LATEST NEWS ON 'The Royals'
November 2005
Click here for directory of archived news items.

  • 29th November 2005 - Royals Gunned Down

    • Arsenal may not be able to match Chelsea's riches but their youth system remains the envy of even Roman Abramovich as their Carling Cup 'reserves' cruised to a 3-0 win Championship leaders Reading.

    Abramovich is overhauling the academy at Stamford Bridge, but Arsenal's production line is already bearing rich fruit, with an outfield line-up aged under 23 handing out a harsh lesson to Steve Coppell's side.

    While Reading contrived to miss a hatful of chances, with Manuel Almunia excellent in goal, Arsenal's two talented young strikers Robin van Persie and Jose Antonio Reyes both finished with aplomb before half-time.

    For Reyes, it was the end of a 12-game run without a goal. For Van Persie, it was his eighth goal in as many games.

    Then again, while that international duo impressed, so too did pacy young winger Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, as well as teenage striker Arturo Lupoli, who scored Arsenal's third within two minutes of coming off the bench.

    And so Arsenal's youngsters reached the last eight of the competition for the third consecutive year. They have won nothing with kids yet, but it is still an impressive feat.

    Reading, meanwhile, endured the end to their 23-game unbeaten run in all competitions, even if they impressed in all areas apart from the most important of all - in front of goal.

    No wonder their former Arsenal trio of Graham Stack, Steve Sidwell and James Harper had failed to make it at Highbury. For the Gunners have a veritable United Nations of impressive young talent at their disposal.

    Reading's impressive contingent of fans witnessed a frustrating first half, in which their side carved out numerous openings but contrived to squander all of them.

    Striker Dave Kitson was the most culpable of all, starting early on when he turned inside Johan Djourou only to be denied by Almunia, who had rushed off his line to block.

    The difference between the Premiership and the Championship can often be most evident in terms of finishing and that much was shown by Reyes on 13 minutes.

    Owusu-Abeyie slipped a neat pass into the Spaniard's path after evading the offside trap and, having side-stepped his way past Stack, he calmly clipped the ball into the empty net from a tight angle.

    Owusu-Abeyie was causing all sorts of problems down Arsenal's left flank and his next incisive through-ball found Van Persie, whose fierce drive was tipped around the post by Stack.

    The Dutch youngster's cross was also volleyed straight at the keeper by Sebastian Larsson and while Reading responded, Almunia saved Philippe Senderos' blushes after a miscued clearance when he denied Leroy Lita.

    And so it went on. Arsenal made elementary mistakes at the back but were not punished, with Kitson directing a point-blank header straight at Almunia.

    It was a costly miss. Just a minute later, Arsenal sped downfield, with Van Persie finding Larsson, who, in turn, picked out Reyes on the edge of the penalty area.

    The Spaniard managed to lay the ball off as he was tackled and it fell to Van Persie, who fizzed his shot past Stack into the corner of the net.

    The second half was the same story as Djourou was caught in possession by Stephen Hunt but Almunia was off his line to produce an excellent block and Sidwell knocked his follow-up effort wide.

    Arsenal's youngsters continued to grow in stature and only an excellent tackle by Ivar Ingimarsson prevented Van Persie from rounding off a neat one-two with Reyes.

    That was Van Persie's last involvement in the game, with Wenger choosing to save him for Saturday's trip to Bolton by replacing him with Lupoli.

    And after Kerrea Gilbert's superb curling effort had been foiled by Stack's acrobatics, the 18-year-old Italian striker Lupoli made an immediate impact with an accomplished finish to make it 3-0.

    Reading defender Ibrahima Sonko was left red-faced as he failed to control a routine long pass and that allowed Lupoli to race onto the ball before rounding Stack and clipping his shot into the unguarded net.

    In contrast, Almunia pulled off another superb save, this time from Reading substitute Kevin Doyle's header. It was that kind of night.


