Championship Fixture - 6th August 2005 Madejski Stadium, 3:00pm kick-off
 

TEAM LINE-UP'S

Reading - Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Convey, Little, Harper, Sidwell, Doyle, Lita

Plymouth - Larrieu, Barness, Brevett, Aljofree, Doumbe, Gudjonsson, Norris, Buzsaky, Wotton, Capaldi, Evans

MATCH REVIEW

A injury time winning goal from Nick Chadwick earned Plymouth Argyle a surprise 2:1 victory at the Madejski Stadium to start Reading's 05/06 season with a defeat. There was an air of expectation and excitement before kick-off but by 20 minutes into the game that had disappeared as it was clear that the mistakes and performance of the end of last season had not been learnt. Reading could not even conger up a single effort on target in the first 45 minutes against a team tipped to struggle this season.

Nicky Shorey was declared fit to play which resulted in Stephen Hunt being dropped to the bench, Bobby Convey held onto his starting place and Leroy Lita partnered Kevin Doyle upfront. Dave Kitson was considered fit enough to take a place on the bench.

Reading looked to make the early running but a well organised Plymouth outfit made work difficult, although The Royals enjoyed more possession it was Argyle who had the better chances and after 20 minutes Argyle made Reading pay for sloppy defending. Micky Evans beating two Reading defenders to slot the ball home at Hahnemann's near post to give Plymouth a surprise lead.

Reading's response was very poor and their first real effort came from Kevin Doyle who cut inside but fired over from 20 yards out.

The second half Reading looked much more livelier with Kevin Doyle unlucky early on after the break and Ingimarsson heading over from a corner. Eventually Reading did get back on level terms through record signing Leroy Lita, Glen Little's cross into the box found the head of Lita and he made no mistake.

From there on in there only looked like being one winner and The Royals had plenty of opportunities to take all three points, Lita again unlucky when his shot was cleared off the line, Sonko forced keeper Romain Larrieu into a decent save before the Senegalese defender some how missed with a header from just yards out. If that was not bad enough Sonko and Reading were to pay for the missed chances when into injury time more woeful defending from The Royals defence allowed substitute Nicky Chadwick to score unmarked and send the 4,000 travelling supporters delirious.

So a forgettable opening day to the new season for Royals supporters but if Steve Coppell continues to ignore the need for a new central defender then it could prove to be a very tough 05/06 season.

2005 has so far been pretty forgettable for everyone at Reading Football Club, lets hope it does not turn into a nightmare.

Man Of The Match - Leroy Lita
Attendance - 16.836

NEXT OPPONENTS

Brighton & Hove Albion (A) - Tuesday 9th August 2005, 7:45pm Kick Off

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