LATEST NEWS ON 'The Royals'
December 2004
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  • 31st December 2004 - Gills Preview

    • Darius Henderson could return to the Gillingham starting line-up for the match against promotion-chasing Reading.

    The 23-year-old striker has been struggling with injury in recent weeks, but came on as a late substitute in the Gills' last two matches.

    And with Mamady Sidibe still searching for his first league goal of the campaign, manager Stan Ternent may decide to make a change in attack.

    Reading boss Steve Coppell is hoping captain Graeme Murty will be fit for the trip to the Priestfield Stadium.

    The 30-year-old right-back has missed the last four games with knee and ankle problems but could return.

    James Harper and Nicky Forster, who had been fitness worries for the game against Preston on Tuesday, showed no ill-effects from their second run-out in three days and are set to be handed starting berths once again.

    Dave Kitson is still ruled out with ligament damage.
    Gillingham V Reading
    Top Lge Scorers Goals Saturday 1/1 @ 3:00pm Top Lge Scorers Goals
    Byfield 6 Referee: Steve Bennett (Orpington) Kitson 12
    Henderson 3 Games: 20   Yellows: 54   Reds: 2 Owusu 5
    Roberts 3 Last 4 Meetings Forster 4
    Jarvis 2 18/09/2004 Reading 3 1 Gillingham Sidwell 4
    Johnson 2 21/02/2004 Gillingham 0 1 Reading Shorey 3
    Lge Discipline   Y R 14/10/2003 Reading 2 1 Gillingham Lge Discipline   Y R
    Cox 3 1 10/02/2003 Reading 2 1 Gillingham Sidwell 7 0
    Noseworthy 4 0 Kitson 4 0
    Hessenthaler 4 0 Head to Head Sonko 2 0
    Roberts 4 0 Gills Draws Reading Hughes 2 0
    Southall 1 1 League 36 17 34 Harper 2 0
    Lge Goal details:     FA Cup 0 2 4 Lge Goal details:    
    When: F A League Cup 2 1 3 When: F A
    first half 10 24 Total 38 20 41 first half 22 13
    second half 16 22 second half 14 12
    From: League Games Since From:
    open play 23 30 0 a win 1 open play 21 21
    crosses 1 7 0 home win 0 crosses 5 0
    corners 0 3 10 away win 1 corners 1 0
    penalties 1 5 1 a defeat 0 penalties 3 1
    direct from free-kick 0 0 3 home defeat 13 direct from free-kick 3 1
    free-kicks 1 1 0 away defeat 0 free-kicks 3 2
    18 a score draw 5
    Total 26 46 8 a no score draw 14 Total 36 25
    0 conceding a goal 0
    0 scoring a goal 1
    Current Form (last 3 games - all competitions)
    28/12/2004 Coventry Home Won  3:1   28/12/2004 Preston Away Lost  0:3
    26/12/2004 Brighton Away Lost  1:2   26/12/2004 Watford Home Won  3:0
    18/12/2004 Rotherham Home Won  3:1   18/12/2004 QPR Home Won  1:0


  • 28th December 2004 - Stuffed Turkeys

    • The Royals obviously enjoyed the icing on their Boxing Day Xmas cake far too much as looked like a right gaggle of turkeys at Deepdale. This was simply a woeful performance and they were given the stuffing that they deserved.

    There is absolutely nothing positive to say about this display and it was shameful. If anything, the 3:0 scoreline actually flattered Reading as it could have been a much heavier defeat. Once again, the Royals were push-overs away from home and they looked nothing like genuine promotion contenders. If they do not sort themselves out on their travels then they can wave goodbye to finishing in the top two of the Championship. It is imperative that Reading bounce straight back from this debacle and nothing less than 3 points at lowly Gillingham on New Year's Day will do.


  • 26th December 2004 - Harper Doubt

    • James Harper limped out of Royals victory over Watford near the end of the game after 'straining something' and will be assessed before Royals depart for the game at Preston on Tuesday. Checks will also be made on the fitness of Graeme Murty - who had been due to play against the Hornets but pulled out - and Nicky Forster who completed the full 90 minutes. Although Fozzy suffered no reaction after the game, Royals will want to be careful that the effects of 2 games in 3 days will not set back their main striker.

