LATEST NEWS ON 'The Royals'
December 2007
Click here for directory of archived news items.

  • 29th December 2007 - Oh No, Not Again!

    • Dimitar Berbatov scored four times in a crazy Premier League clash at White Hart Lane, where Tottenham edged Reading to the points 6-4 in a thriller. The visitors held the lead three times in the second half after goals from Kalifa Cisse, Ivar Ingimarsson and a double from Dave Kitson. But Berbatov's strikes were the difference, with Steed Malbranque and Jermain Defoe grabbing the others.

    Both sides went into the clash with a reputation for thrilling matches - and this dramatic topsy-turvy match was up there with Reading's 7-4 defeat against Portsmouth. Reading's team bus was held up in traffic and their squad had to be phoned through - but there was no delay in the action when play got under way.

    The opener came in the seventh minute from a move started by Malbranque playing through Robbie Keane down the right flank. Keane instinctively crossed first time and Berbatov squeezed between defenders and tapped in. The equaliser came nine minutes later after Berbatov fouled Kevin Doyle on the halfway line. Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson called to claim Nicky Shorey's free-kick and tried to punch as Younes Kaboul looked to clear. The ball fell limply to Cisse and the midfielder stabbed in the rebound from the edge of the area.

    'Get out of my way,' screamed Robinson at his defenders after the goal. It was not in his hall of shame, but he was at fault. He had to stay alert as Stephen Hunt's cross almost deceived him shortly afterwards and he had to tip over the bar. Bobby Convey was almost given a sight of goal when Pascal Chimbonda lost the ball, but Kaboul got back to clear the danger.

    Ingimarsson was equally careless for Reading in first-half stoppage-time, allowing Berbatov to cross - but Keane went with his wrong foot with the goal at his mercy and the chance went begging. Kitson had a shot early in the second half and despite being awarded a corner, his effort had struck team-mate Doyle before spinning to safety.

    Keane turned Ibrahima Sonko at the other end and claimed he was hauled to the floor in the area - but play was waved on. Reading went ahead in the 53rd minute after Kaboul was forced to slide in to block a shot from Kitson. Shorey's corner found Ingimarsson, who was unmarked and thumped his header past Robinson for 2-1. They could have extended the lead in their next move, Cisse's shot finding its way to Kitson through on goal - but the striker checked onto his favoured foot and Robinson cleared.

    Spurs head coach Juande Ramos responded by taking off skipper Ledley King, who is still working himself back to full fitness, for Defoe. The hosts looked exposed with a centre-back short and Robinson had to save from Hunt at full-stretch when Reading broke. Then Kitson blazed wide. However, they were level in the 63rd minute when Defoe scampered down the right. His cross was weak, but Graeme Murty failed to clear and Berbatov lashed into the roof of the net.

    Inevitably it was from a set-piece that Reading took the lead again to go 3-2 up. Kitson stole in at the near post and headed in Shorey's corner. But Berbatov levelled in the 72nd minute when he hooked in his hat-trick after Chimbonda headed down Jenas' corner from the right.

    There was no sign of the pace stopping. Kitson raced through and chipped Robinson to make it 4-3, but Malbranque curled into the top corner to restore parity. And Spurs were ahead again with 12 minutes remaining when Sonko brought down Keane in the area. Marcus Hahnemann saved Keane's spot-kick, but Defoe slid in with a diving header to tuck away the rebound. Berbatov scored his fourth in the 83rd minute, chasing a hopeful long ball and crashing in a volley from the edge of the area. For all the effort, Spurs move up one place in the table, replacing Reading in 12th.

    Juande Ramos has asked Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to do everything possible to keep Dimitar Berbatov at White Hart Lane after the striker's four-goal haul against Reading. "He made a great contribution against Reading. Magnificent," said the Spurs head coach. "He is a very valuable player for us. But I cannot assure that he is going to stay at the club because the chairman has to decide that. The chairman knows I want Berbatov to stay. If it was up to me we would not lose him but there are different circumstances and factors that we have to take into account such as the player's opinion and feelings. If it was up to me he would continue with us."

    "It's obvious we have to score six or seven away from home to get a result," said Reading boss Steve Coppell. "It's massively disappointing and it feels like there is a hole in your life almost."

    Steed Malbranque scored the next equaliser when he curled into the top corner, then Jermain Defoe came off the bench to head in the rebound after Robbie Keane had missed a penalty. "You have four officials, Keane takes a penalty and Defoe is standing next to him," said Coppell. "It may not have made a difference because he would have to retake it, but the goal should not have been given because the scorer was three yards in the box when he took the kick. That gives him a hell of a start over a 12-yard race. I would have got there with three yards head start."