  • 28th November 2005 - Arsenal Preview

    • Reading midfielder Steve Sidwell hopes to haunt his former club when he returns to Arsenal with Coca-Cola Championship leaders Reading for the sold-out Carling Cup tie.

    The 22-year-old former Highbury trainee swapped north London for Berkshire almost three years ago after finding first-team opportunities hard to come by under Arsene Wenger.

    Although Sidwell has no hard feelings towards the Gunners for shattering his dream of making the grade at Highbury at such a young age, the Wandsworth-born playmaker admits he does have a point to prove in the fourth-round tie.

    "I have great memories of my time at Arsenal, but the biggest regret of my time there is that I didn't manage to make a first team appearance," Sidwell said. "It will be nice to go back and show people that I have improved as a player and to score the winning goal in front of the North Bank would be nice. I was watching the draw on television and for some strange reason I just knew we were going to draw Arsenal. The thing that makes it particularly special for me is that the match is at Highbury, if we'd been drawn at home I would have been a bit disappointed as I have fond memories of that ground and my time there and it will be great to go back. Highbury is steeped in history, it's a great old ground. I have an opportunity to play at Highbury during Arsenal's last season there and that is something that I thought would never happen."

    Sidwell also went on to say that it is down to the coaching he received whilst at Arsenal that he is the player he is today.

    "A lot of young players leave Arsenal with bitter feelings towards the club and say they weren't given a chance because of all the foreigners ahead of them," he said. "But the way I look at it is I got the best football education I could have got. It is down to my time there that I play the way I do and why I am and still enjoying a career in football with Reading."

    Reading boss Steve Coppell has hinted at changes to his starting line-up for the tie. Coppell has used the Carling Cup to give his fringe players a run-out and may do the same at Highbury. That could see recalls for Chris Makin, John Oster, Stephen Hunt, Eric Obinna and on-loan Gunner Graham Stack.

    Striker Kevin Doyle is available for selection despite breaking two bones in his hand during Saturday's 2-0 win at Plymouth, but Brynjar Gunnarsson (ankle) misses out once more.

    Jose Antonio Reyes and Robin van Persie have both been included in Arsenal's squad. But they are among just a handful of first-team squad members, also including Philippe Senderos, Mathieu Flamini and Pascal Cygan, who will feature in another virtual reserve team.

    Midfielder Alex Song has been ruled out with a knee problem but Emmanuel Eboue has recovered from a similar injury.

  • 26th November 2005 - Little Bit Of Magic



    • This 13th win in their last 16 matches meant they extended their lead at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship to four points as closest rivals Sheffield United lost 4-2 at Leicester.

    Considering their positions in the table it was surprising that Plymouth made the better start and David Norris got a shot on target after just three minutes, while Akos Buzsaky fired over and then wide from long range before the visitors had time to settle.

    Leroy Lita, who ended an eight-match barren run with a goal at Ipswich in midweek, wasted Reading's first opportunity and Nicky Shorey spurned an even better chance which he dragged wide in the 17th minute.

    But after Marcus Hahnemann had made a fine save to deny Nick Chadwick, Reading edged ahead on the counter attack with a wonderful goal from Little in the 20th minute. The winger, who has impressed all season, advanced down the right and then produced an inch-perfect chip over goalkeeper Romain Larrieu.

    Buzsaky and Reading midfielder Steve Sidwell were booked in separate incidents and were also next to try their luck at goal for their respective sides without troubling the goalkeeper, but Chadwick should have done better when foiled again by Hahnemann in the 33rd minute.

    Ivar Ingimarsson, one of Steve Coppell's unsung heroes, tested Larrieu and then did equally well at the other end to deflect a Buzsaky shot out for a corner as the first half drew to a close.

    There was a blow for Plymouth when Hungarian playmaker Buzsaky failed to reappear for the second half, replaced by Bojan Djordjic, and the writing was well and truly on the wall when they conceded the second goal in the 57th minute.

    Lita played the ball across and Doyle, who has proved to be an excellent summer signing from Cork City, tapped it home and was then booked for his over-exuberant celebration.

