By Stuart Kidson
May 15 2004

APOLOGIES FOR YET ANOTHER LATE POSTING BUT THE DREADED SASSER VIRUS STRUCK LAST WEEKEND AND HAS MEANT THAT REPORTS FOR STOKE AND NOTTINGHAM FOREST WILL BE LATE ALSO. Reading (1) v West Bromwich Albion (0)
Madejski Stadium, Saturday 1st May 2004
Nationwide League Division One

West Brom’s tactics came back to punish them in Royal Berkshire as a late late winner by ginger haired Steve Sidwell all but handed the title to Norwich City, who won against Preston North End. The Baggies made three changes to the side that secured promotion last weekend with Lloyd Dyer making his first senior start, Darren Moore returning to first team action and James O’Connor returning to the side.

Albion fans made the most of their day out in Reading and horned hats and Viking costumes filled the Fosters Stand at the impressive Madejski Stadium, next to the M4 Motorway, with the now traditional inflatables being hurled around by the 4,500 Boing Boing Baggies fans.

Reading needed the win to stay in contention for a play off place and Royals manager Steve Coppell had certainly done his homework on the visitors and reversed Gary Megson’s own tactics to work in his favour. The Royals had West Brom under pressure from the off and Captain Sean Gregan was forced to use his strength against Dave Kitson, to force the Reading player off the ball following a cross from Basir Savage.

Former Manchester City legend Shaun Goater, tried to take advantage of Russell Hoult’s half clearance after another cross but his hooked effort missed the empty net. Albion were being made to work hard for the ball by the Reading side and it took a while before the first real chance fell for the Baggies. O’Connor rushed through from midfield and fed Lee Hughes. The Smethwick born striker beat the first defender but his shot was off target and trickled wide over the line for a goal kick.

Darren Moore saw his header from an O’Connor free kick cleared by the Royals defence as Albion finally looked to be coming to terms with the fast pace set by Reading from the off. Another O’Connor free kick was scrambled away as the Baggies started to look for an opening against a solid Reading defence.

Moore made a timely challenge on Kitson as the striker was about to let fly with a shot on goal following a cross from James Harper that the visitors had failed to deal with. Reading were keeping Hoult busy with numerous crosses into his area, especially from the left, but the former Pompey stopper dealt with any threat comfortably.

The side selected by Gary Megson differed greatly from the one that has kept pace with league leaders Norwich, and with Andy Johnson out for the rest of the season with a groin injury and Jason Koumas suspended following his red card against Millwall on Easter Monday, the side looked to be lacking the understanding developed over the 10 game unbeaten run.

In the stands the Baggies fans continued their promotion party with their singing and balloons and even began a Mexican Wave which the Reading fans continued as they celebrated alongside their guests. Both sets of fans had dressed up for the occasion with the Royals faithful donning garish orange wigs as a tribute to their two ginger haired players Sidwell and Kitson..

On the pitch the game was quickly becoming a game of attrition as both side probed and poked along the midfield looking for a way through. Reading defended deep and allowed the Baggies to come at them in much the same way that Albion had done at Sunderland two weeks ago. James Chambers ran into the Reading area and unleashed a goal bound shot, which was deflected out for a corner by Andy Hughes. Chambers was unlucky when he struck a powerful volley from the resultant flag kick which flew just wide of the upright.

Albion fans and players were left furious at the referee after Chambers had been wrestled to the ground yards outside the Royals area and the appeals were turned down by the official. Lloyd Dyer set Viking hearts racing minutes later when he burst out of the Baggies half but solid defending by the home side prevented the jet-heeled winger from shooting at goal. Former Crystal Palace veteran John Salako finished the half off when he swung in a dangerous cross which Hoult could only punch clear before Gregan cleared the Baggies lines.

Both sides made changes during the break with Salako making way for loaner Gordon from Coventry City and Scott Dobie came on for Horsfield who had been hobbling shortly before the half time whistle. The home side started brighter than the Baggies and almost got the half off to an ideal start when he played Kitson through on goal. Moore could not keep up with the pace of the striker and Hoult was forced into a fine blocking save at the near post.

Reading were applying early pressure and Gordon almost made an instant impact on the game when he sent over a cross which Kitson connected with but the effort sailed over the crossbar. This early pressure was the result of the home side ruling the roost across midfield, so Gary Megson replaced Hughes with Artim Sakiri in an attempt to pack the midfield and bring some balance.

Baggies fans had a moment of concern when keeper Hoult fell when he collected a cross under pressure from Sidwell. The big shot stopper landed face down on the turf and took a while to get to his feet. Fears of his back injury flaring up again crossed the minds of everyone behind his goal but after a few moments of treatment he was able to continue.

Neil Clement, who played 12 times for the Royals during a loan spell at the Club from Chelsea, was bought onto replace Paul Robinson who looked to be suffering from an injury and took his place on the left hand side of the park.

The home side thought they had justifiable claims for a penalty when Gaardsoe and Kitson went for the ball inside the Baggies area, but referee Mr. Penton waved play on much to the disgust of the home fans. Steve Coppell made two further changes to the side moments later when he took off Goater and Savage and replaced them with Dean Morgan and Paul Brooker.

Albion had their best chance of the afternoon minutes later when Dyer started a move by picking out O’Connor with a pass inside. O’Connor saw Chambers out wide on the right with plenty of space and a long pass in front of the right wing back saw him clear in space behind the Royals defence. Chambers’s cross flashed across the face of goal and Dobie slid in just a touch too late to poke the ball over the line but Dyer had run the length of the pitch and slammed the loose ball into the side netting.

Reading had to wait until the second minute of added on injury time to break the deadlock when Sidwell raced clear of the Baggies defence and stroked a wonderful ball past a static Hoult to give the home side’s playoff hopes a well earned boost. The tables had been well and truly turned on the late goal specialists. To the credit of the home fans they immediately responded to the almost constant reminder from the Baggies Vikings that the Albion were a Premier League side by singing ‘1-0 To The Nationwide’ which bought an appreciative round of applause from the away section of the ground.

Mark Kinsella had played with all of the qualities you would expect from a seasoned veteran of the Premier League and this was reflected when Jake Kidson, aged 11, selected him to get the baggiesworld.co.uk Man of the Match.

Teams
ROYALS Ashdown, Murty, Williams, Newman, Hughes, Savage, Sidwell, Harper, Salako, Kitson, Goater
Subs Hahnemann, Gordon, Morgan, Brooker, Owusu

BAGGIES Hoult, Gaardsoe, Moore, Gregan, Chambers, O’Connor, Kinsella, Dyer, Robinson, Horsfield, Hughes
Subs Murphy, Clement, Dobie, Sakiri, Haas