen Little on loan until the end of the season. The Turf Moor favourite, who can play on either the left or right flank, will be eligible for the play-offs, including the Final should Royals make it.

In order to allow Little to join, midfielder Sammy Igoe has left to join Luton Town on loan until the end of season. With Igoe's contract due to expire in the summer, it is unlikely that he will pull on the Royals shirt again.

22nd March 2003 - Bantams 0 Royals 1

Reading got their play-off hopes back on track with a hard earned victory at Valley Parade against Bradford City. With Ipswich, Norwich, Wimbledon and Gillingham all failing to win it extended the gap to 9 points between Reading and 7th place.

The game opened in lively fashion with the Royals almost taking the lead after only 10 seconds. Bradford kicked off but Forster intercepted the ball and raced forward forcing the home keeper to smother smartly and deny Reading a dream start. Forster was a constant thorn in the side of the Bantams as the visitors created the majority of the good openings in the first half. Fozzy came closest to opening the scoring when he saw an effort come back off the post for the umpteenth time this season.

The shape of the game was to turn though, with a ridiculous decision by the referee just before half-time. Nathan Tyson, who had earlier been booked, fell to the ground in a challenge and whilst falling brought the Bradford defender down with him. To everyone's amazement, the referee showed Tyson a second yellow and sent him off. The young striker was distraught and close to tears as the Royals players vented their anger towards the official. So for the second game in succession, Reading were reduced to 10 men.

With a numerical disadvantage, Royals' attacking options were limited during the second period but, unlike Ipswich a few days earlier, Bradford offered very little threat. Then Reading deservedly received a slice of good fortune. A Bantams defender played the ball back to his keeper, who made a mess of the clearance and gave the ball straight to Forster to gleefully thump the ball home. After that, Reading were content to keep their shape and ensure that they gave nothing away. They held on relatively comfortably to secure a valuable 3 points.

The players now have almost a 2 week break before their next fixture, a home game against Brighton on Friday 4th April. It will be the first of 3 home games in a row which will give the Royals a great chance to secure their place in the play-offs.

21st March 2003 - New Preston Date

The home game with Preston North End has been re-arranged due to international call-ups from the Preston squad. The game will now be played on Tuesday 15th April (8pm).

18th March 2003 - Tractor Boys Close Gap

Ipswich closed the gap on the play-off places with a 3:1 victory over the Royals at Portman Road tonight.

Things could not have got off to a worst start for Reading, who went behind after only 42 seconds. A free-kick was played into the box, Hahnemann came and missed leaving an easy opportunity to head home. However, the visitors recovered their composure to take the game to their hosts in a frantic opening. Andy Hughes had an effort crash against the bar and Nicky forster saw his effort saved when he was clean through on goal. Fozzy made amends for his miss after 16 minutes when he scored the Royals' equaliser, slotting home at the second attempt. It was a thrilling game but Sky pundit Alan Mullery put the mockers on things when he said that Reading looked likely winners. Within minutes, the Tractor Boys regained the lead thanks to a scorching effort from Matt Holland that gave Hahnemann no chance.

With the game evenly poised, Reading's chances were diminished just before the hour. Adi Viveash was starting his first game of the season, but he was not to finish the match. A moment of wrecklessness saw the centre-back sent off for wildly attacking an Ipswich player. From that moment on, the Royals struggled to hold on to the game and it was no surprise when the home side increased their lead.

So a disappointing night, particularly as other results all went against the Royals. After the game though, Ipswich manager Joe Royle was quick to praise the visitors, commenting that they are a very good side with a lot of talent. Nice words, but we would rather have had the points. Now the Royals face a tricky trip to Bradford on Saturday where they will be hoping to consolidate their place in the play-off positions.

15th March 2003 - Justice In The End

Reading secured a late, late victory over Crystal Palace courtesy of James Harper's winning goal deep into injury time

It may have been a last-gasp winner, but ensured that justice was done in the end. Royals thoroughly deserved their victory against a disappointing Palace side. The home side had created chances galore, whilst the visitors rarely looked like a side that had to win in order to preserve any feint hopes of making the play-offs.