    Reading's American midfielder Bobby Convey had been largely quiet but he curled a shot just wide in the 67th minute before Chadwick's personal torment continued as he hit the crossbar with a header from a Djordjic cross, although he then did better in his own goalmouth to block a close-range Ingimarsson effort.

    Lita and Ibrahima Sonko could have increased the victory margin towards the end but more importantly Coppell will have been happy that his side kept marching on.


  • 25th November 2005 - Plymouth Preview

    • Plymouth boss Tony Pulis is set to include loan signings Elliott Ward and Jason Jarrett in the squad to face Championship leaders Reading at Home Park.

    Defender Ward is set to make his first start for the Pilgrims after joining them on a month's loan from West Ham and making a brief substitute appearance in Tuesday's 0-0 draw at Sheffield Wednesday.

    Argyle will be without suspended skipper Paul Wotton after he received his fifth caution of the season in last Saturday's impressive 3-1 home win over QPR.

    His place in midfield is set to go to Jarrett, who joined Argyle from Norwich City.

    Pulis is keeping his fingers crossed that midfielder David Norris (ankle) and playmaker Akos Buzsaky (groin) pass fit to face the Royals, whose only league defeat came at home to Plymouth on the opening day of the season.

    Royals duo Dave Kitson and Brynjar Gunnarsson are both rated very doubtful.

    Kitson was expected to return from suspension at Ipswich in midweek, but sustained a cut to the head after an accidental clash with a team-mate in training and was forced to sit out the 3-0 win.

    The fragile nature of his stitches means the 25-year-old is again unlikely to feature.

    Gunnarsson remains sidelined for a fifth consecutive game with a groin complaint.

    New signings Aaron Brown and Michael Dobson are not expected to feature at Home Park.

    Plymouth Argyle V Reading
    Top Lge Scorers Goals Saturday 26/11 @ 3pm Top Lge Scorers Goals
    Buzsaky 3 Referee: K Wright (Cambridgeshire) Lita 6
    Evans 3 Games: 14   Yellows: 53   Reds: 4 Doyle 6
    Chadwick 3 Last 4 Meetings Kitson 4
    Wotton 3 06/08/2005 Reading 1 2 Plymouth Little 4
    Djordic 1 05/02/2005 Reading 0 0 Plymouth Convey 3
    Lge Discipline   Y R 02/11/2004 Plymouth 2 2 Reading Lge Discipline   Y R
    Brevett 5 0 21/12/1999 Plymouth 1 0 Reading Little 4 0
    Norris 4 0 Sidwell 3 0
    Wotton 4 0 Head to Head Doyle 2 0
    Connolly 4 0 Plymouth Draws Reading Gunnarsson 2 0
    Djordic 3 0 League 25 13 15 Makin 2 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 8 12 Total 27 14 16 first half 14 4
    second half 8 11 second half 22 7
    From: Games Since From:
    open play 6 7 1 a win 0 open play 17 8
    crosses 4 5 0 home win 0 crosses 6 2
    corners 0 3 9 away win 0 corners 4 0
    penalties 2 2 2 a defeat 19 penalties 2 0
    direct from free-kick 1 2 6 home defeat 9 direct from free-kick 2 0
    free-kicks 2 2 1 away defeat 10 free-kicks 3 1
    4 a score draw 4
    Total 16 23 0 a no score draw 9 Total 36 11
    1 conceding a goal 1
    1 scoring a goal 0
    Current Form (last 3 games - all competitions)
    22/11/2005 SheffWed Away Drew  0:0   22/11/2005 Ipswich Away Won  3:0
    19/11/2005 QPR Home Won  3:1   19/11/2005 Hull Home Won  3:1
    05/11/2005 Ipswich Away Lost  1:3   05/11/2005 QPR Away Won  2:1


  • 22nd November 2005 - Ipswich 0 Royals 3

    • Reading climbed to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship as they preserved their unbeaten away record with a convincing victory over Ipswich at Portman Road.