    Kevin Dillon, in Reading's backroom staff, appeared to be sent to the stands for his protests. Berbatov scored his fourth, wrapping up the scoring, when he latched onto a long ball from Younes Kaboul and lashed past Marcus Hahnemann. "The match was 90 minutes of crazy football," Ramos added. "It was very uncomfortable for me to experience that as a manager. There have been a couple of matches where we have been losing but the team always reacts. At 4-4, when we scored the fifth and six, we were established up front and deserved to win. It was a great match for the fans to watch but it's not great for a manager to experience."

    Coppell blamed individual defensive errors. "You take the lead three times and score four goals - you play a full attacking part in a game but individual defensive mistakes cost you," he added.



  • 26th December 2007 - 10 Men Hold Hammers

    • Reading held West Ham to a Boxing Day 1-1 draw at Upton Park after battling for over an hour with 10 men. The Royals may still be without an away win all season - but a point was the least they deserved for their bold approach to the game after Brynjar Gunnarsson was sent off. The Icelandic midfielder was shown a straight red card after 28 minutes for a dangerous two-footed lunge on Hayden Mullins.

    West Ham took advantage with a strike from Nolberto Solano just before half-time but they could not shake off a Reading side short on numbers but not on work rate or determination. Dave Kitson scored the equaliser after turning onto a neat through-ball from Nicky Shorey, a reported January target for West Ham, to beat Robert Green.

    West Ham threw everything forward in the closing minutes and Dean Ashton saw his header hit the post but they could not break down a resilient Reading defence. In stark contrast to recent games at Upton Park, where West Ham have struggled to break their opponents down, it was a bright encounter full of chances for both sides. Ashton slipped the ball to Mullins who charged towards the edge of the Reading box, where he tested Marcus Hahnemann with a low drive. Solano then curled a dangerous free-kick just wide of Hahnemann"s near post after Ashton had been fouled by Reading centre-back Ivar Ingimarsson.

    Kevin Doyle had kept Green alert with an early snap-shot from 20 yards and should have done better with a header after he was picked out in the box by Kitson. Centre-back Ibrahima Sonko was forced into a near-post clearance but when the West Ham corner fell to Lucas Neill at the far post he drilled his shot high over the bar. Spector was beaten again on the edge of the West Ham box as Doyle rose to get his head to a long-ball from Hahnemann. The flick-on fell to Kitson who linked again with Doyle to set up Bobby Convey, whose strike from six yards out was well blocked by Green at point-blank range.

    Spector may have been under pressure at the back but he did spark a quick West Ham move with a drilled ball down the middle to Freddie Ljungberg. George McCartney pushed forward and his cross was headed back across the area by Cole but Ashton had just crept offside. Reading were then reduced to 10 men after Gunnarsson was given his marching orders for a nasty challenge on Mullins as both midfielders hunted a loose ball in midfield.

    Hammers defender Matthew Upson almost got his head to the lofted free-kick and had he done so, Hahnemann would have been horribly out of position. Scott Parker kept the pressure on as he broke into the box and picked out Ashton, who could only hook a difficult pass onto the roof of the Reading net.

    West Ham took the lead three minutes before the interval after Solano pounced to beat Convey"s challenge with a delicate touch before lifting the ball over Hahnemman. West Ham had carved the opening well as Parker linked with full-back Neill on a diagonal run across the box. Although Carlton Cole lost his footing after receiving the lay-off, the ball fell to Solano and two deft touches later it was in the back of the net.

    Shortly after the interval Ingimarsson made a hash of a long clearance from Green and the ball fell to Ashton but Sonko did well to recover and he blocked the shot. Reading were making themselves a nuisance, switching into a 4-3-3 formation when in possession and Kitson managed to knock the ball down for Hunt, whose long-range strike skewed wide. Parker did escape into the Reading box but was guilty of ignoring Cole and Ashton, who were both unmarked and in prime position, when he drilled a near-post shot straight at Hahnemann.

    Reading continued to stretch West Ham and their enterprise paid off just before the hour when Kitson turned onto a through-ball from Shorey and fired past Green to draw the Royals level. Upson"s clearing header fell to Shorey outside the West Ham box and the England full-back worked space cleverly before lifting his pass through to Kitson.

    West Ham were spurred into action and Ljungberg latched onto a through-ball from Parker but his low drive was deflected one-handed over the bar by Hahnemann. But West Ham lacked invention, particularly after Solano was replaced. As the clock ticked down Parker wasted a golden chance after working space inside the box when his weak shot was easily held by Hahnemann. Ashton rose well to meet a near-post corner but saw his header rebound off the post as Reading held on for the draw.