  • 26th December 2004 - Xmas Joy For Royals

    • Reading had an enjoyable Boxing Day with a 3:0 victory over Watford at the MadStad - their third consecutive victory without conceding a goal. The festivities began in only the 3rd minute when Ibrahima Sonko headed home a free-kick at the near post to score his first ever goal for the Royals.

    The remainder of the first half did not really live up to the promising start, however, as Reading seemed content to defend their lines and allow their visitors plenty of possession. As such, clear-cut opportunities were few and far between. The Hornets did have a number of long range efforts, but none of them seriously threatened Marcus Hahnemann's goal.

    After the break, the Royals looked much brighter and created some good chances as they looked to press home their advantage. But they had to wait until the 76th minute before making the game safe, Steve Sidwell breaking into the penalty area to get on the end of Nicky Forster's ball across the 6 yard box.

    The home side extended their lead in the 88th minute when Lloyd Owusu rose unchallenged to head home from close range. And it could have been even worse for Watford as the referee denied Reading a clear penalty when Forster was dragged to the ground by Cox, an act that should probably have also earned the defender a red card.

    To put the icing on Royals' yuletide cake, all of their main rivals at the top of the Championship lost. Ipswich went down at Millwall, Wigan lost at home to much improved Derby County, and Sunderland fell to a surpise home defeat at the hands of Leeds United. So a very merry Christmas for the Royals and they will look to build on that at Preston on Tuesday.


  • 24th December 2004 - Boxing Day Preview

    • Reading will make late decisions on the fitness of Nicky Forster and Graeme Murty for the breakfast time kick-off against Watford on Boxing Day.

    Captain Graeme Murty resumed full training this week but has felt a little sore. With so many games in a short space of time and Andy Hughes deputising superbly in the right-back position against QPR, manager Steve Coppell may well decide to give Murty more time to recover.

    Nicky Forster is continuing his return to full fitness following a two-month period on the sidelines. He missed a training session in midweek as a precaution, but with leading striker Dave Kitson ruled out for 6 weeks the Royals will be hoping that Fozzy is able to take his place in the starting 11.

    Watford have made two loan signings ahead of the clash. Paul Jones has joined on a month's loan from Wolves and is expected to take the place of injured goalkeeper Richard Lee. Other loan signing, Johnnie Jackson from Tottenham, is also expected to make his debut in midfield.

    The Hornets are the only side to win at the MadStad so far this season, in a Carling Cup tie back in September. Reading will be hoping that it isn't a case of 'deja vu' as they look to consolidate their position near the top of the Championship. The Royals will certainly be hoping for a better Christmas period than last year when they lost three consecutive games by a 0:3 scoreline - including a Boxing Day defeat to bottom of the table Wimbledon.
    Reading V Watford
    Top Lge Scorers Goals Sunday 26/12 @ 11:00am Top Lge Scorers Goals
    Kitson 12 Referee: Phil Crossley (Bromley) Webber 9
    Forster 4 Games: 18   Yellows: 41   Reds: 4 Helguson 8
    Owusu 4 Last 4 Meetings Dyer 4
    Sidwell 3 25/09/2004 Watford 0 1 Reading Gunnarsson 3
    Shorey 3 21/09/2004 Reading 0 3 Watford Ardley 3
    Lge Discipline   Y R 09/05/2004 Watford 1 0 Reading Lge Discipline   Y R
    Sidwell 6 0 29/11/2003 Reading 2 1 Watford Helguson 7 0
    Kitson 4 0 Chambers 7 0
    Sonko 2 0 Head to Head Gunnarsson 4 0
    Hughes 2 0 Reading Draws Watford Young 3 0
    Harper 2 0 League 35 14 34 Cox 3 0
    Lge Goal details:     FA Cup 2 1 2 Lge Goal details:    
    When: F A League Cup 3 3 4 When: F A
    first half 21 11 Total 40 18 40 first half 15 15
    second half 12 11 second half 14 11
    From: League Games Since From:
    open play 20 19 0 a win 9 open play 21 16
    crosses 4 0 0 home win 9 crosses 6 7
    corners 1 0 0 away win 5 corners 1 1
    penalties 3 1 2 a defeat 0 penalties 0 1
    direct from free-kick 3 1 12 home defeat 1 direct from free-kick 0 0
    free-kicks 2 1 1 away defeat 0 free-kicks 1 1
    3 a score draw 1
    Total 33 22 12 a no score draw 5 Total 29 26
    2 conceding a goal 0
    0 scoring a goal 1
    Current Form (last 3 games - all competitions)
    18/12/2004 QPR Home Won  1:0   18/12/2004 Coventry Away Lost  0:1
    11/12/2004 Leicester Away Won  2:0   11/12/2004 Wolves Home Drew  1:1
    04/12/2004 Wolves Away Lost  1:4   04/12/2004 Stoke Home Lost  0:1