    With Sheffield United only managing a draw at Wolves, the Royals were able to leapfrog their rivals from Yorkshire thanks to a first-half goal from Steve Sidwell and strikes by Leroy Lita and Kevin Doyle after the break.

    Ipswich rarely threatened Marcus Hahnemann in the Reading goal, although they were not helped by the first-half withdrawal of Sam Parkin, who was forced off injured.

    The visitors started much the better of the two sides, with their centre-back Ivar Ingimarsson heading a left-wing cross from Bobby Convey just wide in the third minute.

    Sidwell thought he had given the Royals the lead in the eighth minute when he guided a right-footed shot home from 18 yards, but the effort was disallowed with striker Lita adjudged to have been standing in an offside position.

    Further strikes by Sidwell and Lita were beaten away by Lewis Price while Ingimarsson shot wide as Ipswich were kept on the back foot in the opening stages.

    The hosts suffered a blow after 18 minutes when Parkin, who had been playing as a lone striker, was forced off through injury and was replaced by Nicky Forster.

    Sidwell added insult to injury by putting Reading into the lead 10 minutes later, the midfielder tapping in from six yards after Doyle's original effort was blocked by Ipswich defender Luis Castro Sito.

    Ibrahima Sonko headed wide in the 32nd minute and Lita curled an 18-yarder past the post 10 minutes later as a one-sided half came to an end.

    It was a different Ipswich who came out for the second half, with Richard Naylor and Forster both going close in the opening five minutes.

    But normal service was resumed in the 53rd minute when Lita notched Reading's second with a low left-footed finish from six yards out following good work from Ingimarsson.

    Ipswich attempted a quick riposte but first Darren Currie's header on the hour mark flew the other side of Hahnemann's right-hand post and then Gavin Williams curled a long-range effort straight at the American goalkeeper.

    The visitors' third goal came after 77 minutes when Sonko headed down a Glen Little corner and Doyle was on hand to volley home into the centre of the goal from six yards out.

    Forster had the last chance of the match but his 25-yard shot careered wide in the 83rd minute.


  • 22nd November 2005 - Luton Game Moved Again

    • The Royals away fixture at Luton Town has been moved again. Having originally been put back to Monday 20th February, it has now been brought forward to Friday 17th February (ko 7:45pm). If either Reading or Luton make it as far as the FA Cup 5th round, then the game will have to be moved again.

  • 21st November 2005 - Ipswich Preview

    • Kevin Horlock, suspended for Saturday's Championship draw at Coventry, is back in the Ipswich squad for their home game against Reading.

    Manager Joe Royle confirmed there will be changes as the Suffolk side look to become the first team to beat the Royals since the opening league game of the season.

    Owen Garvan (ankle) and Adam Proudlock (thigh) are still out, but otherwise Royle has everybody fit.

    Unbeaten in their previous four matches, Ipswich are certain to start with West Ham loanee Gavin Williams, who gave a good impression on his scoring debut in the 1-1 draw at Coventry.

    Matt Richards and Darren Currie, who both started on the bench at the Ricoh Arena, are being considered for a recall, with Royle also having Williams, Horlock, Jim Magilton, Jimmy Juan and Ian Westlake competing for midfield places.

    Striker Dave Kitson is doubtful for Reading as a head injury sustained in training looks set to stall his return from suspension.

    The 25-year-old forward was forced to miss the Royals' 3-1 win over Hull on Saturday as he served a one-match ban for picking up his fifth booking of the season.

    Kitson was expected to return to the squad for the trip to Portman Road, but sustained a cut to the head after an accidental clash with a team-mate and may not feature.

    Midfielder Steve Sidwell injured a toe against Hull but is expected to be fit, while Brynjar Gunnarsson remains sidelined for a fourth consecutive game with a troublesome groin complaint.

  • 19th November 2005 - Royals Express Steams On


    • Republic of Ireland international Kevin Doyle put Steve Coppell's side in front for the second time in the match when his shot nestled in the top left-hand corner after Glen Little had provided the assist.

