LATEST NEWS ON 'The Royals'
November 2006
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  • 27th November 2006 - Duo Sign Extension

    • Goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann and winger Glen Little have signed new contracts with Reading. The deals will keep the pair at the Madejski Stadium until 2008, with their current contracts due to expire at the end of this season.

    Royals director of football Nick Hammond said: "Marcus and Glen have both been instrumental figures in the success that Reading Football Club has enjoyed over the past few years. We are very pleased they have signed new contracts."

    American goalkeeper Hahnemann, 34, an ever-present so far in Reading's first top-flight campaign, said: "The more time I've spent here the better it's got, and I've never hidden the fact that I wanted to stay. My family is happy here, this is the club where I made my name and got back into the (US) national team. I'm happy to sign."

    Little added: "I want to stay at Reading until the end of my career so I had no hesitation in signing this contract. Things have gone well for me here, we're new to the Premiership and really enjoying it. There's a great spirit in the dressing room and when you're at a club where you enjoy training every day, you want to stay."

  • 25th November 2006 - Cottage Delight

    • Kevin Doyle's penalty at Craven Cottage clinched a 1-0 victory over 10-man Fulham and made it three Premiership wins in a row for Reading.Doyle slotted home in the 17th minute after he was brought down in the area, with Ian Pearce given a straight red card for his foul on the six-yard line.

    The newly-promoted Royals, who continue to impress as they establish themselves in the top half of the Premiership, held on despite pressure from the hosts and a penalty appeal when Tomasz Radzinski went over in the area. Tipped for relegation at the start of the season, the high-tempo game of Reading caused problems for Fulham and Doyle's work in attack always threatened.

    The Republic of Ireland international has scored in each game of the three-match winning sequence they have put together.

    Fulham boss Chris Coleman had played under his Reading counterpart Steve Coppell at Crystal Palace, and recently recalled how he reluctantly played as a makeshift striker at Selhurst Park. Following last week's defeat at Manchester City, Coleman made changes to his own attack, bringing in Collins John after his goal at Eastlands, while midfielder Michael Brown made a comeback from his ankle injury. John's striker partner, Brian McBride, had looped a header on to the roof of the net early on, but it was Reading striker Doyle who made an explosive impact on the game when he opened the scoring.

    Glen Little guided the ball over the top for James Harper to chase on the right and he fed Doyle, who took a touch and was tripped in the six-yard area by Ian Pearce. The Fulham defender was dismissed with a straight red card and Doyle sent Antti Niemi the wrong way for his third strike in three Premiership games.

    Doyle was in the thick of the action and then appeared to make contact with Liam Rosenior using his elbow in an aerial challenge, with the full-back requiring treatment. To compound Fulham's poor start to the game, skipper Luis Boa Morte and Rosenior were involved in an animated argument as Niemi prepared for a goal kick after Seol Ki-Hyeon had a shot deflected wide.

    The visitors were forced into a change in the 33rd minute when Steve Sidwell was replaced by Brynjar Gunnarsson, while Little was then forced off four minutes later, with John Oster brought on. Harper was cautioned for leaving a foot in as Rosenior cleared, while Ivar Ingimarsson was cautioned for handball as the intensity of the match increased.

    Rosenior then showed his pace on the right before his deflected cross was met by McBride and Royals goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann was forced to save the diving header. Franck Queudrue was forced off in first-half stoppage time and was replaced by Carlos Bocanegra, but Fulham were still pushing for a leveller before the break. John nearly bundled home, only for Ingimarsson to clear off the line as Claus Jensen closed in on an open goal.

    Jensen came closer three minutes after the break when he curled an effort which required a save from Hahnemann, while Ibrahima Sonko was booked two minutes later for his foul on McBride. Fulham felt they should have had a penalty in the 59th minute, but Dermot Gallagher awarded a goalkick when Radzinski went down in the penalty area under the challenge of Nicky Shorey.

    Rosenior got behind the Reading defence just after the hour mark, but his cross was cleared and John's header from the resulting corner went over the crossbar. Fulham were attacking with purpose but struggled with their final pass, while Doyle's work for the visitors meant they were always a threat. Radzinski snatched at a shot and found the side-netting after John had bundled his way through from a set-piece as Fulham applied pressure on Reading.