  • 18th December 2004 - Kitson Serious Injury?

    • Royals striker Dave Kitson picked up yet another injury during the home victory over QPR - and this time it looks like it could be serious.

    Although he will need a scan next week before the extent of the damage is fully known, it would seem that Kitson has suffered medial ligament damage in his knee, and possibly also damaged his cruciate ligament. If either prognosis is correct, then the flame-haired forward could be sidelined for some time.

  • 18th December 2004 - Hoops 1 Imposters 0

    • The super hoops beat the imposters from QPR 1:0 at the MadStad courtesy of a Nicky Shorey free-kick.

    A scrappy and tense first half saw very few scoring opportunities and no real action worthy of mention.

    Things brightened up a bit in the second half, but there was still precious little to cheer a bumper crowd on the last Saturday before Christmas. The only goal arrived in the 64th minute. Nicky Shorey floated in a left-footed effort from the edge of the box that sneaked in off the far post, but later admitted that it was as much a cross as it was a shot.

    The only other 'action' of note, was when former Royals hero, Jamie Cureton, was sent off for lashing out at Steve Sidwell, Apparently, as Cureton was about to receive the ball, Sidders shouted out the term 'Jacks' which is code for 'leave it' and Curo duly stepped over the ball believing the call to have been made by a team-mate. When he turned and saw that Sidwell was the culprit, Jamie lost his cool and aimed a kick and a punch, leaving the official no option but to admonish a red card.

    So, 3 points in the bag but hardly a game to enthuse any Sky Sports viewers. Let's hope that the next game, also live on Sky Sports on Boxing Day (11:00am), will offer better entertainment value.


  • 17th December 2004 - Battle Of Hoops Preview

    • Reading captain Graeme Murty faces a race against time to be fit for the home clash against QPR.

    The full-back has been struggling with ankle and knee problems since being carried off against Wolves two weeks ago and will be given until the last minute.

    Striker Nicky Forster is likely to play some part after he was an unused substitute in last week's win at Leicester following his recovery from the groin injury that has kept him out of the side for the last two months.

    Manager Steve Coppell will be hoping the Royals can maintain their unbeaten home record in the Championship and stay in the promotion hunt going into the busy Christmas programme.

    Lee Cook could make an instant return to the QPR line-up for the trip to the Madejski Stadium.

    The winger missed last weekend's home defeat against Ipswich with a foot injury, but no lasting damage was sustained.

    If manager Ian Holloway selects Cook, Adam Miller may move into the centre of midfield alongside Marc Bircham, with Marcus Bean dropping to the bench.