    Just seconds later the lead was doubled after a stunning break. Convey ran brilliantly at the defence from the half way line, and turned the ball infield to Little, who showed exquisite footwork to skip inside his man and place the ball in the corner of Myhill's net.

    Earlier, Convey's third goal of the season had handed Reading the advantage. The United States international slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, beyond the outstretched arm of Boaz Myhill in the Tigers goal after just seven minutes.

    But Nick Barmby's header just after half-time brought the Tigers level. The veteran midfielder nodded home from close range after Mark Lynch's centre was flicked into his path by Ben Burgess.

    Reading started brightly and Convey was brilliantly denied by his fellow countryman when Myhill acrobatically tipped a fierce volley over the crossbar.

    Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann showed he could be equally agile when he denied Ben Burgess.

    The Hull striker turned on the edge of the six-yard box and flicked a left-footed effort towards goal, but Hahnemann reacted quickly and got his fingertips to the ball to keep the shot out at the expense of a corner.

    Little stung the palms of Myhill from the edge of the area midway through the half, and Leroy Lita - making his first appearance since sustaining a shin injury in the 1-1 draw between these two sides in October - was denied by Myhill soon after.

    Ivar Ingimarsson went close to extending the Royals' lead, but once again he found Myhill in outstanding form as the goalkeeper diverted the ball past the post to keep Hull in the game.

    A rare foray into the Reading final third saw Leon Cort force Hahnemann into action just before the half-hour mark.

    The defender found time and space inside the penalty area before drilling a low shot towards goal, but the goalkeeper blocked smartly with his legs to ensure the Football League's meanest defence held out until the interval.

    Peter Taylor's side emerged from the break with renewed vigour and Barmby restored parity within 10 minutes of the sides retaking the field.

    However, midway through the second half Reading stamped some authority on the contest with two goals in the space of two minutes.

    Doyle netted his fifth goal of the season in the 67th minute following good work on the flank from Convey, and moments later Little settled the match when he fired home from just inside the penalty box.

    A trio of good saves from Myhill kept Lita off the scoresheet on his return as Reading threatened to add to the goal tally, but the Tigers stopper kept the scoreline respectable as the Royals stretched their unbeaten run to 21 games in all competitions.


  • 19th November 2005 - Hull Preview

    • Reading boss Steve Coppell is set to recall Leroy Lita to his squad for the visit of Hull, despite the striker being short of match fitness.

    Lita's return after suffering a bruised shin is being fast-tracked due to Dave Kitson's suspension, which had left Coppell with only Kevin Doyle and Eric Obinna available in attack.

    Club physio Jon Fearn is also aiming to have midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson fit to play, although his groin injury may keep him sidelined for a third consecutive game.

    Ibrahima Sonko is expected to play despite carrying a swollen ankle, while Marcus Hahnemann and Steve Sidwell have recovered from knocks and should start.

    Billy Paynter is set to make his Hull debut as Peter Taylor's struggling side make the trip to the Madejski Stadium.

    The 21-year-old striker has joined the goal-shy Tigers from Port Vale on loan until January, when he will complete a permanent transfer.

    On-loan Sunderland forward Chris Brown has managed just one goal since arriving in September, and Taylor may decide to replace him in the starting line-up with Paynter.

    The Hull boss is facing a defensive headache with full-backs Roland Edge (groin) and Andy Dawson (hamstring) set to miss out along with midfielder Keith Andrews (ankle).

    Skipper Ian Ashbee, striker Steve McPhee and defenders Alton Thelwell and Danny Coles all remain long-term injury absentees.