    The visitors appealed unsuccessfully for a Bocanegra handball in the area with 18 minutes left, while at the other end the American had a scissor-kick drift wide. Oster and Doyle had late efforts saved and the visitors held on, with McBride going just wide with a 30-yard drive.

    Reading boss Steve Coppell sympathised with Fulham after the decision to dismiss Ian Pearce during the Premiership newcomers' 1-0 win at Craven Cottage. Pearce brought down Kevin Doyle on the edge of the six-yard area and the Republic of Ireland striker slotted in the 17th-minute penalty for Reading's third win in a row. It was Doyle's fourth strike in consecutive games - he has scored in each of their Premiership wins and also netted for his country against San Marino - and the visitors held on despite pressure from the hosts.

    Coppell felt referee Dermot Gallagher had no option but to dismiss the defender but criticised the laws on punishing professional fouls. He said: "The game obviously lost its thread when the decision was made. The poor old referee - the law is the law but the law is an ass in this situation. It's the denial of a goalscoring opportunity so you should replace it with a goalscoring opportunity. The sending off, I don't think, is relevant but Gallagher had no option. From then onwards, the game took on an edge which is not conducive to anything, least of all good football."

    Fulham pushed forward in search of an equaliser and Marcus Hahnemann, a former Fulham goalkeeper, was forced to save from Brian McBride's diving header. Collins John, returning to the starting line-up, almost bundled in before the break but Fulham could not find the leveller despite more pressure in the second half and a penalty appeal when Tomasz Radzinski went over in the area.

    Coleman believes there could be a change in some of the laws to help referees in situations such as the one Gallagher found himself in. Coleman said: "It's a penalty all day long but, no complaints there, Dermot Gallagher would have done himself the world of good if he saw a bit of commonsense. Does he have to punish us twice? I don't think so. I know what the letter of the law says but I'm sick of hearing ex-referees on the radio saying we've got to respect referees more and help them out. There's always a grey area and we've got to let the referees to have a bit of commonsense and get a feel for the game and not be robots."

    He added: "For a nasty challenge, he deserves to be sent off but if someone mis-times it give the penalty but you don't have to send him off, it spoils the game. After that Dermot made it hard for himself and he was getting quite a lot wrong because he was under pressure immediately. Certainly one or two of the laws should be changed to help the referees as much as anyone else."

    Coleman lost Franck Queudrue following a tackle from James Harper which left the full-back requiring stitches in a six-inch gash in hospital. Coleman expects him to be out for three weeks to a month, adding: "We were disappointed with the challenge. I don't think the guy meant to do it but he got it wrong. Dermot was 10 yards away and played on."

    One of the positive performances from Fulham was England Under-21 full-back Liam Rosenior, who was embroiled in an argument on the pitch in the first half with skipper Luis Boa Morte following a swift Reading counter-attack. "He was our best player out of a good bunch," Coleman said. "For me it was music to my ears because they were having a right ding-dong with the verbals. Liam, although he's 20, has an opinion. Sometimes he feels he shouldn't say what he's thinking but I encourage it."

    Coppell, meanwhile, refused to heap too much praise on Doyle after his goalscoring run continued. The Reading boss, who lost Glen Little and Steve Sidwell in the first half to hamstring and dead leg injuries respectively, joked: "I'm not going to stick out an advert, so I'll say he's hopeless."



  • 24th November 2006 - Cottagers Preview

    • Michael Brown has been impressed by makeshift midfielders Carlos Bocanegra and Moritz Volz as he looks to return to the Fulham team following injury.

    Fulham's injury problems have seen defenders Bocanegra and Volz played out of position - and with some success until Saturday's 3-1 mauling at Manchester City saw them hauled off in the second half.

    But while Brown has hailed their overall contribution, he knows his return to fitness after nearly four weeks out with an ankle injury means one of them will be dropped.

