LATEST NEWS ON 'The Royals'
May 2005
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  • 21st May 2005 - Eurovision 2005 Details

    • Well, another spectacular Eurovision is over for another year. For all the details, visit the Eurovision section of this site by clicking here

  • 14th May 2005 - Complete Details of Sweden Tour

    • For the full details of Reading's pre-season tour to Sweden, you can find nformation on the opponents, directions and pictures by clicking here .

  • 12th May 2005 - Fourteen Could Depart

    • Up to 14 players could be leaving the MadStad as part of a summer cear-out.

    6 players definately leaving are:
    Martin Keown
    Les Ferdinand
    Ricky Newman
    Bas Savage
    Louis Soares
    Adam Federici

    4 players have been offered a 1 year contract, but told that they can leave if they find another deal elsewhere:
    Nicky Forster
    Jamie Young
    Simieon Howekk
    Darren Campbell

    4 players who are still under contract have been told they can leave on a free if they find other deals:

    Paul Brooker
    Dean Morgan
    Lloyd Owusu
    Shaun Goater

  • 8th May 2005 - Royals Lay Down & Die

    • In a game that the Royals knew they had to win for any chance of making the play-offs, this was a piss-poor effort. Reading simply never even gave it a go in the first half and the game was all over after 21 minutes. In fact, the visitors didn't even manage an effort at goal until the final minute of the first half. Yet again, the were content to just hoof long aimless balls and conceded possession all too easily.

    Wigan knew that victory would see them gain automatic promotion to the Premiership and they showed no signs of nerves. They took the lead after only 18 minutes when Lee McCulloch turned the ball home from close range. Just 3 minutes later it was all over as Sonko allowed Jason Roberts to beat him with ease and slot the ball past Marcus Hahnemann.

    In the second half, Royals had more possession as Wigan were content to just protect what they had, but they rarely looked like breaching the home defence. Indeed, it was the Latics who increased their lead when Nathan Ellington headed home after 85 minutes. Steve Sidwell did head a consolation for Royals in injury time, but it was too little too late.

    In many ways, it was similar to the final game of last season when Reading simply laid down and died at Watford. As it happens, it wouldn't have made any difference in the end due to West Ham's victory at Vicarage Road, but surely the Royals should have put up more of a fight than this.

    Reading may have only narrowly missed out on the play-offs, finishing in 7th place, but in truth that doesn't really tell the whole story of what has been a horrible season for Royals fans to watch. There are many thousands of disgruntled Reading fans; bitterly disappointed at throwing away what was a wonderful position at Christmas, and even more disappointed at having to watch Steve Coppell's awful brand of so-called football.

    Thank God it is all over, roll on next season!


  • 7th May 2005 - Latics Preview

    • Wigan manager Paul Jewell is expected to pick his starting line-up from the same squad for the visit of Reading.

    Jewell has no new injury or suspension worries as his side look to secure automatic promotion to the Premiership.

    Jason Jarrett and Gary Teale are vying to start in midfield, while Jimmy Bullard is expected to be preferred to Alan Mahon, who replaced the former Peterborough man at Preston last week.

    Striker David Graham made a rare appearance in place of Nathan Ellington midway through the second half against Preston last week, but the latter will resume his partnership with Jason Roberts.

    Reading manager Steve Coppell is sweating over the fitness of Nicky Shorey.

    Defender Shorey missed the defeat against Wolves after sustaining a knee injury in training but has been making steady progress in his recovery.

    The 2-1 reverse against Glenn Hoddle's side was the first Championship match the 24-year-old left-back has missed this season and Coppell will be hoping he does not make it two games in a row.
    Wigan Athletic V Reading
    Top Lge Scorers Goals Sunday 8/5 @ 1pm Top Lge Scorers Goals
    Ellington 23 Referee: M Atkinson (West Yorkshire) Kitson 19
    Roberts 20 Games: 35   Yellows: 80   Reds: 3 Forster 7
    McCulloch 13 Last 4 Meetings Owusu 6
    Mahon 7 27/11/2004 Reading 1 1 Wigan Sidwell 4
    Teale 3 06/12/2003 Wigan 0 2 Reading Ingimarsson 3
    Lge Discipline   Y R 08/11/2003 Reading 1 0 Wigan Lge Discipline   Y R
    Roberts 9 0 21/01/2002 Wigan 0 2 Reading Sidwell 11 0
    McCulloch 6 1 Kitson 4 0
    Bullard 5 0 Head to Head Harper 4 0
    Breckin 4 0 Wigan Draws Reading Little 3 0
    Filan 4 0 League 11 7 11 Shorey 2 0
    Lge Goal details:     FA Cup 0 1 1 Lge Goal details:    
    When: F A League Cup 0 0 0 When: F A
    first half 35 14 Total 11 8 12 first half 26 19
    second half 41 20 second half 24 22
    From: League Games Since From:
    open play 54 24 2 a win 2 open play 31 32
    crosses 5 4 3 home win 1 crosses 4 0
    corners 6 0 1 away win 1 corners 3 2
    penalties 7 2 4 a defeat 0 penalties 4 1
    direct from free-kick 0 0 1 home defeat 0 direct from free-kick 3 1
    free-kicks 4 4 5 away defeat 0 free-kicks 4 3
    0 a score draw 11
    Total 76 34 1 a no score draw 5 Total 50 41
    0 conceding a goal 0
    0 scoring a goal 0
    Current Form (last 3 games - all competitions)
    30/04/2005 Preston Away Drew  1:1   30/04/2005 Wolves Home Lost  1:2
    23/04/2005 QPR Home Drew  0:0   23/04/2005 Cardiff Away Lost  0:2
    16/04/2005 Leicester Away Won  2:0   16/04/2005 Forest Home Won  1:0


  • 3rd May 2005 - Crunch Game Live On Sky

    • It is now confirmed that the Wigan v Reading and Brighton v Ipswich games will both be shown live on Sky Sports on Sunday. Coverage starts on Sky Sports 1 at 12:30pm and on Sky Sports 2 just in time for kick-off at 1pm. I'm not certain which game will be on which channel, but think that the Wigan v Royals game will be on SP1.