LATEST NEWS ON 'The Royals'
November 2004
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  • 27th November 2004 - Royals 1 Wigan 1

    • Reading went into the game against table-topping Wigan without their star striker Dave Kiton - and in the first half it showed.

    The opening 45 minutes were dominated by the Latics, who looked a class act. They stated their intentions early on when Alan Mahon fired just over the bar after Wigan had played the ball about to retain possession for what seemed like an eternity. The Royals were struggling to get out of their own half and it took 20 minutes before the home side carved out their first attack. Dean Morgan broke down the left and played a low cross into the 6 yard box, which Latics keeper Filan just managed to hold on to as Owusu looked to pounce. But this was a rare foray into the visitors half and Wigan deservedly took the lead in the 26th minute, albeit with a fortunate goal. A free-kick on the edge of the box was set up for Mahon to strike and his effort took a wicked deflection off James Harper in the Royals defensive wall to leave Hahnemann with no chance.

    Substitute Graham, on for the injured Lee McCulloch, then hit another long-range effort just wide before Hahnemann almost gifted the visitors a second goal. The American keeper took a free-kick wide on the left but slipped as he kicked the ball and Mahon shot from the half way line towards an ungaurded net. Fortunately for Royals, the ball drifted wide and Hahnemann was spared his blushes. Then, totally against the run of play, Reading equalised with their only shot at goal in the entire first half - but what a goal it was. With 3 minutes remaining until the break, Steve Sidwell threaded the ball into space for Glen Little to run onto down the right wing. Little's superb first time cross was thundered into the net by the head of Owusu and Reading went into the break on level terms.

    The second period was a totally different story. The Royals found renewed confidence and it was they who dominated play. Dean Morgan went on a magnificent run and weaved his way between 2 Latics defenders inside the box before unleashing a fierce left-footed drive. But John Filan dived smartly to his right and turned the ball round the post for a corner. Filan then denied Morgan for a second time as he instinctively blocked another left-footed effort. Now it was Wigan who were relying on an occassional break away as Royals continued to press forward. But despite their efforts, Reading couldn't really create that clear cut opportunity they craved. However, they almost snatched victory with vitually the last kick of the game. Royals were award a free-kick just outside the box and Nicky Shorey's effort cannoned off the crossbar with Filan beaten.

    Overall though, a draw was a fair result as neither side really did enough to win the game.


  • 20th November 2004 - Royal Away Day Blues

    • Reading produced another poor display away from home as they lost 1:0 to lowly Nottingham Forest.

    The Royals should have been full of confidence going into this game against a struggling Forest side, but quite simply they failed to show up in the first half. The opening 45 minutes was just dreadful from Reading, as they allowed the home side to totally dominate. It was no surprise when Forest took the lead after 26 minutes. Evans was given time and space to run through the centre of midfield before unleashing a rasping drive that came back off the bar. Taylor was first to react in front of a static Royals defence to tap the rebound home ang give the midlanders a deserved advantage.

    The visitors hardly broke out of their own half and showed no sign of threatening Gerrard in the Forest goal. Indeed, but for their own keeper, Hahnemann, the game could have been all over by the break.

    After the interval, Royals at last woke up and tried to take the initiative. They had plenty of possession and dominated territory during the second half, but never really looked like breaching the home defence who were battling to hold on to their lead. As Reading pushed increasing numbers forward in search of an equaliser, they risked being caught with a sucker punch on the break. On two or three occassions, Hahnemann had to rescue his defenders when Forest broke quickly.

    Overall, Reading got exactly what they deserved from this game - nothing. To add to their woes, star striker Dave Kitson - who has been battling against injury for several weekes now - had to limp off mid-way through the second half and will surely be a doubt for the visit of high-flying Wigan to the MadStad next Saturday. With a tough run of fixtures coming up, this was an opportunity missed for Reading and they will be concerned about the lack of depth in their squad.


  • 13th November 2004 - Royals 2 Bluebirds 1

    • Reading maintained their unbeaten home record with a 2:1 victory over Cardiff City. It was not the most entertaining of games, but Royals certainly did more than enough to deservedly earn all 3 points.

    The afternoon started brightly enough with Dean Morgan putting the Royals ahead in only the 13th minute. He latched onto Murty's long through ball, raced into the box and fired in a low cross-cum-shot that Tony Warner was unable to deal with, allowing the ball to squeeze inside his near post. After that, the game descended into a midfield battle. Both sides were sharing equal possession, but neither keeper was called into action too frequently. Then, just as the supporters were looking forward to their half-time refreshments, a rare moment of excitement saw the home side double their advantage. Nicky Shorey advanced down the left and played the ball inside to Kitson on the edge of the box. The flame-haired striker, who had a late fitness test before the kick-off, took the ball in his stride to beat the Bluebirds defenders, round the advancing keeper and calmly stroke the ball home for his 12th goal of the season so far.