    "They've done really well. They're not midfielders but Boca and Volzy have both been excellent lately and we were looking quite solid up until last Saturday," said Brown. "They helped the team out massively and it just goes to show that if anyone is asked to play anywhere in this team, the lads will be straight up and put in a shift. The last few weeks have been difficult for me. We originally thought I would be out for only a week or two but it's actually taken a lot longer. The injury was a bit more complicated than I first thought. In the end I had to have an injection to get rid of some fluid. But I'm nearly there. The injury was just one of those things. I came out and blocked a shot when we were playing Wigan and in the process I badly jarred my ankle. It was just a freak injury - there was no one near me. I've been training with the boys and hopefully I'll be available for the weekend."

    Steve Coppell reckons Chris Coleman has turned into a better manager than he was a striker.

    The Reading manager revealed how he once experimented with playing his Fulham counterpart - a former defender - up front after signing him for Crystal Palace.

    Coppell said: "He is now very firmly in control and looks to be a young manager with a big future. When I signed him, I didn't see him as a potential manager to be honest. I signed him from Swansea by tribunal and tried to convert him into a centre forward at one stage. I said to him: `You can't have enough strings to your bow,' and I believe that's a line he uses occasionally. I thought he was alright up front actually but it's probably right he has been better as a manager. He was a very wholehearted and committed player when I had him but only a young one then. It was later on that he developed a strong personality and, certainly in the dressing room at Fulham, he was a key member."

    Reading have recovered from a run of five straight defeats at the hands of some of the Premiership's more accomplished teams to record back-to-back victories over Spurs and rock-bottom Charlton.

    It would not be a major surprise therefore if the Royals added to their points tally tomorrow but Coppell insisted the advantage remained with Fulham.

    He said: "It is true they are more from our financial background but, given the years they have spent in the Premiership, they are still way advanced on us. We have still got everything to prove against these teams, but looking at the league within the league, then we are getting closer when we play Fulham than Arsenal."

    Coppell has been using South Korea international Seol Ki-Hyeon as a striking foil for top-scorer Kevin Doyle in recent weeks and the former Wolves man netted a fine header against Charlton. That is likely to keep specialist strikers Leroy Lita and Shane Long on the bench.

    Fulham V Reading
    Top Lge Scorers Goals Saturday 25/11 @3pm Top Lge Scorers Goals
    MvBride 3 Referee: Dermot Gallagher (Oxfordshire) Doyle 6
    Bullard 2 Games: 10   Yellows: 23   Reds: 2 Seol 3
    Jensen 2 Last 4 Meetings Sidwell 2
    Bocanegra 1 05/04/1999 Reading 0 1 Fulham Kitson 1
    Ferdinand 1 23/02/1999 Fulham 3 1 Reading Ingimarsson 1
    Lge Discipline       30/01/1994 Fulham 1 0 Reading Lge Discipline      
    Total Fouls 171 30/10/1993 Reading 1 0 Fulham Total Fouls 115
    Yellows 20 Yellows 12
    Reds 0 Head to Head Reds 2
    Lge Goal details:   Fulham Draws Reading Lge Goal details:    
    For 14 League 11 7 10 For 15
    Against 19 FA Cup 2 2 0 Against 18
    Ave scored per game 1.10 League Cup 1 3 1 Ave scored per game 1.20
    Shots / Goals 102/14 Total 14 12 11 Shots / Goals 88/15
    Left Foot 2 Left Foot 7
    Right Foot 9 Games Since Right Foot 5
    Headers 2 2 a win 0 Headers 3
    0 - 10 mins 0 0 home win 0 0 - 10 mins 3
    11 - 20 mins 0 5 away win 2 11 - 20 mins 1
    21 - 30 mins 0 0 a defeat 2 21 - 30 mins 2
    31 - 40 mins 2 1 home defeat 2 31 - 40 mins 1
    41 - 50 mins 1 0 away defeat 0 41 - 50 mins 4
    51 - 60 mins 1 1 a score draw 7 51 - 60 mins 1
    61 - 70 mins 4 8 a no score draw 21 61 - 70 mins 0
    71 - 80 mins 1 0 conceding a goal 1 71 - 80 mins 2
    81 - 90 mins 5 0 scoring a goal 0 81 - 90 mins 1
    Current Form (last 3 games - all competitions)
    18/11/2006 ManCity Away Lost  1:3   18/11/2006 Charlton Home Won  2:0
    11/11/2006 Portsmouth Away Drew  1:1   12/11/2006 Tottenham Home Won  3:1
    04/11/2006 Everton Home Won  1:0   04/11/2006 Liverpool Away Lost  0:2


  • 20th November 2006 - Kits Jonx Strikes Again

    • Reading striker Dave Kitson is facing a further four to six weeks on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in training.