    Jamie Cureton returns to Reading for the first time since he left for Korean club Busan Icons in July 2003. But the 29-year-old striker has lost his first-team place in recent weeks, and Holloway is unlikely to break up the attacking partnership of Paul Furlong and Kevin Gallen.
    Reading V Queen's Park Rangers
    Top Lge Scorers Goals Saturday 18/12 @ 12:45pm Top Lge Scorers Goals
    Kitson 12 Referee: Richard Beeby (Northampton) Furlong 13
    Forster 4 Games: 16   Yellows: 44   Reds: 6  Gallon 5
    Owusu 4 Last 4 Meetings Santos 4
    Sidwell 3 05/01/2002 Reading 1 0 QPR Cureton 3
    Morgan 2 25/08/2001 QPR 0 0 Reading Ainsworth 2
    Lge Discipline   Y R 28/12/1997 QPR 1 1 Reading Lge Discipline   Y R
    Sidwell 6 0 02/09/1997 Reading 1 2 QPR Bircham 7 0
    Kitson 3 0 Bignot 5 0
    Sonko 2 0 Head to Head Santos 4 0
    Hughes 2 0 Reading Draws QPR Furlong 3 0
    Little 1 0 League 31 14 23 Padula 2 0
    Lge Goal details:     FA Cup 0 0 1 Lge Goal details:    
    When: F A League Cup 1 0 0 When: F A
    first half 21 11 Total 32 14 24 first half 17 22
    second half 11 11 second half 17 13
    From: League Games Since From:
    open play 20 19 0 a win 2 open play 28 25
    crosses 4 0 1 home win 1 crosses 1 2
    corners 1 0 0 away win 5 corners 2 3
    penalties 3 1 1 a defeat 0 penalties 1 2
    direct from free-kick 2 1 11 home defeat 0 direct from free-kick 0 1
    free-kicks 2 1 1 away defeat 0 free-kicks 2 2
    2 a score draw 6
    Total 32 22 11 a no score draw 23 Total 34 35
    1 conceding a goal 0
    0 scoring a goal 0
    Current Form (last 3 games - all competitions)
    11/12/2004 Leicester Away Won  2:0   11/12/2004 Ipswich Home Lost  2:4
    04/12/2004 Wolves Away Lost  1:4   04/12/2004 Forest Away Lost  1:2
    27/11/2004 Wigan Home Drew  1:1   27/11/2004 Cardiff Home Won  1:0


  • 11th December 2004 - Super Sid

    • Steve Sidwell, who became the Royals youngest ever Captain when he took the armband against Leicester City, scored a sensational goal to put Reading on the road to victory at the Walkers Stadium.

    After last week's heavy defeat at Wolves, Reading needed to show great bouncebackability to get their promotion hopes back on track. Missing the injured Graeme Murty, it was Andy Hughes who stood in at right-back and he gave a terrific display. The first half was a quiet affair with very few scoring opportunities at either end. However, the home side almost went in front on two occasions in the closing minutes, hitting the post and having another effort cleared off the line. Royals' only effort of note came from Dave Kitson, who looked much sharper than in recent weeks. But the visitors deserved to be level at the break and set themselves up for a counter-attacking display in the second period.

    It was a much livelier game after the break and Reading were causing a lot of problems for their hosts. The breakthrough arrived in the 68th minute. A free-kick was played to Sidwell just outside the 'D' and he fired an unstoppable effort beyond the despairing Taylor in the Foxes goal. Reading made the game safe 8 minutes from time when Ivar Ingimarsson glanced home from a corner.

    With the top 3 in the Championship all winning, this was a vital victory for Reading to hang on to their coat-tails. Next up is the battle of the hoops on Saturday (12:45 kick-off) when Royals entertain QPR at the MadStad.


  • 5th December 2004 - Coppell's Search

    • Royals' manager, Steve Coppell, is looking to bring in at least one, maybe two, defenders this week following the injury to Graeme Murty and the teams' generally poor defensive effort at Wolves on Saturday. Whether it will be loan deals or permanent signings remains to be seen.

    Right-back and club captain, Murty, has strained medial ligaments in his knee. The full extent of the damage will not be known until the popular defender has undergone a scan, but it is likely to keep him sidelined for several weeks. Meanwhile, striker Dave Kitson is struggling again with a calf injury and also faces an uncertain wait as to the length of his lay-off.