    The second half saw Reading comfortably in control, with Hughes and Kitson both going close to extending the lead. The visitors' cause was made all the more difficult mid-way through the half, when Kavanagh was rightly shown a red card for an ugly stamp on Steve Sidwell.

    The Royals were cruising to a comfortable victory until 10-man Cardiff pulled a goal back 3 minutes from time. That led to an unnecessarily anxious final few minutes as the visitors threw everytthing in search of an equaliser. But the Royals defence held firm to maintain Reading's challenge near the top of the table.


  • 12th November 2004 - Cardiff Preview

    • Reading manager Steve Coppell could recall midfielder Andy Hughes for the home clash with Cardiff.

    The influential 26-year-old has returned to full training following his recovery from a hamstring problem and should face the Bluebirds if he shows no reaction to the injury.

    In-form striker Dave Kitson has missed a couple of training sessions this week with calf and foot problems but is expected to maintain his 100% appearance record this term.

    Nicky Forster (groin) and Shaun Goater (calf) are making good progress but are still not ready for a return to action.

    Darren Williams is back in the Cardiff City side after missing the midweek Carling Cup tie against Portsmouth because he was ineligible.

    The return of Williams means manager Lennie Lawrence must choose two from three at the heart of the back four.

    Danny Gabbidon will play, while the second slot is between James Collins and Tony Vidmar.

    Wales international Collins has played alongside Gabbidon in the last four matches, having stepped in when Vidmar was suspended for two games.
    Reading V Cardiff City
    Top Lge Scorers   Goals   Saturday 13/11 @ 3:00pm   Top Lge Scorers   Goals
    Kitson     11   Referee: Eddie Evans (Greater Manchester)   Lee     5
    Forster     4         Games: 14 Yellows: 54 Reds: 1   Parry     3
    Owusu     3   Last 4 Meetings   Thorne     3
    Shorey     2   16/03/04 Cardiff 2 3 Reading   Ledley     2
    Harper     2   16/09/03 Reading 2 1 Cardiff   Bullock     2
    Lge Discipline   Y R   26/12/01 Cardiff 2 2 Reading   Lge Discipline   Y R
    Sidwell   5 0   08/09/01 Reading 1 2 Cardiff   Lee   6 0
    Kitson   2 0                                   Kavanagh   5 0
    Forster   1 0   Head to Head   McAnuiff   3 0
    Hughes   1 0           Reading Draws Cardiff   Vidmar   2 0
    Sonko   1 0   League 15 10 13   Langley   1 0
    Lge Goal details:       FA Cup 1 2 1   Lge Goal details:    
    When: F A   League Cup 0 0 2   When: F A
    first half 18 7   Total 16 12 16   first half 5 12
    second half 8 8                                   second half 15 12
    From:       League Games Since   From:    
    open play 15 12   0 a win 1   open play 10 17
    crosses 4 1   0 home win 0   crosses 5 2
    corners 0 0   2 away win 4   corners 3 2
    penalties 3 1   2 a defeat 7   penalties 1 3
    direct from free-kick 2 1   9 home defeat 4   direct from free-kick 0 0
    free-kicks 2 0   1 away defeat 3   free-kicks 1 0
                      1 a score draw 0                  
    Total 26 15   6 a no score draw 2   Total 20 24
                      1 conceding a goal 0                  
                      0 scoring a goal 0                  
                                                                     
    Current Form (last 3 games - all competitions)
    06/11/04 Stoke Home Won 1:0   09/11/04 Portsmouth Home Lost 0:2
    02/11/04 Plymouth Away Drew 2:2   06/11/04 Rotherham Away Drew 2:2
    30/10/04 Coventry Away Lost 2:3   02/11/04 West Ham Home Won 4:1


  • 6th November 2004 - Royal Double

    • Reading completed their first double of the season with a narrow victory against Stoke City at the MadStad.

    Having earned a 1:0 victory in the Potteries just three weeks ago, it was a similar story as Dave Kitson's 11th goal of the campaign was enough to earn all 3 points for the Royals. The only goal of the game arrived mid-way through the first half. Glen Little threaded a ball through to Dean Morgan, making his first start of the season, and Morgan had plenty of time to fire the ball across the six-yard box for the on-rushing Kitson to steal in and stab the ball home.

    In truth, the first half was a very even affair with the visitors having plenty of possession. There were a couple of scares for Reading as Akinbiyi and Noel-Williams made life awkward, and Royals were a little fortunate to lead at the interval as they struggled to find any real fluency to their play.