    Kitson has not played since injuring his knee against Middlesbrough on the opening day of the season, but was nearing a first team return before this latest setback.

    Physio Jon Fearns told the club's official website: 'Kits' over-stretched going for a cross in training on Friday and has pulled the hamstring in his other leg. It's a minor tear.

    'Before this he was training and therefore probably about two weeks from competitive football, now it will be around four to six weeks from here.'

    Fearns also revealed that winger Bobby Convey is expected to return to training next week and that Glen Little is expected to shake off a foot problem in time to play against Fulham on Saturday.

  • 18th November 2006 - Royals Stroll Home

    • Les Reed's managerial debut ended in a disappointing 2-0 defeat after his Charlton side were outplayed at Reading. Goals from Seol Ki-Hyeon and Kevin Doyle wrapped up a second straight home win for Steve Coppell's side and left the Addicks exactly where they had been under Ian Dowie - at the bottom of the Premiership table.

    Charlton did make the encouraging start that often follows a change of manager, with Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann required to deal with a free-kick from Andy Reid that had been helped on by Marcus Bent. That was flapped round a post and the American then had to get behind a shot from defender Talal El-Karkouri, who had stayed up following the corner.

    It proved to be a false dawn, however, as Reading, who had beaten Tottenham 3-1 last week, then took hold of the game, with Stephen Hunt's relentless energy causing Charlton problems they could not solve. The Irishman, along with centre-back Ibrahima Sonko, had received death threats in the post in the wake of last month's controversial defeat by Chelsea which saw goalkeepers Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini both hospitalised. It did not seem to have affected either player and Hunt played a superb cameo role in Seol's 19th-minute opener as he and Nicky Shorey exchanged passes on the left.

    Hunt showed great technique to back-flick the ball past the bemused Dennis Rommedahl to the left-back, whose ball into the box was headed home emphatically by the South Korean.

    Glen Little might have made it 2-0 four minutes later when Doyle picked him out beyond the back post with a cross from the left, but the winger's first-time effort bounced across goal and inches wide.

    Hunt had started that move too and then sent Doyle away with a through-ball, only for the Republic of Ireland striker to fail to lose El-Karkouri and fire tamely at goalkeeper Scott Carson.

    Charlton also survived a penalty shout when Hunt went down under El-Karkouri's challenge, but when chances fell the Irishman's way, he showed finishing was not his strong point by first heading and then shooting horribly wide from good positions.

    The Londoners had mustered little threat at the other end apart from the occasional corner and saw Jonathan Fortune booked a minute before the break for hauling back Seol. Carson spilled a Hunt cross just seconds into the second half, but Little could not react in time to turn the loose ball towards goal.

    At last a decent chance came Charlton's way, with Rommedahl cutting inside Graeme Murty before unleashing a curling effort that Hahnemann did well to save.

    Reading's reply was a move that saw Steve Sidwell burst into the box from the left and Carson had to dive at the midfielder's feet. Contact was made and the goalkeeper reacted angrily by shoving Sidwell to the ground in full view of referee Graham Poll.

    Charlton replaced the ineffective Jerome Thomas with Darren Ambrose in the 57th minute and seconds later the frustrated Rommedahl was in the book for a late challenge on Sidwell.

    Carson pulled off a fine save to keep out a Hunt volley, but the reprieve was short-lived as Doyle made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute. Little caught Reid in possession and cut the ball back for Sidwell to have a go from the edge of the area. The midfielder made a hash of it, mis-kicking wildly, but the ball fell perfectly for Doyle to loft over the stranded Carson.

    That it was not to be Charlton or Reed's day was apparent when Matt Holland saw a low drive beat Hahnemann, only to be stopped on the line by Little moments before the home side swapped Doyle for Leroy Lita with 15 minutes remaining.

    Hunt saw a penalty claim turned down when he went down under El-Karkouri's challenge, but Reading were already home and dry and Hermann Hreidarsson's late booking for kicking Murty summed up Charlton's day.

