LEAGUE
DIVISION TWO READING 1 PORT VALE 0 (Half Time: 0-0) |
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Reading Scorers:
Butler (78 minutes) Port Vale Scorers: - |
Date: 3 February
2001 Attendance: 9,026 |
Reading: Whitehead, Newman, Viveash, Hunter, Gurney (Gray), Parkinson, Caskey, Igoe (Butler), Cureton (Jones), Rougier, McIntyre. Subs not used: Howie, Gamble. Port Vale: Goodlad, Carragher, Tankard, Walsh, Bridge-Wilkinson, Widdrington (Minton), Cummins, Brammer, Smith, Naylor, Brooker, Lowe. Subs not used: Delaney, Burton, Burns. Bookings: Newman (Reading); Widdrington (Port Vale). |
Once again it wasn't the best match for the neutral, but once again it ended with Reading winning three more vital league points. The scoreline of 1-0 was identical to Reading's last league match - the home win against Bristol Rovers two weeks ago - not the most exciting results but as long as we keep winning then the confidence and performances from earlier this season will soon be on their way back. Today's victory over Port Vale, just four places off the bottom of the Division, was hardly a convincing victory despite Reading having nearly all the play throughout the game. Port Vale seemed to be a very poor side happy to come and take a point - something they might well have done without the introduction of Martin Butler.
However, they'd been plenty of signs that Reading might win the game more comfortably during the first half after Reading got off to a decent start. After complaints from fans about our recent long ball game and an Friday Evening Post denial from Pardew that we're "not long ball merchants" the Royals got off to a different pattern of play. Reading were playing some fantastic football all across the park with the ball flowing along the ground Rougier and Cureton started working well together and even Newman and Gurney were happy to play the ball out of defence for a while. Gurney's performance didn't last long after going down under a hard tackle and being replaced by Gray - thankfully the injury to his leg didn't look too bad in the end. However, wiith Parkinson and Caskey controlling the midfield and the potential of Igoe and McIntyre playing wide it all looked quite promising for a decent attacking game from Reading.
While we were playing "proper" football we probably looked the most dangerous depite failing to create a massive amount of chances. Twice during the first half we seemed certain to score with the ball being knocked around in the area - but both times we failed to get in a decent shot on target, Jimmy McIntyre hitting an effort just millimetres wide of the post when it looked like we'd scored. Perhaps the best shot of the half came from Darren Caskey with a free-kick from way outside the area. After the usual bit with players running over the ball Caskey sent in a great shot that curved to hit the base of the crossbar - but failed to cross the line.
Down the other end we seemed to be doing our best to downgrade the game. Hunter was showing an amazing lack of footballing talent and his big long hoofs up the park to nobody were just the same as the last few games. Whitehead didn't seem at his best either - firstly almost making a fatal mistake when changing his mind when throwing the ball out - after dropping it he then had to take on a Port Vale forward and just about got away with it. After that Port Vale broke the offside trap with their first real attack of the game - Whitehead made a good save, but then just sat their waiting for another shot rather than just pick up the ball. The first half started tailing off quite early and the second half started in just the same way - Reading having plenty of the ball but failing to do enough with it and Port Vale happy to play out time.
Rougier had another bizarre game alternating from being crap to being something rather special indeed. His ball control kept letting him down and during the second half he was obviously completely knackered, however a couple of flashes of brilliance almost warranted his starting appearance. Rougier could have put Reading ahead before Butler eventually did after winning the ball in a similar position. He did well to get past his two men, but his shot was poor - well wide to the left. After that he nearly put in a superb cross from the right wing after beating a man and nutmegging another. And after Butler had won the game for the Royals, Rougier burst through the middle of the park beating player after player before unselfishly knocking the ball into the path of Butler.
Jamie Cureton had a great chance to put Reading ahead as well after a cross from the left went straight to his feet - if he'd have stuck his leg out it would have been a goal but instead he seemed to let it go as it went flying across the face of goal. After these wasted chances the game seemed to be slipping into a goalless draw until twelve minutes from time when Butler, who had come on as a second half substitute, eventually claimed the full three points for the Royals. Butler won the ball just inside the right diagonal of the box, just inside the area, and after beating his two markers fired the ball in off the far post to make it 1-0. Massive relief across the ground and a good excuse for the Beard Band to make even more noise in the corner of the stadium.
It was then just a case of playing out time - and Port Vale never seemed likely to threaten for a late goal. There was just enough time for Keith Jones to come on to the normal reception of boos across the Madejski Stadium. Still, a victory and some promising signs. But we're going to have to play far better than this if we're going to get the points at Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
Following report from Neil Cole:
Another win, another clean sheet, and a much better performance from the Royals today as Port Vale were beaten by a second half Martin Butler goal. While the scoreline wasn't as convincing as perhaps it should have been, Reading dominated the game and thoroughly deserved the win.
The defence was changed again, as Stuart Gray was dropped to the bench. There was a surprise recall for Andy Gurney at left-back, who has been ignored by Pardew lately despite some good performances earlier in the season. Amazingly, four games in a row proved to be too much for Graeme Murty, who sat this one out with another injury. That allowed Sammy Igoe to continue at right midfield, with Newman switching to right-back.