    Reading manager Steve Coppell was proud of his side"s resilience after they held West Ham to a 1-1 draw despite being reduced to 10 men for over an hour. Reading are still without an away win this season but Coppell said: "It was a good result in the circumstances. We were very conscious of the first game this year when it could easily have been 6-0. For a home team, that hurt us and today was an opportunity to try and salvage something from that game. We started brightly and then the sending-off knocked the chair from underneath us a bit but we were solid, we were together and the players rose to the challenge. It was a controlled performance. The problem when you only have 10 men is when you attack and lose your shape. To keep keep your shape together all the time you have to work hard - but it is not a marathon test by any means. We have a training ground routine where we play eight against any number and if you are communicating well enough you can withstand it most of the time." ,

    Reading were reduced to 10 men after 28 minutes when Brynjar Gunnarsson was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Hayden Mullins. Coppell accepted referee Peter Walton had no option. "I, like everybody else, wants to see the two-footed jump tackle removed from the game. I know Bryn didn"t mean anything by it but by the strict letter of the law it was a two-footed jump tackle and he had to go," , said Coppell.

    The Reading boss was full of praise for Kitson, who was left to lead the line on his own when Gunnarsson was dismissed and Kevin Doyle was forced to spend most of his time in midfield. "He has got qualities which you just admire in a player," , said Coppell. "He is one of those big, tall fellows who is very adept on the ground. he is good in the air, he is a physical presence. There is a lot to his game. Sometimes he can meander a little bit but he gives us something we don"t have. I would say I have four really good strikers but he gives us something the others can"t give." ,

    West Ham manager Alan Curbishley was "deeply frustrated" after his side continued their poor run of home form. The Hammers beat Middlesbrough at the Riverside last weekend but have managed just two home victories in the league all season.

    Curbishley said: "We are massively disappointed. We felt we dropped two points and while it wasn"t spectacular we had enough chances to have won the game. We got ourselves in good positions to have got the second goal. Reading kept going and when you see their goal again it is a shocking piece of defending from us. We keep setting our fans up by winning away from home and then coming back here and not doing it but it is not for the want of trying." ,

    The final whistle was greeted by a cacophony of boos from the West Ham supporters growing increasingly frustrated by their side"s home form. But given West Ham"s vast injury list, which still includes the likes of Craig Bellamy, Kieron Dyer, Matthew Etherington and Lee Bowyer, Curbishley is content to be mid-table on 26 points from 18 games. "The fans are as frustrated as me. We are all frustrated," , said Curbishley. "You expect to win your home games. We have drawn with Bolton in the 93rd minute. We have drawn again today. We have drawn with Wigan. They are games you have to get the three points from and turn this place into somewhere teams don"t want to come. But the players are giving their all. During this season I have asked players to play out of position and they have given their lot. We are on 26 points and I"ll take that." ,



  • 23rd December 2007 - Santa Comes Early For Royals

    • Sunderland were left cursing the football fates - and Barclays Premier League officials - for the second week running after Stephen Hunt was awarded a stoppage-time winner for Reading, who triumphed 2-1. Seven days ago Roy Keane's side, who are now back in the bottom three, had thought they had beaten Aston Villa, only for a 90th-minute strike to be ruled out. This time referee Steve Tanner, having consulted with a linesman, ruled Black Cats goalkeeper Craig Gordon had been unable to prevent Hunt's shot crossing the line. That made Michael Chopra's penalty equaliser redundant, with a rare goal from Ivar Ingimarsson having given Reading what was then a deserved lead.

    In the opening 45 minutes Sunderland looked every inch a struggling side but had the recalled Andrew Cole taken the game's first opportunity, it might have been a different story. The veteran was put through by a pass from fellow 36-year-old Dwight Yorke and with home captain Graeme Murty having made sure the flag stayed down, it was up to Royals goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann to deny him his first goal since April.

    The American was hurt making a double stop and not long afterwards Gordon needed treatment too after Bobby Convey had slid in and caught him with a boot to the head. It was the Scot's first game since shipping seven at Everton a month ago, but he showed no after-effects by coping easily with a long-range chip attempt by Dave Kitson, who had previously hit the top of the net with a much better effort.

    Referee Tanner had used the advantage rule on that occasion but constantly pulled up Sunderland men for fouls and had booked Darryl Murphy and Grant Leadbitter before the half-time whistle.

    Gordon prevented Hunt from putting Reading ahead just before the half-hour mark following a moment of magic from the in-form Kitson on the left of the box. The striker managed to get in a cross to the back post despite the presence of three defenders and when Hunt outjumped Danny Collins, Gordon had to make an instinctive block with an arm. Hunt claimed a goal, but on this occasion the ball had not crossed the line, even though the goalkeeper was behind it.