    New Charlton head coach Les Reed described his players as 'rabbits in the headlights' after his first game as Iain Dowie's successor ended in disappointing defeat at Reading. The Royals won 2-0 thanks to goals from Seol Ki-Hyeon and Kevin Doyle to leave the Addicks rooted to the bottom of the Premiership table.

    Reed said: "I am very disappointed with the result and I'm definitely not pleased with our first-half performance. We were very disjointed - a bit like rabbits in the headlights. We have to put that right. We didn't play at all in the first half and although our game was better in the second half we were still not productive enough. We didn't create goalscoring opportunities. We have got to be committed to some hard work over the next week. The first half was a very confused performance and I have learned an awful lot about the players, about their characters."

    Charlton created just a couple of chances while the home side forced saves from Scott Carson, missed other chances and had penalty appeals turned down.

    Seol headed Reading into a 19th-minute lead when he took advantage of some static marking and the game was wrapped up with 17 minutes remaining when Doyle made the most of a mis-hit shot from team-mate Steve Sidwell to score his sixth goal of the season.

    Royals boss Steve Coppell was delighted to claim three points. He said: "We were worthy of the victory. At 1-0 they were just beginning to come into the game so obviously the second goal was a great relief. Before the match it had been the first time we had been looked at as possible favourites and there were a lot of things that had made me uneasy. But right from the first whistle we did ever so well and we were always a little bit ahead in every department, which in the end told."

    Midfielder Stephen Hunt produced a man-of-the-match performance in the week when it was revealed he had suffered death threats in the wake of last month's defeat by Chelsea which saw the Irishman involved in a collision with Petr Cech which left the goalkeeper with a fractured skull. He was a constant threat with his running and passing and almost scored as well.

    Coppell said: "I still maintain it was an issue we wanted to keep quiet so for it to come out served no purpose for anybody. But he is a good player and wants to get on with his football, nothing else. His work-rate was second to none and I thought he was going to score as well. I was right behind the line of the shot and thought it was going to creep in but it was a fabulous save from Carson."



  • 17th November 2006 - Addicks Preview

    • Reading manager Steve Coppell is confident Stephen Hunt and Ibrahima Sonko will be ready to play this weekend.

    The duo received death threats following incidents in the 1-0 defeat by Chelsea last month that left goalkeepers Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini hospitalised, the former with a fractured skull.Police are now investigating the matter and Coppell does not believe the pair will be affected badly as they prepare to face bottom club Charlton in the Barclays Premiership.

    Coppell said: "We went through the proper channels and we reported it. Obviously it was the work of a nut but nuts can be dangerous. It is not a worry though. I don't think it will affect the players because we actually had one of the letters on the notice board for a week or so to show just how stupid and futile something like that is. But at the same time, at the back of your mind, we thought we had to report it."

    The Royals otherwise go into their game this weekend in good heart after ending a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over Tottenham last week. Coppell admits his side may now even be in the unusual position of being favourites as they take on a Charlton side who this week sacked manager Iain Dowie after just 12 games and replaced him with Les Reed.

    He said: "In the majority of games this year we are going to be the underdogs and Charlton have been in this division for a number of years. It's a different kind of approach. Getting anything out of games with the big boys is a real bonus but to be honest Charlton will be looking at it as a great opportunity to get three points by getting stuck into the new boys. So both sides will have a similar kind of mentality and the importance of the three points is obvious."

    Skipper Graeme Murty is set to overcome a shin injury sustained in training via a collision with Cameroon international Andre Bikey. Striker Dave Kitson is also inching his way back to a return from the knee injury that has sidelined him since the opening day of the season. He has resumed training with the first team, albeit on a non-contact basis.

    Reed believes the Charlton fans do not want a "complete revolution" at The Valley. The new Addicks boss will take charge of the side for the first time away to Reading after being installed as Dowie's successor earlier this week.

    Following the departure of their former boss, just 15 matches into the job, Reed at least brings some continuity to the position. The 53-year-old worked with former boss Alan Curbishley before departing to take up a role at the Football Association in 1998, replacing Howard Wilkinson as technical director in 2002, and returned to The Valley during the summer as part of a new-look coaching structure.