    Reading V Hull City
    Top Lge Scorers Goals Saturday 19/11 @ 3pm Top Lge Scorers Goals
    Lita 5 Referee: Clive Penton (Suffolk) Burgess 2
    Doyle 4 Games: 15   Yellows: 50   Reds: 3 Barmby 2
    Kitson 4 Last 4 Meetings Elliott 2
    Little 3 18/10/2005 Hull 1 1 Reading Brown 1
    Gunnarsson 3 19/03/1994 Hull 1 2 Reading Fagan 1
    Lge Discipline   Y R 25/09/1993 Reading 1 1 Hull Lge Discipline   Y R
    Little 4 0 13/02/1993 Hull 1 1 Reading Lynch 1 1
    Sidwell 3 0 Woodhouse 3 0
    Doyle 2 0 Head to Head Fagan 2 0
    Makin 2 0 Reading Draws Hull Barmby 2 0
    Gunnarsson 2 0 League 15 13 11 Brown 2 0
    Lge Goal details:     FA Cup 1 1 1 Lge Goal details:    
    When: F A League Cup 0 0 0 When: F A
    first half 13 4 Total 16 14 12 first half 7 11
    second half 23 7 second half 8 10
    From: Games Since From:
    open play 14 8 0 a win 3 open play 9 8
    crosses 4 1 0 home win 1 crosses 2 6
    corners 3 0 0 away win 4 corners 0 3
    penalties 2 0 20 a defeat 0 penalties 1 1
    direct from free-kick 2 0 11 home defeat 0 direct from free-kick 0 0
    free-kicks 3 1 9 away defeat 0 free-kicks 1 0
    2 a score draw 4
    Total 36 11 8 a no score draw 18 Total 15 21
    0 conceding a goal 0
    0 scoring a goal 0
    Current Form (last 3 games - all competitions)
    05/11/2005 QPR Away Won  2:1   05/11/2005 Watford Home Lost  1:2
    01/11/2005 SheffieldWed Home Won  2:0   01/11/2005 Preston Away Lost  0:3
    29/10/2005 Leeds Home Drew  1:1   28/10/2005 Burnley Away Lost  0:1


  • 16th November 2005 - More Sky Dates

    • Three more Royals fixtures have been moved for live coverage on Sky Sports. The game at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace has been brought forward to Friday 20th January (7:45pm). The home fixture with Southampton has also been moved to a Friday night, on 10th February. That game will also kick-off at 7:45pm and not the usual 8pm for evening matches at the MadStad. And the away fixture at Luton has been put back to Monday 20th February, again at 7:45pm. I'm not sure what would happen if either Reading or Luton make it through to the 5th Rd of the FA Cup, which is scheduled for that weekend.

  • 10th November 2005 - Coppell Search

    • READING will use this weekend's break in fixtures to step-up their search for a new defender.

    The Royals' European scouting network will swing into operation with the entire coaching staff covering games. A centre-back remains the priority for boss Steve Coppell with his defence thin on the ground. Ivar Ingimarsson, who signed a new contract yesterday (Wednesday), and Ibrahima Sonko are the club's only specialist central defenders with first-team experience.

    Royals are keen on Brentford's Sam Sodje and the club will have a representative at Hartlepool this weekend for their League One clash. And Coppell admitted:
    "Getting a new defender has been our quest since the summer and it still is. But we won't bring players in just to make up the numbers. They must be the right type of player at the right price. We won't sign players just because the transfer window is open. I can't recall a team making a significant signing in January that's guaranteed them success. We're a very tight group and the worry is that somebody new coming in might be unsettling if they don't fit the bill."

    Royals director of football Nicky Hammond and chief scout Brian McDermott will be scouring the Continent again this weekend looking at possible targets. Hammond was recently on a scouting mission abroad while McDermott was in Scotland following a tip-off. Hammond said:
    "We'll be abroad and in Europe. If Reading want to reach the Premiership we can't exclusively deal in the English market because it's so expensive. Brian McDermott and myself have looked very closely at that. We have a much greater understanding of the European market than ever before and we're seeing if there are players out there who fit the bill. As January approaches we'll be covering as many games as possible and everyone will be busy this weekend. Then we've got a few decisions to make with regards to strengthening the squad."

