LATEST NEWS ON 'The Royals'
March 2004
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28th March 2004 - Who Was Joker In Black?

The refereeing for Reading's game at Coventry was one of the worst displays I have seen for many years. So who was the joker in black?

The referee was a Mr. A. N. Butler of Sutton-in-Ashfield, a very experienced official who has served on the league list since 1997. Although in his 7th season, Reading have only come across Mr. Butler on 3 previous occassions. He refereed the Royals Carling cup-tie at Boston in August last year, and home Division Two victories against Huddersfield (August 2001) and Brentford (March 2000). Although Reading therefore have a 100% success rate in games that he has officiated, I will certainly be hoping that we do not come across Mr. Butler again. For information, his full season-by-season record is as follows:

Season	Games	Yellows	Reds
2003 / 04	27	75	6
2002 / 03	29	85	5
2001 / 02	35	98	4
2000 / 01	35	104	5
1999 / 00	37	82	1
1998 / 99	41	121	3
1997 / 98	43	94	5

27th March 2004 - Coventry 1 Royals 2

Reading came away from Highfield Road with a very hard-earned three points. With the Royals only able to field two recognised defenders in front of a 'rookie' goalkeeper, it was always going to be a tough afternoon against a Sky Blues side that has been in rampant recent form.

The game was dominated almost from start to finish by the home side, who had an incredible 22 efforts at goal. However, the makeshift Reading back line, including Andy Hughes at left-back position, defended magnificently and deserved their reward. The visitors opening goal came against the run of play after an opening 10 minutes of intense pressure. The referee awarded a free-kick for a foul on Kitson - the only thing that an appalling referee gave in Kitson's favour all afternoon. Salako's effort eluded everyone to find its way into the far corner and give Reading a surprise lead. The rest of the half was a rear-guard action with only the occasional break from defence.

The referee was having a complete nightmare and produced possibly the worst display I have seen from an official for many a year. I would say that around 80% of the decisions he made were wrong, and he upset both sets of supporters throughout the game with his ludicrous performance. However, no decision was more outrageous than the one to send off Royals' midfielder Steve Sidwell after he had made an excellent tackle to win the ball cleanly. The incident happened 10 minutes into the second half, shortly after the Royals had broken away to extend their lead. Indeed, it was Sidwell who set up the second goal as he played the ball into the feet of Goater who calmly side-footed the ball into the corner from 15 yards.

So an already overstretched defence had to withstand fierce pressure from Coventry with only 10 men for the remaining 35 minutes. The home side did manage to pull a goal back mid-way through the second half but it was not enough. Backed by a voiciferous away support, Reading dug deep and emerged victorious to keep alive their feignt hopes of making the play-offs.

25th March 2004 - Double Royals Shock

Royals fans were dealt a double shock today.

Firstly came the news that left-back Nicky Shorey is ruled out for the rest of the season. A seemingly innocuous infection has affected the bone in his foot that will require a lengthy spell of treatment. This is a major blow for Reading who will have to rely on loan signing Dean Gordon to fill the void. Then, just before the transfer deadline expired, it was announced that winger Scott Murray (who only joined Reading in the summer) has returned from whence he came and signed a 3-year deal with Bristol City - again for an undisclosed fee. I really do struggle to understand what on earth Steve Coppell is trying to do to this team - allowing quality players to leave and making 2nd Division standard signings. Maybe he likes his days out to the seaside at places like Bournemouth and Blackpool!!

25th March 2004 - Owusu Signs

As expected, Lloyd Owusu has agreed to join Reading on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee. The big Ghanaian has signed a two-year deal.

24th March 2004 - Owusu Offered Deal

Lloyd Owusu has been offered a contract to join the Royals on a permanent transfer after the club agreed his release with Sheffield Wednesday. The striker is currently thinking over the offer and Reading are confident that the deal can be completed before Thursday's transfer deadline.

23rd March 2004 - Murty Scots Call

Despite being heavily criticised by the Scottish media after his debut for Scotland at the Millennium Stadium last month, Graeme Murty has earned another call-up to the full squad for their home friendly against Romania. The game will take place at Hampden Park on Wednesday 31st March.

23rd March 2004 - Royals Nab Gordon

Reading have signed left-back Dean Gordon on loan from Coventry City for the remainder of the season. With Shorey still out injured the Royals needed to strengthen their defensive options. However, Gordon will not be allowed to play against his parent club which still leaves Reading with a major headache for this weekend's fixture.

23rd March 2004 - Brown Doubt

Royals central defender, Steve Brown, is a major doubt for the trip to Coventry on Saturday. Brown was forced to comeback from injury earlier than intended due to the current injury crisis amongst the defenders, and it has taken its toll. This leaves Reading dreadfully short of players to fill in at the back.