    "I do not think the fans want to see a complete revolution," the new Charlton manager reflected. "They want to see a team which is passionate, well organised and appears to be well coached. That is what I intend to give them. Inevitably, though, I will make changes, and have the normal problems managers have in picking and dropping players."

    Reed added: "I have a different personality to Iain, and that will be the obvious difference in the way I communicate with the players. I have told them this is not about a new broom sweeping clean - it is about building on the foundations which we have got."

    Despite all his experience - which includes stints coaching under several England managers - Saturday at the Madejski Stadium will be the first time Reed has been in the management hot seat himself.

    He said: "I would have much preferred to get this job in different circumstances, but because of the decisive action in terms of my appointment straight away, I do not have a shadow hanging over me - there is no Glenn Hoddle or George Graham in the background waiting to see what happens."

    Reed declared: "I am passionate, but I am not going to be over-excitable, all of which have helped me to relieve pressure - but who knows? Once we kick off, it could change."

    Reed hopes to have Darren Bent available after the England striker was forced out of the midweek friendly with Holland because of a hamstring problem. Wingers Jerome Thomas and Dennis Rommedahl are also making good progress, but Souleymane Diawara and Radostin Kishishev (both hamstring) are doubts, while Amady Faye is suspended.

    Reading V Charlton Athletic
    Top Lge Scorers Goals Saturday 18/11 @ 3pm Top Lge Scorers Goals
    Doyle 5 Referee: G Poll (Tring) D. Bent 6
    Seol 2 Games: 18   Yellows: 70   Reds: 3 M. Bent 1
    Sidwell 2 Last 4 Meetings De Zeeuw 1
    Kitson 1 10/04/1998 Charlton 3 0 Reading Hasselbaink 1
    Ingimarsson 1 06/12/1997 Reading 2 0 Charlton  
    Lge Discipline       11/01/1997 Reading 2 2 Charlton Lge Discipline      
    Total Fouls 109 14/09/1996 Charlton 1 0 Reading Total Fouls 141
    Yellows 12 Yellows 17
    Reds 2 Head to Head Reds 2
    Lge Goal details:     Reading Draws Charlton Lge Goal details:    
    For 13 League 11 8 9 For 9
    Against 18 FA Cup 0 0 0 Against 18
    Ave scored per game 1.10 League Cup 0 1 1 Ave scored per game 0.80
    Shots / Goals 77/13 Total 11 9 10 Shots / Goals 118/9
    Left Foot 7 Left Foot 1
    Right Foot 4 Games Since Right Foot 7
    Headers 2 0 a win 2 Headers 1
    0 - 10 mins 3 0 home win 0 0 - 10 mins 0
    11 - 20 mins 0 2 away win 7 11 - 20 mins 1
    21 - 30 mins 2 1 a defeat 0 21 - 30 mins 2
    31 - 40 mins 1 1 home defeat 3 31 - 40 mins 0
    41 - 50 mins 4 0 away defeat 0 41 - 50 mins 0
    51 - 60 mins 1 6 a score draw 1 51 - 60 mins 2
    61 - 70 mins 0 20 a no score draw 3 61 - 70 mins 1
    71 - 80 mins 1 0 conceding a goal 0 71 - 80 mins 1
    81 - 90 mins 1 0 scoring a goal 0 81 - 90 mins 2
    Current Form (last 3 games - all competitions)
    12/11/2006 Tottenham Home Won  3:1   11/11/2006 Wigan Away Lost  2:3
    04/11/2006 Liverpool Away Lost  0:2   07/11/2006 Chesterfield Away Drew  3:3
    28/10/2006 Portsmouth Away Lost  1:3   04/11/2006 ManCity Home Won  1:0


  • 12th November 2006 - Where've All The Yids Gone

    • Royals fans fans have often complained about those supporters that leave before the end of the game, but it is nothing compared to the Spurs fans today. They were a disgrace and should be ashamed of themselves. With 10 minutes still remaining, the away section at the MadStad was almost empty. I have never seen anything quite like it before.

    Reading's run of five consecutive defeats came to an end with a 3-1 victory over Tottenham inspired by midfielder Steve Sidwell.