    Reading chairman John Madejski is likely to look favourably on Coppell's request for transfer funds with the team flying high in second place in the Championship. And the Royals will keep combing the lower the leagues for talent amid interest in Grays Athletic striker Gary Hooper and Chippenham Town forward James Constable. Constable, though, is training with Bristol City this week after scoring in Chippenham's 1-1 FA Cup first round tie with Worcester on Saturday.

    Ireland is another source of untapped talent for Reading following the success of Cork City's Kevin Doyle and the imminent signing of Bray Wanderers' Conor Sinnott. Meanwhile, Coppell has revealed why he has given his playing squad the weekend off as opposed to organising a team-bonding exercise. While the Sheffield United team head to the Lake District for a week's break together, Reading's players are free to do what they want.

    "I'm not a fan of enforced jollity," stressed Coppell. "It can be counter-productive so I've given the players a four-day break and it's up to them how and where they spend it. They've had seven games in 20 days without having a day off so they deserve this. I want them to go away and not think about football at all so that they come back on Monday with 100% concentration."

  • 9th November 2005 - Ivar Signs

    • Ivar Ingimarsson has signed a new contract, tying himself to Reading until 2008.

    The defender's present deal was set to expire at the end of the season, but the 28-year-old inked a new two-year agreement with The Royals on Wednesday.

    Director of football Nick Hammond told the club's official website:
    "I am delighted Ivar has committed himself to us. As a centre half he's going into the best years of his career and he is a shining example to young players about how to conduct themselves on and off the pitch. He is a fantastic example of the type of player we like to have here in terms of his attitude, mentality and approach to the game."

  • 5th November 2005 - Kits Ban

    • Dave Kitson picked up his 5th booking of the season in the victory at Queen's Park Rangers, meaning he will receive a 1 match suspension and miss the home fixture with Hull City on 19th November.

  • 5th November 2005 - Fakers 1 Hoops 2


    • But Icelander Ingimarsson, minus a number on his back following an earlier change of shirts, struck in the 66th minute to extend the Royals' club-record unbeaten run to 20 matches after a feisty encounter at Loftus Road.

    The game was barely 20 seconds old when Reading got their first sight of goal, Kevin Doyle bursting through and forcing Simon Royce into a smart reaction save with his legs.

    And in a bristling start to the match Georges Santos, playing as an emergency and distinctly awkward centre-forward for Rangers, teed up Richard Langley who fizzed a shot across goal and wide.

    A Cook corner was then punched straight into the air by Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann, who was relieved to see Kevin Gallen head wide.

    But by the 10th minute Reading were ahead following a slick passing move which cut straight through the Rangers defence.

    Steve Sidwell played the ball forward into the feet of Dave Kitson, who cleverly squared it for the onrushing Harper to beat Royce from 12 yards. Cook then brought a decent save from Hahnemann with a low shot before Dean Sturridge prodded over the top as Rangers looked to hit back.

    Reading were rarely troubled for the rest of the first half, however, while Rangers suffered another blow when their already threadbare attack was shorn of Sturridge, who limped out of the action a minute before the break to be replaced by Gareth Ainsworth.

    But Reading were hit with a sucker-punch two minutes after the break when Ainsworth cut in from the right.

    The substitute tip-toed his way along Reading's backline and found Cook who, without breaking stride, smacked a superb first-time effort low past Hahnemann's outstretched left hand from 20 yards.

    Royals winger Glen Little was lucky to stay on the pitch when, moments after being booked for bringing down Langley, he chopped Tommy Doherty to the ground and escaped with a lecture.

    It was no surprise to see Coppell replace the former Burnley man with John Oster as the temperature rose.

    And Oster made an instant impact with the near-post corner that the unmarked Ingimarsson crashed home with a bullet header that Royce got a hand to but could not keep out.

    Ainsworth thumped a volley over the top and Gallen lobbed on to the roof of the net as Rangers pushed for an equaliser, while at the other end Ingimarsson crashed over from close range as Reading held out for another priceless three points.


  • 5th November 2005 - QPR Preview

    • Kevin Gallen and Marc Nygaard will struggle to be fit for QPR's home match against high-flying Reading.