In the first half, Nicky Forster wasted a glorious opportunity when he beat the offside trap, only to delay his shot and be forced into firing wide. Royals also hit the post following neat work by Luke Chadwick, an almost identical move to one 30 seconds earlier that Harper was just unable to get on the end of. Before that, Palace's substitute keeper had needed to make a smart save to turn a blistering drive over the bar. Reading also had a 'goal' disallowed for a foul (presumably against the keeper) as they pressed forward in search of the opening goal. In reply, all Palace could muster in terms of a serious threat was one shot that was blocked at close range by Hahnemann.

It was a similar story in the second half as Royals continued to dominate and create the majority of the openings. The opening goal finally arrived on the hour, with a little help from the Palace defence. The referee had awarded Reading a free-kick in a dangerous position 10 yards outside the box. The visiting defence argued the decision which resulted in the free-kick being moved forward 10 yards for dissent. Most people felt this was a disadvantage to Reading as it would mean little chance of getting the ball up and over the wall. All they could do now was blast it and hope that the wall failed to do its job properly. Palace duly obliged and their defensive wall disintegrated allowing Brown to fire home his first goal for Reading. But the visitors grabbed an undeserved equaliser just 10 minutes later when a quick free-kick was played through to Johnson, who was clearly at least a yard offside, and he fired the ball across Hahnemann with the flag not raised.

That was the only serious effort Palace could manage in the second half but it looked as if all the home side's efforts were going to be denied. Hughes was denied at the last when about to head into an empty net, Salako fired wide when in acres of space with only the keeper to beat, and Hughes had another 'goal' disallowed, this time for handball. Then, deep into injury time, Chadwick forced his way between two defenders on the right and squared the ball back into the box. Harper hit the ball first time and raced away in joy as he saw the ball arrow into the bottom corner.

So another 3 deserved points for the Royals, and another season of mediocrity for Palace.

14th March 2003 - New Watford Date

The Royals game away to Watford, originally scheduled for F.A. Cup semi-final weekend, has been re-arranged for Wednesday 30th April (ko 19:45).

14th March 2003 - Summer Swedes

Reading are considering a pre-season tour to Sweden in mid-July, although no arrangements have yet been confirmed.

14th March 2003 - Spurs Winger Signs

Reading have signed 18 year old winger Mario Notto from Tottenham Hotspur. The youngster impressed enough during a recent trial to earn a 1 year contract.

13th March 2003 - Royals 0 Wolves 1

The Royals' march towards the play-offs took a stumble last night as they lost 0-1 at home to fellow play-off hopefuls Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The game started off in very lively fashion with Nathan Tyson hitting the crossbar after only 50 seconds. It was exciting stuff as Reading raced at their opponents during the opening 20 minutes, with the visitors having excellent breaks of their own. There could easily have been several goals for either side during the opening exchanges, but it was Wolves who gradually took control of the game. As the pace settled down, the visitors' midfield gave their counterparts very little time on the ball and began to stifle opportunities for the hosts to get the ball wide. It remained an even contest during the first half, but Wolves took the lead on the stroke of half time. Marcus Hahnemann seemed to hesitate, believing that an effort was going wide, only for the ball to rebound off the post and be stabbed home before the defence could react.

In the second half, Reading huffed and puffed to find a way back into the game but were increasingly frustrated and forced into playing more long balls as they could find no way through. Wolves in contrast, were playing quick, neat football and continued to create some good openings. Neither side were able to find another goal, though, and the visitors ran out worthy victors on the night with an impressive performance.

The Royals will now be hoping to bounce back with a victory over mid-table Crystal Palace on Saturday.

