What the papers say: Southampton

[Far Canal]

sportinglife.com

Southampton 1 Reading 3

http://www./football/cc_championship/re ... ng&BID=382

Adam Le Fondre came off the bench to fire Reading ever closer to the Barclays Premier League at promotion rivals Southampton.

The former Rotherham striker proved decisive after coming on in the 64th minute, netting twice to help the Royals to victory in an intense npower Championship match the hosts had edged.

Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici produced a string of superb saves to keep Saints at bay throughout and Jason Roberts headed the visitors ahead after 19 minutes.

Rickie Lambert levelled three minutes into the second half as Southampton continued to press, although the second tier's sternest defence eventually overcame its mightiest attack.

Le Fondre put Reading back ahead in the 72nd minute and ended any doubt over Reading's fifth successive league win in stoppage time.

St Mary's was rocking as the match began and the noise went up a notch when talisman Lambert tested Federici from an acute angle.

While Noel Hunt had penalty appeals rejected at the other end, Saints dominated the early exchanges and Federici was again called into action to tip an Adam Lallana drive around the post.

The Reading goalkeeper was having to perform at his best to keep Saints at bay and soon thwarted another effort from Lallana, before reacting quickly to stop Lambert nodding home.

Danny Butterfield blazed wide as Nigel Adkins' side continued to press, although they fell behind out of the blue in the 19th minute.

Jimmy Kebe's superb cross from the right flank was met at close range by Roberts, who beat Jose Fonte to the ball and headed Reading in front.

Southampton looked for an immediate response to the goal and Lallana saw an exquisite goalbound chip tipped over the ball by Federici.

Jos Hooiveld headed wide from the resulting corner, before referee Mike Dean dismissed penalty claims from Billy Sharp that he was upended by Kaspars Gorkss.

Richard Chaplow picked up the evening's first booking in the 37th minute for a late challenge on Federici, but dusted himself down to produce a cross that Lallana prodded goalwards.

Lambert wasted a glorious chance to equalise in first-half stoppage time when he headed over at the far post, but made amends three minutes after the restart.

Sharp collected the ball in the box and pulled back for Lambert, whose venomous drive deflected off Gorkss and past Federici.

The Australian goalkeeper could do nothing to stop the strike but did brilliantly shortly afterwards to thwart an audacious effort by Chaplow, who was replaced moments later by Steve de Ridder.

Southampton were dominating possession and were defending sturdily on the rare occasions Reading ventured forwards.

Lambert came close from 22 yards and Ian Harte did well to block a De Ridder cross, before Lallana glanced a header wide.

Le Fondre came on in place of Jay Tabb in the midst of Southampton's domination as Reading boss Brian McDermott looked to alter the game's dynamics, with the move paying dividends in the 72nd minute.

Reading broke through and Kebe cut back for the former Rotherham striker to smash home into the top right-hand corner.

Federici saved efforts from substitutes De Ridder and Guly Do Prado as the clock wound down and Saints looked for an equaliser, with Lambert seeing a late penalty claim turned down.

Le Fondre wrapped up the three points in stoppage time, latching on to a misplaced Fonte header to round goalkeeper Kelvin Davis and net.

Southampton (0) 1 Reading (1) 3

Southampton:
Davis, Butterfield, Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox, Chaplow (De Ridder 53), Hammond (Do Prado 76), Cork, Lallana, Sharp, Lambert.

Subs not used: Richardson, Harding, Martin.

Booked: Chaplow, Do Prado.

Goals: Lambert 48.

Reading:
Federici, Cummings, Pearce, Gorkss, Harte, Kebe, Mullins, Tabb (Le Fondre 64), McAnuff, Roberts (Afobe 77), Hunt.

Subs not used: McCarthy,Gunnarsson,Church.

Goals: Roberts 19, Le Fondre 72, 90.

Att: 31,892

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

[Rusty royal]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/apr/13/southampton-reading-championship

The rise of Reading is almost complete. Brian McDermott's team were on the brink of the relegation zone after the first month of this season but have since racked up an extraordinary run of victories that was extended here as they inflicted a rare home defeat on Southampton. They thus leapfrogged Nigel Adkins's side at the top of the table and now stand three points clear of Saints and nine ahead of third-placed West Ham. If Sam Allardyce's side fail to beat Brighton on Saturdaytoday, a home win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday will confirm Reading's return to the Premier League after a four-year absence.

"When we were 21st our ambition was to get to 20th," McDermott said. "And when we were second our ambition was to be No1. That's how we do things at this club. Now that we're No1, it's important to stay there."

They got there by displaying the qualities that have allowed them to win 14 and draw one of their last 16 matches: they were composed, compact and clinical. And they had to be.

Southampton started with the swagger of a team that has the best home record in a division from which they have been in a position to graduate since the first weekend of the season. Rickie Lambert forced an awkward save from Adam Federici in the third minute. Reading's goalkeeper excelled on his last visit to the south coast to help his team win at Brighton on Tuesday and he produced a splendid stop in the 17th minute to thwart Lambert again.