    Another defeat looked probable for the hosts when Robbie Keane gave Spurs the lead from the penalty spot at the Madejski Stadium, but Steve Coppell's side were ahead by half-time in front of a record attendance of 24,110 at the ground.

    Nicky Shorey drilled in a leveller after 38 minutes and Sidwell finished from close range, before Kevin Doyle wrapped up the points late on.

    It capped a fine performance from Sidwell, who dominated the midfield with his energy and accurate distribution, bringing to an end Spurs' 10-match unbeaten run.

    Sidwell won his personal battles in midfield, while most of Reading's players did the same against their opposite numbers.

    Lee Young-Pyo deputised for full-back Pascal Chimbonda, who had medial ligament damage, and was up against South Korea team-mate Seol Ki-Hyeon in Spurs' right flank.

    The pair tussled in the first exchanges, with Spurs winning a free-kick on the right flank but failing to take advantage of their set piece.

    It was not long until Royals midfielder Sidwell was in the game. He fired a volley wildly over then surged forward to create a chance which Doyle wasted from a tight angle.

    Former Arsenal trainee Sidwell also clattered into Lee and escaped a booking, but his influence on the midfield was increasing as he formed a partnership with another ex-Gunner in James Harper.

    Spurs' response was to find Keane in wide areas, and the Republic of Ireland international was able to create from his left-flank berth.

    His wayward shot found Hossam Ghaly in an offside position, with the midfielder putting the ball in the net long after play had been pulled back.

    Ghaly was onside, however, two minutes later when Keane lofted a ball through, and the midfielder found Dimitar Berbatov six yards out, only for Graeme Murty to block when an opener looked likely.

    Spurs were ahead in the 24th minute, with Keane and Ghaly again involved. Keane played Ghaly through and the midfielder was tripped by Ibrahima Sonko, with referee Rob Styles pointing to the penalty spot. Keane sent Marcus Hahnemann the wrong way and Spurs were ahead.

    Keane was finding Berbatov regularly behind the Reading defence but the Bulgaria striker could not find a finishing touch, failing to find his team-mates or straying offside when Hahnemann had saved from Keane.

    However, Reading were level in the 38th minute when Shorey collected the ball from Glen Little 25 yards from goal, took one touch and then unleashed an unstoppable left-footed drive which found the bottom corner.

    As their confidence increased, Spurs were merely looking to get to the break on level terms. It was not to be, with Sidwell bundling in from close range after losing Didier Zokora and meeting Little's corner in first-half injury-time.

    Chances proved difficult to come by early in the second half, and Seol was booked for a challenge on Zokora in a congested midfield.

    Little saw plenty of the ball and he dribbled his way to the by-line after 55 minutes and Ledley King had to time his challenge to perfection to concede a corner, with home fans calling for a penalty.

    It was from the opposite right flank where Spurs created their next chance, Ghaly crossing and Berbatov heading straight at American goalkeeper Hahnemann.

    With 23 minutes remaining, Spurs boss Martin Jol responded by taking off Zokora and Lee for Jermain Defoe and Tom Huddlestone.

    Doyle forced Robinson into a save after Sidwell had played him through with 20 minutes remaining, and the hosts appeared determined not to sit back on their lead.

    Jermaine Jenas thought he had a sight of goal but Sidwell was back to steal the ball off his toes, while Ghaly and Defoe were off target from promising positions.

    Seol was taken off for Leroy Lita, and the striker flicked on from the goal-kick in the 79th minute, with Doyle finishing past Robinson.

    Defoe hit the post late on but Reading held on for the points.



  • 11th November 2006 - Spurs Preview

    • Reading expect to welcome back captain Graeme Murty for Sunday's visit of Tottenham after the right-back missed the last four games with a hamstring problem. Winger Bobby Convey is out because of a knee injury and has returned to the United States to recuperate. Long-term absentees Dave Kitson (knee), Peter Mate (knee), Aaron Brown (ankle) and Simon Cox (broken leg) remain on the sidelines.

    Royals physio Jon Fearn said: "Bobby suffered some bone bruising in his knee three or four weeks ago in training, he had some rest and came back for the Portsmouth game but was still feeling discomfort, so we've pulled him out to let it all settle down. He's gone back to America for a few days and won't be available for this weekend's game against Spurs. Murts has done some more high intensity work and come through it well. If all goes to plan he may join full training and we're hopeful that he'll be available against Tottenham".