    The rest of the half saw Sunderland concede free-kick after free-kick, but a defence that at no point looked particularly composed held out. Cole hit the side-netting early on after the break and Chopra, back in the side as a right winger, came close with a 25-yard drive - but it was not long before Sunderland had a narrow escape at the other end. Again it was Hunt, who cut inside from the right before planting a shot that beat Gordon but rebounded back into play off his right-hand post.

    Kenwyne Jones had been kept quiet and became the third Sunderland player to be booked for a challenge on Ibrahima Sonko around the hour mark. Keane made a double change with Murphy and Cole replaced by Ross Wallace and Dickson Etuhu in a switch to a 4-5-1 formation, but Reading eventually broke the deadlock with 20 minutes remaining.

    The irrepressible Hunt was fouled by Collins near the right touchline and Ibrahima Sonko met James Harper's free-kick with a header that Gordon could only parry straight to Ingimarsson, who made no mistake from all of two yards out. Kevin Doyle then had a chance to wrap up the points but could only fire across goal and wide, a fault he had been guilty of in a similar position before half-time.

    That allowed Jones his moment and it was a most difficult decision for referee Tanner to make. Sonko came steaming in and certainly did not make contact with the ball. Contact with the player was minimal if non-existent and Jones appeared to jump over his man before tumbling over. Chopra made no mistake from the spot to record his first goal since the second game of the season and the former Newcastle man then hurt himself in the process of forcing Hahnemann into a tip-over from 25 yards.

    Jones almost snatched victory when he eluded the Reading back-line, but Hahnemann was able to block his attempt to squeeze the ball through his legs. Sunderland were on top as the minutes ticked away, but last-minute goals are a Reading speciality, with Shane Long having provided one to down Newcastle and Harper previously having done the same to Wigan. This time Long, who had come on for Convey, was the provider with a cross to the unmarked Hunt beyond the back post. In came the shot and this time Gordon could not prevent it from crossing the white paint.

    Sunderland were bitterly aggrieved and a number of players complained the officials after the final whistle - but their search for that elusive away win must now be carried over into 2008.

    Sunderland manager Roy Keane is convinced his side should have been given the benefit of the doubt over Stephen Hunt's last-minute goal which earned Reading a 2-1 victory. Referee Steve Tanner, having consulted with linesman Steve Rubery, ruled that Black Cats goalkeeper Craig Gordon had been unable to prevent Hunt's shot from crossing the line. But Keane insisted it had been an impossible call for an official to make from such a distance and that television replays had also been unable to shed any light on it.

    He said: "Nobody is certain it crossed the line. If the referee's assistant can give it then obviously he has got very good eyesight. I've seen a replay and I am told to believe every game that if an official is not sure on any decision, be it a sending off or a penalty kick, if they are not sure they can't give it. If the linesman is sure then all credit to him. He must have fantastic vision because we have watched it a few times and it is still unclear."

    It was the second game in succession that a stoppage-time decision went against Sunderland, who thought they had taken the lead at home to Aston Villa last week only for that to be ruled out. Keane added: "People will talk about the goal last week but there were lots of decisions that went against us. That's the way things are at the moment and we have got to try to rise above it. We could talk all night all about it but it isn't going to change anything."

    Reading manager Steve Coppell admitted it had been a fortunate end to a performance he still regarded as worthy of a win. He said: "I felt we deserved it but I'm bound to say that. In the first 45 minutes we had the majority of the play and chances although they had one excellent chance. When we got the goal I would have hoped it would turn out to be one of those emphatic 1-0 wins but as often happens the goal was the signal for the final act in the play and the final act almost turned into a tragedy but in the end was fortunate, which is the best way of putting it."



  • 15th December 2007 - Royals Luck Holds For Point

    • Stephen Hunt's second-half penalty ruined Alex McLeish's first home match as Birmingham manager and halted a run of six successive away defeats for Reading. Hunt scored from the spot to snatch a 1-1 draw, after he had been brought down by Blues goalkeeper Maik Taylor following a weak back-pass from defender Mat Sadler. That cancelled out Mikael Forssell's first-half strike, but City had enough chances to have collected points, with Royals goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann producing some crucial saves and Ibrahima Sonko making a spectacular clearance off the goal-line with the help of the underside of the crossbar.

    It was Reading's first away point in four months - since they drew with Manchester United at Old Trafford on the opening day of the campaign. They enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening 45 minutes and looked full of confidence after their 3-1 home success over Liverpool last weekend. But Hahnemann was the busier of the two goalkeepers with Forssell looking sharp in his first start under McLeish and Damien Johnson adding some steel in the centre of the park.