20th March 2004 - Royals 0 Black Cats 2

After all the excitement at Ninian Park on Tuesday, this was back to earth with a bump. The Royals' slim play-off chances took a severe blow as they were beaten at home by the Black Cats of Sunderland.

This was a dreadully dull game that looked to be heading for a goal-less draw until one quality cross in the 73rd minute was headed home by Byfield to give the visitors the lead. Before the Royals had a chance to recover, the game was all over just a minute later when poor defending resulted in a second Sunderland goal scored by Tommy Smith.

There really isn't much worth saying about this game, as Reading could only muster a measily two efforts at goal all afternoon. In truth, if either side looked like edging it, then it was Sunderland, but even they struggled to create very much of note. Not even the harsh sending-off of Whitley for the visitors could raise the excitement level

A game best forgotten.

16th March 2004 - Cardiff 2 Royals 2

Reading were forced to make 4 changes to the team that started against Stoke. Out were the injured Hahnemann, Williams and Shorey, along with the suspended Owusu. Coming into the side were Ashdown, re-called from Rushden, Newman, Brown (still recovering from an injury) and Kitson who was making his full debut for the Royals.

In the face of adversity, and against a Cardiff team that beat league leaders Norwich on Saturday, Reading produced one of their best displays of the season in the first half. It was the Royals who were playing good passing football with Harper pulling the strings in midfield, and they really took the game to their hosts. Margetson had to save well from both Sidwell and Newman before Reading took a deserved lead in the 39th minute. A corner, that had to be delayed whilst the referee was replaced, was swung in by Salako and Ivar Ingimarsson rose above everyone to head home powerfully. However, Cardiff were back on level terms just a couple of minutes later when Earnshaw scored from a rare home attack. The setback did not deter the visitors though and Kitson headed home his first senior goal for Reading from a Sidwell cross on the stroke of half-time.

In the second half, Cardiff started strongly and had all the possession and territorial dominance. But Royals were keeping them at bay and, for all their possesion, the Bluebirds were finding it difficult to create scoring opportunities. Then Kitson showed good awareness to put Goater away but a last gasp tackle by Vidmar prevented the Goat from getting a strike on goal. From the resultant corner, Ingimarsson very nearly gave a repeat of his first half goal but this time the ball went just over the bar.

In the 72nd minute, Salako needlessly lost possession to put Cardiff on the attack and Substitute Bullock knocked home an equaliser, giving Ashdown no chance.

Immediately after the goal there was a long stoppage as the replacement referee had himself to go off injured. That left it up to a local parks referee to take over duties in the middle.

As the game headed towards added time for all the stoppages, Ashdown did well to touch the ball away from the feet of Earnshaw. A minute later, Reading broke away and an excellent cross by Brooker was headed home by Dean Morgan. Three headers and three first-time scorers for Reading.

14th March 2004 - Ashdown Recall?

The injury picked up by Marcus Hahnemann against Stoke City means that the big American stopper is unlikey to be fit for the visit to Cardiff on Tuesday night. This means that, despite Jamie Young's impressive debut as substitute against the Potters, Jamie Ashdown is likely to be re-called from his loan spell at Rushden & Diamonds to take his place between the sticks for Royals.

13th March 2004 - Stalemate

Poor finishing meant that Reading had to settle for a goal-less draw against unambitious Stoke City at the MadStad.

Last week's two-goal hero, Lloyd Owusu, was the main culprit - missing a trio of golden opportunities. Firstly, the on-loan Wednesday striker fired into the side netting having taken the ball round Ed de Goey to leave himself with an open goal. Then, just before the interval, Owusu somehow manage to head over a simple chance from just 3 yards. To complete the forward's miserable afternoon in what was his last appearance before suspension, he blazed wildly over the bar from 6 yards with the goal gaping. Shortly after that final miss, Owusu was substituted by Dave Kitson who is likely to take is place in the starting line-up for the next three games.

In truth, this was a poor quality game littered by mistakes on both sides, and yet a match that the Royals should have won with ease. The visitors showed a total lack of ambition in the first half and were content to sit back in defence. After the break, they had a brief spell of attacking as they tried to put Royals' injured keeper under some sort of pressure. Hahnemann had been struggling since early in the game after damaging medial ligaments. The injury was of his own making after mis-controlling the ball and allowing a Potters forward to make a challenge as he attempted to clear his lines. After that, Marcus was clearly struggling and was unable to kick the ball. Eventually he had to be replaced by 18 year old Jamie Young 10 minutes into the second half. The young academy keeper relished the opportunity to make his debut and pulled off a magnificent reaction save to preserve a point for Reading.