    Rangers skipper Gallen, 30, picked up a groin strain during Tuesday's 3-1 defeat at Watford.

    And striker Nygaard, 29, sustained a calf injury in the same match - just days after shaking off a hamstring problem.

    Nygaard's absence would leave Rangers desperately light in attack: Paul Furlong is suspended for three more matches, and Dean Sturridge and Stefan Moore have scored one goal between them this term.

    Marc Bircham and Steve Lomas (both hamstring), Martin Rowlands (knee) and Matthew Rose (groin) are all still absent.

    Reading boss Steve Coppell hopes to name an unchanged side from the one which beat Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.

    Coppell, named Coca-Cola Championship manager of the month for October, saw his side extend their unbeaten run to 19 games against the Owls - lengthening a new club record of games without defeat.

    Brynjar Gunnarsson (groin) is doubtful, while Leroy Lita remains sidelined with the shin complaint that has ruled him out of the last two games.

    Chris Makin sustained an ankle injury during the 1-0 win at Stoke and may miss out again.

    Queen's Park Rangers V Reading
    Top Lge Scorers Goals Saturday 05/11 @ 3pm Top Lge Scorers Goals
    Gallen 4 Referee: A Leake (Lancashire) Lita 5
    Shittu 3 Games: 14   Yellows: 36   Reds: 2 Doyle 4
    Nygaard 3 Last 4 Meetings Kitson 4
    Ainsworth 2 05/03/2005 QPR 0 0 Reading Gunnarsson 3
    Furlong 2 18/12/2004 Reading 1 0 QPR Little 3
    Lge Discipline   Y R 05/01/2002 Reading 1 0 QPR Lge Discipline   Y R
    Furlong 4 2 25/08/2001 QPR 0 0 Reading Sidwell 3 0
    Shittu 4 1 Little 3 0
    Bircham 5 0 Head to Head Doyle 2 0
    Doherty 2 1 QPR Draws Reading Gunnarsson 2 0
    Bignot 3 0 League 23 15 32 Makin 2 0
    Lge Goal details:     FA Cup 1 0 0 Lge Goal details:    
    When: F A League Cup 0 0 1 When: F A
    first half 11 13 Total 24 15 33 first half 12 4
    second half 8 11 second half 22 6
    From: Games Since From:
    open play 8 14 1 a win 1 open play 13 7
    crosses 1 5 0 home win 0 crosses 4 1
    corners 5 0 1 away win 2 corners 2 0
    penalties 1 0 0 a defeat 15 penalties 2 0
    direct from free-kick 1 2 2 home defeat 8 direct from free-kick 2 0
    free-kicks 3 0 0 away defeat 7 free-kicks 3 1
    3 a score draw 0
    Total 19 24 12 a no score draw 3 Total 34 10
    0 conceding a goal 0
    0 scoring a goal 0
    Current Form (last 3 games - all competitions)
    01/11/2005 Watford Away Lost   1:3   01/11/2005 SheffWed Home Won  2:0
    29/10/2005 Derby Away Won  2:1   29/10/2005 Leeds Home Drew  1:1
    22/10/2005 Norwich Home Won  3:0   25/10/2005 SheffieldUtd Home Won  2:0


  • 1st November 2005 - Royals 2 Owls 0

    • Dave Kitson showed why he is a striker destined for the Premiership as Reading consolidated second position in the Coca-Cola Championship with this convincing victory.

    If the Royals can sustain anything like their present form - they have not lost since the opening day of the season - they look sure to be heading for the top flight, with nine points to spare over third-placed Watford.

    But Kitson could even get there first for, on this evidence, it would be no surprise if some hefty bids come in for his services in January.

    The 25-year-old was initially credited with the opener before it was adjudged to have been an own goal by Glenn Whelan, but there was no denying him the second which took his tally for the season to eight.

    Wednesday had been in fine fettle themselves before this game having gone five matches unbeaten, but they were never a real factor this time and they allowed Kitson two excellent opportunities before the hosts too