    Royals midfielder Steve Sidwell insists the relegation favourites have come through "a few beatings" recently with their heads held high. After a difficult run of games following a positive start to the season the Royals are determined to get their season back on track. Victories over Middlesbrough, Manchester City, Sheffield United and West Ham early in the campaign laid some promising foundations for Steve Coppell's side. However, they have more recently suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat at home to Arsenal and losses against Portsmouth and Liverpool.

    Ahead of Sunday's visit of Tottenham, however, Sidwell insists they have the mental strength to pull through the rough patch. "We always knew this would be the hardest batch of games," he told the club's website, readingfc.co.uk. "We've got some out of the way but we can't let our confidence drop. We've taken a few beatings, but we'll keep our heads high and now we're facing some teams we need to beat."

    Former Arsenal youngster Sidwell added: "Spurs are a great team, but at home we want to make it a fortress. The fans were great at Anfield and we hope they can help us get back to winning ways."

    Tottenham defender Pascal Chimbonda has suffered medial ligament damage and is set to miss the tie. Striker Mido has a cyst on his knee and is also set to miss the trip to the Madejski Stadium. Teemu Tainio (hernia/foot), Calum Davenport (groin), Anthony Gardner (knee) and Paul Stalteri (knee) will also be missing but Steed Malbranque should be fit to play despite a groin problem and Hossam Ghaly (hamstring) should also travel with the squad.

    Tottenham boss Martin Jol has warned his players their long-awaited Barclays Premiership win over Chelsea will be wasted if they fail to beat the Royals. Spurs had not beaten Chelsea in the league since 1990 before last Sunday, and the midweek Carling Cup win over Port Vale extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches. However, Jol is wary of complacency ahead of the weekend trip to the Madejski Stadium to face Steve Coppell's Royals. "We've been close before and it was time to win," Jol said of the Chelsea win. "I feel we have to triumph in all our home games because if you beat Chelsea and then subsequently lose a game where you should have won, then you are back to square one and that massive effort is wasted."

    Jol believes victory over Reading would be a sign of Spurs' adding consistency to their armoury following a difficult start to the season. "Outside of the top (four teams) we are probably the most consistent club in England. Maybe with Bolton," he added. "You look on average we have got 60 points on the last two years. So I don't think we're inconsistent. That would be a disaster if you win against Chelsea and you lose against a smaller club. But that is not about us. It is not about Spurs. You can tell maybe that we were inconsistent before I was here. Since I have been here, we have been consistent. Look at the results we have, the points, it's almost the same. Look at the goalscoring record."

    Reading V Tottenham Hotspur
    Top Lge Scorers Goals Sunday 12/11 @ 1:30pm Top Lge Scorers Goals
    Doyle 4 Referee: R Styles (Hampshire) Berbatov 1
    Seol 2 Games: 11   Yellows: 49   Reds: 5 Dawson 1
    Lita 1 Last 4 Meetings Defoe 1
    Kitson 1 27/12/1930 Reading 1 2 Tottenham Jenas 1
    Ingimarsson 1 30/12/1930 Tottenham 7 1 Reading Angel 1
    Lge Discipline       12/04/1930 Reading 3 0 Tottenham Lge Discipline      
    Total Fouls 95 07/12/1929 Tottenham 0 0 Reading Total Fouls 136
    Yellows 11 Yellows 14
    Reds 2 Head to Head Reds 1
    Lge Goal details:     Reading Draws Spurs Lge Goal details:    
    For 10 League 2 2 2 For 8
    Against 17 FA Cup 2 1 2 Against 11
    Ave scored per game 0.90 League Cup 0 0 0 Ave scored per game 0.70
    Shots / Goals 69/10 Total 4 3 4 Shots / Goals 124/8
    Left Foot 5 Left Foot 3
    Right Foot 3 Games Since Right Foot 3
    Headers 2 4 a win 0 Headers 2
    0 - 10 mins 3 4 home win 0 0 - 10 mins 2
    11 - 20 mins 0 2 away win 5 11 - 20 mins 1