Championship Fixture - 13th September 2005 Madejski Stadium, 8:00pm kick-off

TEAM LINE-UP'S

Reading - Hahnemann, Murty, Makin, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Convey ( Hunt), Little, Harper, Gunnarsson, Doyle, Lita.

Palace - Kiraly, Boyce, Borrowdale, Hall, Ward, Riihilahti (Andrews), Watson, Soares, Hughes, Johnson (Macken), Morrison.

MATCH REVIEW

Steve Coppell kept faith with the same side that drew with Coventry City on Saturday. Reading started the game brightly taking the game to the visitors. Iain Dowie had decided against sticking with a 4-3-3 formation from their previous game and reverted back to a standard 4-4-2 with Clinton Morrison and Andy Johnson leading the line.

Kevin Doyle had Reading's first chance, a long ball upfield found its way through to Doyle who had broken the offside trap but a good save by the leg of Palace keeper Gabor Kiraly kept the score at 0:0.

Although Doyle would eventually beat Kiraly with a quality solo effort. Coming inside from the right wing and beating two Palace players Doyle unleashed a shot into the bottom corner with Kiraly unable to reach the Irishman's effort. Reading thoroughly deserved their lead after making a positive start to the game.

The Royals however shortly after the opener shot themselves in the foot allowing who else but Andy Johnson to get behind Reading's backline and fire an effort which beat Marcus Hahnemann at his near post.

Reading though were given a big lift after seeing Johnson substituted due to injury. The striker was replaced with John Macken.

Into the second half and more hesitant Reading defending allowed Palace's new boy Clinton Morrison to take full advantage and put the visitors into the lead.

From there on in Reading were on top as they tried to claw their way back into the game, both Bobby Convey and Glen Little on the wings were causing the Palace defence problems but neither of them could find that killer ball for the Reading strikers.

As the game moved into the final twenty minutes, a piece of individual brilliance from Reading's record signing got The Royals back in the game. Lita took full advantage of a header across the Palace six yard box by Emmerson Boyce by producing an overhead kick which flew into the net leaving Kiraly with no chance. Lita had barely been in the game up to his goal but when it mattered the former Bristol City favourite delivered the goods.

If you thought that was the end of the action then you were wrong as minutes later Reading were awarded a penalty after Kevin Doyle appeared to be tripped by Boyce. Lita who missed a penalty on Saturday took the penalty but his penalty was saved again only for the referee to order a retake as the linesman had spotted Kiraly coming off his line before the penalty was taken. Glen Little stepped up this time but again Kiraly saved the Reading penalty. Royals fans were in disbelief has to how paid footballers can be so rubbish at scoring from 12 yards and questions were asked as to why Kevin Doyle who has scored two penalties for the Republic Of Ireland U21's recently was not given the nod.

The game looked destined for a draw as we approached the last five minutes, only for Ibrahima Sonko to jump highest from a Reading free kick and thump his header into the back of the net to give Reading a 3:2 lead.

Reading managed to hang on this time unlike Saturday for all three points in a truly fantastic evening of football at the Madejski. Reading played some exceptional football at times and this without the services of three so called key players.

Man Of The Match - Glen Little
Attendance - 17,562

NEXT OPPONENTS

Crewe Alexandra (H) - Saturday 17th September 2005, 3:00pm Kick Off

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