Match Report: 2011/2012 Season
|
5 November 2011: CHAMPIONSHIP
READING 1 BIRMINGHAM CITY 0
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
goals
|
Reading: Hunt (75 mins).
Birmingham City: - |
Half Time: 0-0. Attendance: 18,361
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
teams
|
Reading: A Federici, K Gorkss, A Pearce, J Mills, S Cummings, J McAnuff, M Leigertwood, J Kebe (H Robson-Kanu, 69), J Karacan, A Le Fondre, S Church (N Hunt, 75).
Subs not used: I Harte, M Andersen, M Manset. Birmingham City: B Myhill, L Ridgewell, J Spector, S Carr, C Davies, S Caldwell, C Burke, K Fahey, W Elliott (N Zigic, 82), M King (N Redmond, 82), C Wood. Subs not used: D Murphy, G N'Daw, C Doyle. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
bookings
|
Reading: -
Birmingham City: Spector, Davies Ref: M Halsey. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
report
|
Having seen their own unbeaten run come to an end away to Forest earlier in the week, the Royals bounced back with an excellent home win to end City's unbeaten run of nine games. Reading have played well in recent games and with the defence only conceding four goals in seven games now, it is only the lack of fire power which has prevented them from breaking into the play-off positions. City, with a wealth of Premiership experience in their squad, were full of confidence and clearly not ruffled by Reading's early and lively assault on their goal. It was a highly entertaining game with chances at either end throughout as both teams went for the win. In the end it took a deft touch from substitute Noel Hunt to turn in a McAnuff cross to secure the points their recent performances deserved.
Brian McDermott had urged his players to 'be brave with the ball' in this match and Church showed the way running deep into City territory from the kick-off before finding Kebe with a pass. Kebe's disappointing contribution was to drive a cross into the legs of the City full back which typified his performance this afternoon. Back in the starting line up he seemed unwilling to take players on and unable to make room to deliver a decent cross. Gorkks however provided an early threat in the air attacking good deliveries from McAnuff but Myhill saved well. It didn't take City long to retaliate with Woods testing Federici with a very good strike from the edge of the box. Mills had his best game so far in every respect and almost opened the scoring with a surging run and magnificent dipping strike which Myhill just managed to tip over for a corner. In spite of Reading's pressure City's back four remained composed and played the ball calmly out defence. Woods, always a danger drew another save from Federici with a header. McAnuff headed wide just before half time when Kebe finally delivered a cross. Reading set about their task with even greater relish in the second half but City were not prepared to sit back and the crowd was treated to a fast open game. Leigertwood and Karacan were superb yet again and helped to provide Reading with slightly more possession. Kebe gave way to Robson-Kanu with twenty minutes left, which turned out to be a crucial change in that it resulted in McAnuff switching wings. A sloppy pass allowed McAnuff to bear down unchallenged on Myhill and he really should have done better but Myhill was able to make a save. Pearce almost gave the visitors the lead deflecting a cross onto the post and Reading were lucky to escape when Woods blasted the rebound high and wide. Hunt replaced the industrious Church and settled the game with what was probably his first touch after good work from McAnuff wide on the right. As the game drew a to close the Royals wisely stayed on the front foot but it did leave a few gaps at the back to give home fans a few anxious moments. By then, City manager Chris Hughton had become, sending on the biggest players available on the bench to put pressure on Gorkks and Pearce who had both dealt admirably with everything in the air. So the pattern continues. Reading are hard to beat. They defend well and often dominate the central midfield areas, but Church and Le Fondre are finding scoring opportunities hard to come by in spite of their willingness to run and receive the ball. McAnuff's contribution late in the game shows the way, and if Kebe can regain his form the charge for the play-offs may well begin. Reading have played most of the top sides this season and have looked better than most of them at times, but too many draws have kept them firmly in the bottom half of the table. This win brings three important points and it will have done wonders for confidence and morale. John Wells |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|