Tony Rougier was given another start up front, against the side he left in the summer to join the Royals. He looked keen to impress against his former employers, and had a lively first half. However, at times he was trying too hard, and ended up tiring himself out and disappearing from the game. Again he failed to score, despite a couple of good chances.
At times the football played by Reading was very good, and a lot better than we had been forced to endure in the Bristol Rovers and Swansea games. Cureton and Rougier showed signs they are beginning to form a partnership, and linked up nicely a couple of times in the first half.
Jimmy McIntyre nearly put Reading in front with another cracking right foot shot, which went narrowly wide. He nearly scored from a similar position at Swansea, and again today the luck didn't go with him. It seemed like it was one of those days, when Darren Caskey hit a wonderful long range free-kick against the underside of the bar. It was still goal-less at half-time despite Reading dominating the game.
Port Vale improved in the second half and the game was much more even that it had been before the break. Vale played some good stuff, but looked so inept up front it's no surprise they're in the relegation zone. The Reading defence did it's best to go back to the long ball game, as Hunter and Viveash again looked clueless in possession. However, our attack looked the best it has been for a long time, and we could easily have scored three or four rather than the solitary goal which eventually won us the game.
Things improved with the introduction of Martin Butler at the expense of Sammy Igoe. Butler surely did enough in the half hour he was on the pitch to win him his place back in the starting line-up. With a tricky trip to Bournemouth coming up on Tuesday, Butler's commitment and finishing ability could well be needed in the team. He showed what he is capable of with a goal twelve minutes from time, which was probably one of his better goals this season. After picking the ball up on the edge of the box, he comfortably turned a Vale defender and fired into the far corner via the post.
The goal killed Port Vale off, and it was all Reading for the least ten minutes. It could have been two shortly afterwards, as Cureton was just inches away from making contact with a McIntyre cross. However, it finished 1-0, and the three points keep Reading in sixth place and close the gap slightly on some of the teams above them.
For the second year running, Beard Day has brought Reading a win, giving the large number of Beards even more to sing about. The atmosphere in the North-East corner was superb, with the Beard Band yet again putting the club's efforts to shame. It was also nice to hear a lack of music after we scored, showing that perhaps the club do listen to us sometimes.
Post
Match Opinions
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Three very welcome points, but a wholly unconvincing performance.
We simply do not look good enough for promotion. What has happened to
the team that srolled confidently to emphatic victories earlier in the
season? Yet another dismal performance that produced three points.This raises
an interesting discussion point, would we be happy watching this crap
every week, yet still scrapping 1-0 victories, I think we would to secure
promotion, but better teams than Vale would surely punish us. Have to disagree with some of above I thought this was a great game
for a neutral especially in the second half when we witnessed some serious
end to end stuff.I hope Vale avoid the drop, whatever their plight they
always try to play good football.And to-day so did we.This wasn't a perfect
performance but it's the first time since October that we've looked like
we might stuff someone 4-0. I think Barry Hunter is trying to get himself a transfer to London
Irish, will someone please try to explain that it is better in football
to pass to someone in the same colour shirt and not kick to touch all
the time. He used to be an International player for God sake! The sooner
Williams and Casper get back to fitness the better and is Mackie injured?
He wasn't as bad as Hunter. Another 3 points of course but why is so damn
frustrating being a Royals fan recently, I haven't been 'convinced' and
completely satisfied with a performance for ages....and this with a team
in the top six and one of the best scoring records in the Division.....some
of the football has been really sub-standard in recent games, almost like
a completely different team to the one which had such a great start to
the season. What a mixture! Neither good nor bad. Flashes of both. We created
more chances than of late but gave the ball away far too often. Rougier
summed it all up with his performance which varied from the inept to the
brilliant. All the players had moments when they did something excellent,
only to spoil it at some point later. Whitehead made some good saves and
threw the ball to one of their players to encourage him to score. Hunter
made some good tackles and then constantly gave the ball away or put it
into the stand. Cureton made some good runs, but missed the best cahnce
of the match. I was watching from the West stand on Saturday, not normally the most
vocal place in the ground, but behind me there were several voices laying
heavily into Pardew. The comments being mostly to bring on Martin Butler
and to put Rougier back on the wing. There was some sense in this, since
Rougier was certainly best when running with the ball at his feet. It constantly amazes me that, with the exception of one or two players,
a tallented team like Reading can so consistently, play such crap, meaningless,
inarticulate football. I love winning and I want to see the team get out
of division two and if that is the sort of football that will do the job
I can forgive them. Unfortunately I don't think the kind of tactics they
are employing at the moment will gain them promotion and that will be
unforgivable. Right now their home form is just about adequate, however,
their away form is abysmal. Pardew seems to think that you have to employ
fancy tactics whatever the opposition home or away, especially away. I
think it's about time he realised football is not an intellectual game,
it's about having a team with fitter and more skillful players than your
opponents and maximising the use of their tallents. His approach to games
home or away should be the same, play to win by out playing the opposition.
And why the hell does he keep messing about with the team? By messing
with the team as he does, he is only demonstrating his uncertainty which
could go a long way to explaining the way his team plays. Butler and Cureton
are our best goal scorers and should play in every game, taking them out
of the team to make them "more hungry" is a load of bollocks. It has'nt
made Caskeys game any better except perhaps in Pardews mind. I say get
them fired up and get them playing real football. |
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