12th March 2003 - Chadwick Extends Loan

On-loan Luke Chadwick will 'return' to Manchester United for a few days, missing the game at Bradford City, so that he can then re-sign on loan for a further 2 months. This will enable him to play in the remaining games including the play-off semi-finals, but not the Final should Reading make it.

9th March 2003 - Argies At The MadStad?

Argentina and Cameroon could be playing International friendlies at the MadStad in the near future. It seems as if Reading are in pole position to secure a deal with the Socceroos who want to play a number of friendlies in the UK as that is where most of their players are based. Dates are lined up for games against Argentina on Sunday 30th March and Cameroon on Wednesday 30th April.

5th March 2003 - Another Fixture Change

Yet another Royals Saturday fixture will now have to be moved to midweek. Following Watford's victory over Burnley in the FA Cup, Reading's game at Vicarage Road will have to be re-arranged as the fixture is scheduled for the FA Cup Semi-Final weekend.

5th March 2003 - Canaries Wings clipped By Royals

Reading bounced back from their weekend defeat at Wimbledon with a massive 3 points at Carrow Road. It was a victory that now gives the Royals a 12 point cushion over 7th place and will surely go a long way towards securing a play-off spot. Whilst there is still a lot of work to be done, the pressure really is off and another 4 victories from the remaining 11 games would probably be enough.

It was hardly an enthralling game for the TV viewers, but Reading won't care a jot about that. The first half was pretty even with most of the play concentrated in midfield. When Reading did get forward, they were let down by a lack of quality final ball. However, James Harper was unlucky not to give the visitors the lead when he saw an effort crash against the inside of the post but rebound to safety. Shortly before the interval, Nicky Forster had a good opportunity when he was set free on the right side of the box, but could only drag his shot across goal and beyond the far post. At the other end, Marcus Hahnemann never had a single save to make. A weak looping header that cleared the crossbar was the only moment of danger. With Steve Brown having failed a fitness test, and then losing Adi Williams to injury mid-way through the first half, Royals had to play most of the game without either of their first choice centre-backs. But they were always in control and never gave a weak Norwich side a sniff.

In the second half, reading grew in confidence with James Harper controlling the game from midfield. It was Reading who were having the majority of possession and creating the openings. But it took an own goal to secure the points in the end. Andy Hughes fed the ball out left to Nathan Tyson who fired the ball across goal. With Nicky Forster lurking in the centre, the Canaries defender tried to cut out the cross but only succeeded in diverting the ball past his own keeper to give Reading the lead. Norwich only managed one effort on target during the entire 90 minutes and that was easily saved by Hahnemann.

So all in all it was a comfortable, if unspectacular victory for Reading. Next up is another massive game with a home fixture against fellow play-off hopefuls Wolves at the Madstad next Wednesday.

1st March 2003 - Dons End Royals Run

Reading's run of consequetive victories finally came to an end at an eerie Selhurst Park. Cheered on by almost 3,000 Royals fans amongst a crowd of just 3,869, Reading were beaten 2:0 by a hard-working and well organised Wimbledon.

Things started to go wrong after just 18 minutes when Steve Brown picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Mackie. The statistics stand for themselves and Reading's record with Mackie in the team is very poor in comparison to those games where he does not feature. The evidence was made stronger as Mackie was largely at fault for the Don's opening goal after half an hour. The centre-back hesitated and allowed the Don's striker a free run on goal to fire past a stranded Hahnemann. Reading battled strongly but were finding it difficult to get into any rhythm, with Forster being kept under close attention.

Royals came close to equalising in the second half when they had an effort rebound off the post before being scrambled clear. But it was one of few clear cut opportunities and the home side increased their lead with 5 minutes remaining. The Royals refused to give up though, and continued to try and find a way through a stubborn defence. It was not to be, though, and the Royals tasted defeat for the first time in over a month. However, they remain in 3rd place and are still well set to make a play-off spot. Next up is a tough encounter away to fellow play-off hopefuls Norwich, a game live on Sky Sports on Wednesday.