  • 5th December 2004 - FA Cup 3rd Rd Draw

    • Reading have been draw at home to either Stockport County or Swansea City in the 3rd Rd of the FA Cup. The full draw is below, and ties are to be played over the weekend of 8th January. Should the Royals get through, they will be number 12 in the draw for the 4th Round.
    F.A. Cup 3rd Round Draw
    ARSENAL v STOKE CITY   CHELSEA v SCUNTHORPE UNITED
    SWINDON TOWN OR NOTTS COUNTY v MIDDLESBROUGH   CARDIFF CITY v BLACKBURN ROVERS
    MANCHESTER UNITED v EXETER CITY   CHARLTON ATHLETIC v ROCHDALE
    PLYMOUTH ARGYLE v EVERTON   WEST HAM UNITED v NORWICH CITY
    LEICESTER CITY v BLACKPOOL   SHEFFIELD UNITED v ASTON VILLA
    DERBY COUNTY v WIGAN ATHLETIC   PRESTON NORTH END v WEST BROMWICH ALBION
    SUNDERLAND v CRYSTAL PALACE   ROTHERHAM UNITED v YEOVIL TOWN
    WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS v MILLWALL   BURNLEY v LIVERPOOL
    YEADING v NEWCASTLE UNITED   AFC BOURNEMOUTH v CHESTER CITY
    HULL CITY v COLCHESTER UNITED   COVENTRY CITY v CREWE ALEXANDRA
    TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR v BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION   WATFORD v FULHAM
    READING v STOCKPORT COUNTY OR SWANSEA CITY   IPSWICH TOWN v BOLTON WANDERERS
    BIRMINGHAM CITY v LEEDS UNITED   PORTSMOUTH v GILLINGHAM
    HARTLEPOOL UNITED v BOSTON UNITED   NORTHAMPTON TOWN v SOUTHAMPTON
    MILTON KEYNES DONS v PETERBOROUGH UNITED   QUEENS PARK RANGERS v NOTTINGHAM FOREST
    OLDHAM ATHLETIC v MANCHESTER CITY   LUTON TOWN v HINCKLEY UNITED OR BRENTFORD


  • 4th December 2004 - FA Cup Team Numbers

    • Reading will be ball No. 33 in the draw for the 3rd Round of the FA Cup.

    At 4pm on Sunday afternoon, the big boys enter this season's FA Cup as the draw for the Third Round takes place at Soho Square.

    Gary Pallister and Tony Cascarino, opponents in the 1994 FA Cup final when two Eric Cantona penalties helped Manchester United to a 4-0 win over Chelsea, will make the draw to see who will take on who when the competition resumes after Christmas.

    The draw will be live on BBC1 following the Hinckley United v Brentford 2nd Round match as well as Sky Sports and BBC Radio Five Live.

    How the numbers are decided:
    The Third Round of The FA Cup sees the top two divisions of English football come in, as teams from the Premier League and Football League Championship enter the draw. Those 44 clubs are numbered first alphabetically and the remaining 20 clubs follow on in their match number order from the last round. The full set of numbers is as follows:
    No: Team   No: Team
     
    1 ARSENAL   33 READING
     
    2 ASTON VILLA   34 ROTHERHAM UNITED
     
    3 BIRMINGHAM CITY   35 SHEFFIELD UNITED
     
    4 BLACKBURN ROVERS   36 SOUTHAMPTON
     
    5 BOLTON WANDERERS   37 STOKE CITY
     
    6 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION   38 SUNDERLAND
     
    7 BURNLEY   39 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
     
    8 CARDIFF CITY   40 WATFORD
     
    9 CHARLTON ATHLETIC   41 WEST BROMWICH ALBION
     
    10 CHELSEA   42 WEST HAM UNITED
     
    11 COVENTRY CITY   43 WIGAN ATHLETIC
     
    12 CREWE ALEXANDRA   44 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
     
    13 CRYSTAL PALACE   45 NORTHAMPTON TOWN
     
    14 DERBY COUNTY   46 CHESTER CITY
     
    15 EVERTON   47 STOCKPORT COUNTY OR SWANSEA CITY
     
    16 FULHAM   48 BLACKPOOL
     
    17 GILLINGHAM   49 COLCHESTER UNITED
     
    18 IPSWICH TOWN   50 AFC BOURNEMOUTH
     
    19 LEEDS UNITED   51 HINCKLEY UNITED OR BRENTFORD
     
    20 LEICESTER CITY   52 MILTON KEYNES DONS
     
    21 LIVERPOOL   53 SWINDON TOWN OR NOTTS COUNTY
     
    22 MANCHESTER CITY   54 HULL CITY
     
    23 MANCHESTER UNITED   55 LUTON TOWN
     
    24 MIDDLESBROUGH   56 YEADING
     
    25 MILLWALL   57 SCUNTHORPE UNITED
     
    26 NEWCASTLE UNITED   58 YEOVIL TOWN
     
    27 NORWICH CITY   59 ROCHDALE
     
    28 NOTTINGHAM FOREST   60