His team-mates' capitalised on that stop by racing down the other end and taking the lead, Jimmy Kébé delivering a delightful cross from the right that Jason Roberts headed into the net from six yards.

There is a cliché in football that claims clubs cannot get value in the January transfer market: well, this was the 34-year-old's sixth goal in 15 appearances since joining from Blackburn Rovers for £3m three months ago. Bargain recruits like that have been another of Reading's qualities.

Lambert continued to threaten and a delicious lob from him drew another fine save from Federici. But Reading had lost only one of the 21 previous matches this season in which they had taken the lead and they defended defiantly here to reach the break in front, albeit thanks to an uncharacteristic miss from Lambert in first-half stoppage time, the striker heading wide from five yards.

Lambert soon atoned for that. Within three minutes of the restart he received a smart chested pass from Billy Sharp and walloped the ball into the net from 15 yards with the aid of a deflection off Kaspars Gorkss.

Southampton sensed blood and went for the win. Moments later Federici had to beat a long-range Richard Chaplow shot behind. McDermott reacted by introducing the striker Adam Le Fondre for the midfielder Jay Tabb in the 64th minute. Le Fondre, in his last appearance on Good Friday, came off the bench to score twice to sink Leeds United and he soon made his presence felt here too. Moments after Sharp had headed narrowly wide for the home side Reading broke and Kébé served another fine cross from the right into a cluster of bodies in the box. Le Fondre arrived at speed to crash the ball into the net from 14 yards.

Reading secured their win in stoppage time, Le Fondre pouncing on a short back pass by José Fonte before rounding Kelvin Davis and tapping into the net. That was the 11th goal of the campaign for a player who was bought for £300,000 from Rotherham United in August – another bargain. "I told him when I signed him that he would be a hero at Reading and he's proving me right," said McDermott.

Despite the defeat Adkins is confident his side will not endure the heartbreak of missing out on automatic promotion. "It's in our own hands and we have demonstrated over the whole season that we have the consistency to get over disappointments quickly."

[JC]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/apr/13/southampton-reading-championship



this was the 34-year-old's sixth goal in 15 appearances since joining from Blackburn Rovers for £3m three months ago. Bargain recruits like that have been another of Reading's qualities.

£3million ????

[weybridgewanderer]

Jason Roberts What a Bargain What a bargain

Bargain recruits like that have been another of Reading's qualities

[Rusty royal]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/apr/13/southampton-reading-championship

Le Fondre pouncing on a short back pass by José Fonte before rounding Kelvin Davis and tapping into the net. That was the 11th goal of the campaign for a player who was bought for £300,000 from Rotherham United in August – another bargain. "I told him when I signed him that he would be a hero at Reading and he's proving me right," said McDermott.

A bigger bargain I think

[Avon Royal]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/apr/13/southampton-reading-championship



this was the 34-year-old's sixth goal in 15 appearances since joining from Blackburn Rovers for £3m three months ago. Bargain recruits like that have been another of Reading's qualities.

£3million ????

That's what he joined Blackburn for. Stupid journo.

[Spirit of Elm Park]

Even if we did pay 3 mil....bargain given the rewards ahead. Speculate to accumulate. No1 rule in successful business.

[loyalroyal4life]

i thought it was £1m?

[Far Canal]

sportinglife.com stats

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/li ... 12164.html

Southampton 1 - 3 Reading

FT: 1-3 (HT: 0-1)

Southampton: Richard Lambert 48

Reading: Jason Roberts 19; Adam Le Fondre 72 , 90

TEAMS

Southampton
1. Kelvin Davis
12. Danny Butterfield
6. Jose Fonte
26. Jos Hooiveld
13. Daniel Fox
18. Richard Chaplow (53) (yellow card)
14. Dean Hammond (76)
8. Jack Cork
20. Adam Lallana
11. Billy Sharp
7. Richard Lambert

SUBS
2. Frazer Richardson
3. Dan Harding
10. Guly Do Prado (76) (yellow card)
16. Aaron Martin
33. Steve De Ridder (53)

Reading
1. Adam Federici
24. Shaun Cummings
5. Alex Pearce
17. Kaspars Gorkss
23. Ian Harte
14. Jimmy Kebe
26. Hayden Mullins
7. Jay Tabb (64)
11. Jobi McAnuff
33. Jason Roberts (77)
10. Noel Hunt

SUBS
12. Alex McCarthy (GK)
6. Brynjar Gunnarsson
9. Adam Le Fondre (64)
18. Simon Church
51. Benik Afobe (77)

REFEREE: Mike Dean

STAT ATTACK
Soton................Reading
12....Shots On Target.....4
7.....Shots Off Target.....2
11....Fouls (Conceded)....4
7..........Corners..........2
2.......Yellow Cards........0
0........Red Cards.........0