6th March 2004 - Palace 2 Royals 2

Shaun Goater returned to the side as Reading reverted back to a 4-4-2 formation at Selhurst Park, with Andy Hughes filling in for the injured Murty at right-back.

It was Goater who had Royals' first effort on goal in the 4th minute, a long range effort that Berthelin struggled to deal with in the Palace goal. In the 14th minute, a Harper corner was flicked on at the near post by Ingimarsson and Owusu made sure to force the ball over the line and give Reading an early lead. Salako almost extended the lead in the 20th minute with a lob over the keeper that landed on the roof of the net. Two minutes later, a good move by the visitors saw Salako presented with another opportunity that was this time saved by the keeper.

After the opening 20 minutes it was all Palace, both in terms of possession and territory. Palace forced the deserved equaliser in the 33rd minute through Dougie Freedman, whilst others were appealing for a penalty for a foul on Johnson. Then, just before the interval, a good move by the home side ended with Johnson grabbing the lead for Palace.

Palace started the second half in much the same vain as they finished the first. A Reading move broke down and the Eagles broke quickly for Routledge to fire just wide of goal. But 10 minutes into the second half Scott Murray cut inside and rolled the ball to Owusu to fire home his 2nd goal of the afternoon. Moments later, a good attacking move by Reading finished with Sidwell firing just wide. In the 63rd minute, Harper hit a good left-footed effort, but unfortunately for Royals it was straight at Berthelin.

The home side should have restored their lead when a ball broke for Freedman unmarked 15 yards from goal. The Palace striker hit a poor effort though that went well over the bar when he really should have scored. The visitors were creating their fair share of chances though and began to really take the game to Palace, Goater and Sidwell both being denied. With 15 minutes remaining, Goater found himself clean through on the keeper but was unable to steer the ball past Berthelin.

The second half continued end-to-end, with James Harper having an increasing influence. However, neither side were able to force the winner and both had to be content with a share of the spoils.

6th March 2004 - Fozzy Under The Knife

Following a visit to a specialist, Nicky Forster is to undergo an operation on his trouiblesome stomach injury in Manchester on Saturday. Fozzy will have a mesh inserted to support weak abdominal muscles and is likely to be out of action for a further 4 - 6 weeks.

2nd March 2004 - Lillywhites 2 Royals 1

Manager Steve Coppell made a surprise selection for the starting line-up at Deepdale. opting for a 4-5-1 formation with Lloyd Owusu as the lone striker. Ricky Newman replaced the injured Graeme Murty at right-back, whilst Salako and Goater were both dropped to the bench to be replaced by Murray and new signing Paul Brooker.

The opening 20 minutes were fairly even with Shorey and Brooker combining well down the left for Royals, whilst Fuller was looking dangerous for the hosts. Indeed, it was the Lillywhites striker who came closest to opening the scoring when his left footed effort rebounded off the crossbar.

Steve Sidwell picked up his ninth booking of the season and hearts were in mouths when, shortly after abmonishing the card, the referee called Sidwell back towards him for a final lecture. Preston grew in confidence as the game wore on and Hahnemann had to react smartly to save from Healy on 30 minutes. Andy Hughes then had a decent strike from the edge of the area, but Lonergan gathered comfortably in the North End goal.

The deadlock was broken after 35 minutes when Lloyd Owusu lost possession on the half-way line and the ball broke for David Healy to race away and round the Royals keeper to slot the ball home. The home side then continued to pile on the pressure as Reading were struggling to keep any possession with the 4-5-1 formation. North End almost extended their lead just before the break when the crossbar came to Royals' rescue for the 2nd time, with Preston players claiming that the ball had bounced down over the line (a view backed up by TV replays). So Reading were fortunate to go in at the break only one goal behind.

The second half could not have started in worse fashion for the Royals as Lloyd Owusu was shown a straight red card for a two-footed challenge on Tyrone Mears. Coppell responded with an immediate substitution, Kitson replacing Murray. After that, Reading struggled to get out of their own half. A rare opportunity saw Andy Hughes come close to equalising in the 70th minute when his header from a Salako cross was well saved.

Ricardo Fuller almost scored the home side's second in the 73rd minute, but was denied by Nicky Shorey deflecting the ball away. Then a quick break away saw Healy flash the ball just wide of Hahnemann's right hand post. An isolated attack by Reading saw Andy Hughes cross nodded down by Dave Kitson and Salako had the simplest of chances to slide home an unlikely equaliser in the 82nd minute. Unfortunately, a mistake by Hahnemann just 2 minutes from time undid the Royals hard work when he failed to claim a corner and Healy restored Preston's lead. But considering Preston managed an astonishing 22 efforts on goal, Reading can hardly complain about the result.