    After the break, however, the Royals found their composure and were always in control of the game. They had opportunities to increase their lead, the best falling to Paul Brooker who had only the keeper to beat following a great run and pass from Glen Little. But Brooker was denied by an excellent save by substitute keeper Simonsen, who had replaced the injured Ed deGoey in the 67th minute. But a one goal lead is always a slender advantage and the Potters could have grabbed an equaliser, Akinbiyi inadvertantly blocking an effort on the line to deny his team-mate a goal.

    Overall, though, the second half was a much improved performance by Reading and they fully deserved their victory.


  • 2nd November 2004 - Plymouth 2 Reading 2

    • Reading started this game dreadfully as Plymouth piled on the pressure from the very first whislt. It came as no surprise when the home side took the lead in only the 18th minute. There was some debate as to the scorer, with the strike initially credited to Argyle midfielder Friio. However, it was later clarified as being an own goal by Ivar Ingimarsson.

    The Royals' first meaningful attack didn't arrive until the 28th minute, and they nearly grabbed an undeserved equaliser. Dave Kitson's header from Shorey's cross was just toe-ended away by the Pilgrims' French keeper. But just as Reading looked like working their way back into the game, they fell further behind. Chaotic defending meant they were unable to deal with a straight long ball and Crawford took advantage to score the second goal in the 41st minute.

    Reading began the second half much more brightly and Ingimarsson almost pulled a goal back to amend for his earlier o.g. Then Reading were given a glimmer of hope in the 52nd minute when Coughlan turned the ball into his own net for the second own goal of the game. Plymouth responded well, though, forcing a period of sustained pressure. They almost restored their 2 goal advantage when Micky Evans terrific effort hit a post.

    As the game wore on, the Royals huffed and puffed much like they did at Coventry on Saturday and came close to forcing an equaliser on a couple of occasions. As the game entered 4 minutes of stoppage time, Dave Kitson forced the ball home for an unlikely equaliser. In truth though, it was another poor away performance from Reading who didn't really deserve anything from the game.


  • 2nd November 2004 - Williams Completes Move

    • Adie Williams, 33, has completed a free transfer to Coventry City on a deal to keep him at Highfield Road until June 2007.

  • 1st November 2004 - Argyle Preview

    • Boss Bobby Williamson's only decision is whether to recall Plymouth captain Paul Wottton to the starting line-up.

    Defender Hasney Aljofree (shoulder) and striker Marino Keith (ankle ligaments) are both still sidelined.

    Reading could give Bas Savage, who has been on loan at Wycombe this term, his first outing of the season as Andy Hughes is out with hamstring trouble.

    Dave Kitson and Graeme Murty are fit, although Nicky Forster (groin) and Shaun Goater (calf) remain sidelined.
    Plymouth Argyle V Reading
    Top Lge Scorers   Goals   Tuesday 2/11 @ 7:45pm   Top Lge Scorers   Goals
    Friio     5   Referee: Alan Wiley (Burntwood)   Kitson     9
    Wotton     4         Games: 9 Yellows: 22 Reds: 2   Forster     4
    Crawford     3   Last 4 Meetings   Owusu     3
    Doumbe     2   21/12/99 Plymouth 1 0 Reading   Shorey     2
    Adams     1   11/12/99 Reading 1 1 Plymouth   Sidwell     2
    Lge Discipline   Y R   12/03/94 Plymouth 3 1 Reading   Lge Discipline   Y R
    Friio   3 0   18/09/93 Reading 3 2 Plymouth   Sidwell   4 0
    Worrell   3 0                                   Williams   2 0
    Capaldi   2 0   Head to Head   Kitson   2 0
    Gilbert   2 0           Plymouth Draws Reading   Forster   1 0
    Makel           2 0   League 24 11 15   Hughes           1 0
    Lge Goal details:       FA Cup 2 1 1   Lge Goal details:    
    When: F A   League Cup 0 0 0   When: F A
    first half 12 6   Total 26 12 16   first half 17 5
    second half 9 16                                   second half 6 8
    From:       League Games Since   From:    
    open play 8 14     a win 1   open play 11 11
    crosses 5 3     home win 0   crosses 5 0
    corners 3 3     away win 1   corners 0 0
    penalties 2 1     a defeat 0   penalties 3 1
    direct from free-kick 0 0     home defeat 8   direct from free-kick 2 1
    free-kicks 1 0     away defeat 0   free-kicks 2 0
                        a score draw 2                  
    Total 21 22     a no score draw 4   Total 23 13
                        conceding a goal 0                  
                        scoring a goal 0                  
                                                                     
    Current Form (last 3 games - all competitions)
    30/10/04 West Ham Home Drew 1:1   30/10/04 Coventry Away Lost 2:3
    23/10/04 Sheff Utd Away Lost 1:2   23/10/04 Crewe Home Won 4:0
    19/10/04 Rotherham Away Won 1:0   19/10/04 Leeds Home Drew 1:1