    Reading made a positive start, but after four minutes Blues went ahead through Forssell in their first meaningful attack. Gary McSheffrey's corner was flicked across the face of goal by Fabrice Muamba and, although Nicky Shorey blocked the recalled Forssell's initial header, the Finn bundled the rebound over the line for his third goal of the campaign.

    The goal seemed to lift the home side and the confident Forssell twisted and turned to create an opening before having his eventual shot blocked. Reading were forced to make a change after 27 minutes when midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson suffered a knee injury and was replaced by Kalifa Cisse.

    Royals skipper Graeme Murty became the first player to be yellow-carded after 38 minutes for bringing down Muamba in full flight just outside the centre circle. Blues midfielder Johnson, making his first league start of the campaign in place of the suspended Mehdi Nafti, quickly followed him into referee Lee Probert's notebook after blocking the run of Hunt down the right flank.

    Muamba made some good breaks forward and McSheffrey should have done better when he was found in space just inside the box as he sliced his shot across the face of goal. Hahnemann came to Reading's rescue after 40 minutes when he blocked a low close-range effort from Forssell with his feet. But it needed Taylor to ensure Blues maintained their advantage at the interval when saving in similar fashion from James Harper.

    After 50 minutes Hunt put the Royals level from the penalty spot after a blunder by City defender Sadler. The left-back did not put enough power into his attempted back-pass towards Taylor, who brought down Hunt after he had seized on to the loose ball. Up stepped Hunt to send the Northern Ireland number one the wrong way from the spot.

    Birmingham tried to retaliate and a deep cross from Sebastian Larsson was met by Jerome, but he sent his header over the crossbar. Hahnemann produced a reflex save to keep out Jerome's close-range header from a McSheffrey centre and fisted away a curling Larsson free-kick. Blues skipper Liam Ridgewell was yellow-carded for bringing down Bobby Convey and his fifth booking of the campaign will rule him out of next weekend's game at Bolton through suspension.

    McSheffrey was unfortunate when a 30-yard free-kick rattled against the Reading crossbar. The rebound fell to Larsson and his header was cleared off the line by Sonko, who directed the ball up on to the underside of the crossbar and out.

    Reading substitute Shane Long could have snatched victory in the closing stages, but he mis-hit his volley when completely unmarked as Steve Coppell's side finished in the ascendancy, with Hunt side-footing a late chance for a second goal wide.

    Reading manager Steve Coppell heaped praise on midfielder Stephen Hunt after his second-half penalty at Birmingham halted a run of six successive away defeats. Hunt had netted from the penalty spot in the Royals' impressive 3-1 win over Liverpool last weekend and was on the mark again in the 1-1 draw at St Andrews after being brought down by Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor. It cancelled out Mikael Forssell's early goal for Blues and was Reading's first point on their travels since holding Manchester United at Old Trafford on the opening day of the season.

    Coppell said: "You want 11 Stephen Hunts on your side and he gives 100% commitment to the cause. He is a very important factor in what we do. If he is your player then you appreciate everything he does. He doesn't hold anything back, he remembers where he came from and he is determined to take advantage of everything he can give to the game. He puts a lot in - and I hope he gets a lot out because his attitude is superb."

    Coppell was well pleased to pick up another point and keep Reading clear of the relegation zone. He said: "The goal we gave away in the first half was a nonsense goal as far as we were concerned. But it's another point on the board. I thought the commitment of both sides was terrific. The purist might say the game could have been more pleasing on the eye. But you saw a game between two sides desperate to get three points which was played at a frenetic and incredible pace."

    Birmingham manager Alex McLeish was also fulsome in his praise of defender Mat Sadler after his error led to the penalty converted by Hunt. Sadler had also given away the spot-kick which let Newcastle back into the game with Birmingham the previous weekend. McLeish, who was in charge of his first home game since succeeding Steve Bruce, said: "Mat could easily have crumbled after what happened to him but full credit to the way he responded. He will know that you can't keep making mistakes in the Premier League. When he is in a similar situation next time to the one against Reading he will kick the ball into the stands."

    McLeish added: "I was delighted with the response I was given by the fans and just sorry I could not give them the three points. It was a very spirited performance. In the second half we pinned them back after giving away that bad goal but could not get the ball in the net. We were pretty much in control. I will prefer to look at the positives. Damien Johnson was a good leader in midfield and up front Cameron Jerome and Mikael Forssell both did well."



  • 8th December 2007 - Royals Rattle Rafa's Reds

    • Liverpool began their most important week of the season with a 3-1 defeat at Reading, which suggests the Premier League title will once again be heading away from Anfield this season. Rafael Benitez's side must now fight for their Champions League lives in Marseille on Tuesday night before having their domestic credentials put under intense scrutiny again by Manchester United at the weekend.

    Reading recorded their first victory against one of the so-called `big four' thanks to a Stephen Hunt penalty and second-half strikes from Kevin Doyle and James Harper. All Liverpool had to take away from Berkshire was Steven Gerrard's equaliser, but referee Andre Marriner also had a big part to play in the proceedings.

    The official - who had sent off Chelsea's Michael Essien at Derby in his previous top-flight game - appeared to have called the Reading penalty incorrectly and also failed to spot two occasions when Liverpool should have been awarded spot-kicks. (NB: Rubbish reporting - replays showed that Gunnarsson had his foot on the line of the penalty area when fouled and so the award of a spot-kick was correct. Replays also showed that Sonko got a touch on the ball for both Liverpool appeals, so again the referee was correct).

    Liverpool should have been ahead in the seventh minute and it was a surprise when Fernando Torres, who had hit a hat-trick on this ground in a Carling Cup tie in September, could not accept a simple chance. John Arne Riise's long-throw eluded Ibrahima Sonko as he jumped with Peter Crouch and the Spaniard was left with the simple task of slotting past goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann. Instead, he allowed the American to parry.

    Reading seized on the let-off and produced their finest 20 minutes of the season so far, attacking their opponents with the verve that had served them so well in the previous two campaigns but had been replaced by self-doubt during this one. Their goal needed a large slice of fortune, however, as referee Marriner, having consulted a flag-waving linesman, called Jamie Carragher's felling of Brynjar Gunnarsson correctly as the pair thundered to the brink of the Liverpool box. Hunt despatched the penalty with panache, however, and Reading continued to attack, with a Bobby Convey drive beating Jose Reina and only just clearing his crossbar.

    Reading's previous frailties were not long in reappearing and Gerrard took full advantage to put his side on level terms in the 28th minute. Torres eluded Sonko to take down a long ball and quickly set up his skipper with a sideways pass. Gerrard had little difficulty shrugging off Hunt's challenge to reach the box and slot past the exposed Hahnemann.

    That deflated Reading, but fortune favoured them again when Liverpool were denied a much stronger penalty shout than the one previously given to the hosts. Ivar Ingimarsson's header straight to Gerrard not only surrendered possession cheaply but also allowed Torres to move swiftly into space and when Sonko stuck out a boot in the box he tumbled. However, play was allowed to continue.

    Andriy Voronin fired in a couple of snapshots from the right of the box as Liverpool ended the half in the ascendancy, but when Momo Sissoko went down in the box under yet another strong Sonko challenge, again no penalty was awarded.

    Reading began the second period on the back foot and there was a let-off when Torres sent a diving header across goal after Nicky Shorey's error had allowed Crouch to fire in a cross from the right. The home defence then made a hash of their offside trap, before yet another penalty decision went their way. Torres's trailing leg was clearly caught by Sonko and this time the Spaniard also appeared to have been hurt. Again television replays confirmed that Sonko had just got a touch on the ball.

    If the home fans sensed it was to be their night, Doyle gave them concrete proof on the hour by sending a glancing header past Reina to put Reading back in front. Gerrard had been booked for felling Hunt on the run and when Shorey swung in the free-kick the Republic of Ireland striker lost his marker to produce a slight but perfectly-aimed deflection.

    Doyle then fired just over, but again Reading were in luck when Gerrard saw a drive smack off the bar seconds before Harper made it 3-1 at the other end. Convey's pass enabled the hyperactive midfielder to scamper clear of the defence and any fears the home support had that he would be unable to finish were wiped away by a cool side-step to get past Reina and a shot into the empty net.

    Harry Kewell, who had come on for Torres, fired a good chance across goal and just wide at the other end. It just was not Liverpool's day - as Crouch proved again in stoppage time with a drive that beat Hahnemann but rebounded back to the goalkeeper off a post.

    Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez admitted his mind was already on Marseille after his side slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Reading. The Spaniard took off skipper Steven Gerrard and star striker Fernando Torres to make sure they were not ruled out of Tuesday night's must-win Champions League game in France. Torres was hurt during the match but Benitez claimed he expected the former Atletico Madrid man to be available for a game that will go a long way towards shaping Liverpool's season.

    Benitez said: "We were losing 3-1 and we knew it was really difficult so I was trying to protect the key players for the next game. We tried to change it with different players with pace and fresh legs. The Champions League is important. Marseille is the target now. Torres had a kick on his ankle so was at risk. He will be okay."

    Benitez was convinced referee Andre Marriner had blundered when he had to make penalty decisions at either end of the pitch - awarding Reading one that appeared to be outside the box and denying his side two stronger shouts. He said: "I am not happy with the decisions but we didn't take our chances and that was maybe the key. We should have had two penalties."

    Reading manager Steve Coppell was determined to enjoy his side's first success against one of the so-called `big four' clubs. And he insisted his players deserved plaudits for their contributions rather than everyone focusing on Liverpool's shortcomings. He said: "Wins now, because we are not having as many as last year, they are treasured. Any team in the bottom half of the table would say that. We fully intend to enjoy it tonight. For our penalty I would say it was more of a penalty than not. It's not fair to say we won a game but it was on a dodgy penalty - they played a crap team because they were looking for Tuesday's game and, PS: Reading played as well."

    But Coppell, a boyhood Liverpool fan, made it clear he sympathised with Benitez. He said: "In terms of priorities of the games this week I would say we were third (Liverpool play Manchester United next weekend). I don't want to put words into Rafa's mouth but Marseille has got to be the number-one priority."



  • 2nd December 2007 - FA Cup Draw

    • Reading have been drawn away to Tottenham Hotspur in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup. Ties will be played over the weekend of 5th January, just a week after the Royals visit White Hart Lane for a Premier League fixture. The full draw is as follows:

    Preston North End v Scunthorpe United
    Port Vale or Chasetown v Cardiff City
    Colchester United v Peterborough United
    Bolton Wanderers v Sheffield United
    Blackburn Rovers v Coventry City
    Brighton & Hove Albion v Mansfield Town
    Northampton Town or Walsall v Millwall
    Charlton Athletic v West Bromwich Albion
    Watford v Crystal Palace
    Luton Town or Nottingham Forest v Liverpool
    Plymouth Argyle v Hull City
    Aston Villa v Manchester United
    Tranmere Rovers v Hereford United
    Tottenham Hotspur v Reading
    Burnley v Arsenal
    Bristol City v Middlesbrough
    Fulham v Bristol Rovers
    Huddersfield Town v Birmingham City
    Horsham or Swansea City v Havant & Waterlooville
    Sunderland v Wigan Athletic
    Oxford United or Southend United v Dagenham & Redbridge
    Everton v Oldham Athletic
    Derby County v Sheffield Wednesday
    Southampton v Leicester City
    West Ham United v Manchester City
    Ipswich Town v Portsmouth
    Wolverhampton Wanderers v Cambridge United
    Barnsley v Blackpool
    Chelsea v Queens Park Rangers
    Stoke City v Newcastle United
    Swindon Town v Burton Albion or Barnet
    Norwich City v Bury

  • 1st December 2007 - Boro Take Share Of Spoils

    • Middlesbrough slipped into the Barclays Premier League bottom three despite Tuncay's first goal for the club earning them a 1-1 draw at Reading. The Turk came off the bench to head home Luke Young's cross six minutes from time, but Sunderland's stoppage-time victory over Derby saw them leapfrog their north-east rivals.

    It could have been worse for Boro and under-pressure manager Gareth Southgate after Dave Kitson put Reading ahead early in the second half. But the visitors were worthy of their hard-fought point after enjoying at least as much of the game as their hosts.

    The fixture was a repeat of the Royals' first top-flight game at the beginning of last season, a thriller that saw them come from 2-0 down to win 3-2. It was also Southgate's first match in charge of Boro, whose winless run has now reached three full months. Their bid to end that 10-match sequence at the Madejski Stadium was hardly helped by a strikeforce with only two Premier League goals between them. One of those was Jeremie Aliadiere and, after 10 minutes of bluster from both teams, he had the first meaningful effort with a turn and shot straight at Marcus Hahnemann.

    Carbon copies followed from Bobby Convey at the other end and Aliadiere again, before the Frenchman capped a fine run by going down too easily under Ibrahima Sonko's challenge for referee Alan Wiley's liking. Both sides were giving the ball away for anything more clear-cut to present itself and the prospect of better to come appeared to have been scuppered when a sudden downpour arrived midway through the first half.

    However, the change in climate signalled a dramatic shift on the field as Kevin Doyle's flick played in Kitson, who cut inside David Wheater and blasted the ball against Turnbull. Moments later Boro rightly had a goal disallowed when Reading failed to clear a corner and the ball reached George Boateng, whose fine finish arrived from an offside position.

    Kitson then tried his luck from long range, but Turnbull, making his first Premier League appearance for 18 months, maintained his faultless display. The lively Aliadiere almost provided the perfect knock-down for strike partner Lee, the Frenchman coming off worse in a clash of heads with the towering Sonko. Boro really should have been ahead five minutes before half-time when Hahnemann failed to hold Aliadiere's cross-shot and the recalled Dong-Gook Lee turned the rebound back to Johnson six yards out. Johnson's finish went straight through Hahnemann, hit the post and bounced straight into the arms of the fortunate American.

    The rain had abated by the time the second half got under way and the drama briefly followed suit. Aliadiere did his best to inject some excitement with another thrilling run eight minutes in, but he lacked any support from his timid team-mates. Moments later Reading went ahead through the most straightforward of goals. A monster clearance from Hahnemann saw Doyle out-jump Wheater and flick the ball to Kitson. Faced with the onrushing Turnbull, the striker produced the coolest of lobbed volleys over the goalkeeper and into the net for his fifth goal of the season.

    Going ahead inspired the home team and Doyle's low shot appeared to have been turned behind by Turnbull, only for Wiley to award a goal-kick. The referee was in generous mood, deciding stern words were enough when an ugly skirmish broke out near the corner flag. That was nothing compared to the tirade Hahnemann directed at team-mate Sonko moments later after the defender simply stopped playing when a cross was whipped in, which Aliadiere almost glanced in. The Royals pair almost came to blows over the issue.

    Southgate then made a double substitution, bringing on Robert Huth and Tuncay for Jonathan Woodgate and Lee. Tuncay was involved in creating Aliadiere's latest shot, on which Sonko got a crucial deflection to make amends for his earlier dereliction of duty. Reading boss Steve Coppell tried to shore things up by bringing on Andre Bikey for Convey 12 minutes from time. The substitute proved his worth when he thwarted a burst into the area by Tuncay, who was also making a real impact from the bench. And it was the Turk who netted the equaliser six minutes from time. After a spell of severe pressure from the visitors, Tuncay rose highest to nod Luke Young's pinpoint cross past the helpless Hahnemann.

    Coppell introduced Shane Long for Brynjar Gunnarsson, but it was Kitson who should have snatched a stoppage-time winner when he headed Nicky Shorey's cross over the top.

    Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate believes today's point at Reading could yet prove crucial despite the 1-1 draw failing to prevent his side slipping into the Premier League drop zone. But Southgate, who has enjoyed the backing of famously-patient chairman Steve Gibson despite more than three months without a win, refused to be too downcast over the outcome of today's fixtures. "We've slipped a place today but it was still a very important point for us," he said.

    Indeed, although Boro deserved a draw, it could have been much worse for Southgate and is troops after Dave Kitson lobbed Reading ahead early in the second half. But the manager must take credit for his substitions today, which paid off in spectacular fashion when summer signing Tuncay Sanli netted his first goal in English football with an unerring header six minutes from time.

    "It's a poor goal that we conceded but at least we had the character to dig in and keep going forward and I think we've got the reward," Southgate added. "We might have pinched it at the end but I certainly think we were good value for a point."

    Despite a lack of quality throughout that largely manifested itself through both sides giving the ball away, there was attacking intent from both teams. "Both of us want to play attacking football," said Southgate. "We felt with the personnel we had available, let's have a go at it. We just weren't able to add the finishing touch in the first half or that extra bit of quality around the penalty area. In the position we're in, we at least gave a performance that was healthy in its endeavour, its character." He added: "From 1-0 down, yes, but at no other point in the game did I think we were going to lose it. I'm not relieved. I'm disappointed we've given ourselves a lead to claw back again."

    Southgate was pleased to see Tuncay break his duck for the club, saying: "He's been desperate to get that first goal, took it really well and he's actually disappointed he didn't get the winner." He was also glowing about the performance of rookie goalkeeper Ross Turnbull, who was almost faultless in only his third Premier League appearance for the club and first for 18 months. Southgate said: "For somebody who has not played for the first team in a league game for a couple of years, I thought he was commanding of his penalty area, which was pleasing."

    Opposite number Steve Coppell was disappointed with the manner of Middlesbrough's equaliser. He said: "You've got to depend on your defensive aspect of the game to be sufficient to carry you through. I still felt we were going to be a threat going forward but it was a poor goal for us to concede. Defenders should deal with that."

    Coppell was more than pleased with Kitson's opener, however. "He's got quality. He was the one person in the first half. The couple of strikes he had were significant. He's important for us."

    Coppell had no problem with the heated confrontation between goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann and defender Ibrahima Sonko after a miscommunication at the back over a Boro cross almost saw red faces all round. "There was a misunderstanding," Coppell said. " ball came through, it was in no man's land. In a way, it shows they care. At this stage of the season, that game had been built up as one we should win. The altercation shows they're passionate about what they do. I've got no problems with that."