7 August 2004: LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
READING 3 BRIGHTON 2
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goals
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Reading: Kitson (2 mins), Harper (41 mins), Forster (59 mins). Brighton: Molango (1 mins), Robinson (63 mins) |
Half Time: 2-1 Attendance: 15,641
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teams
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Reading: Hahnemann, Murty (Newman 66), Williams, Ingimarsson, Shorey,
Little, Sidwell, Hughes, Harper, Forster, Kitson. Subs Not Used: Goater, Convey, Brooker, Young. Brighton: Kuipers, Virgo (Robinson 57), Cullip, Butters, Harding, Nicolas, Oatway (Hinshelwood 36), Reid, Currie, Jarrett (Jones 68), Molango. Subs Not Used: Mayo, May. |
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bookings
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Reading: Forster Brighton: Jarrett, Cullip Referee: P Crossley (Kent). |
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report
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Reading made a winning start to the 2004/2005 Championship season with an impressive 3-2 victory over
Brighton at the Madejski Stadium this afternoon. The Royals were much the better side throughout and perhaps deserved
a more favourable scoreline despite going 0-1 down within the opening 15 seconds of the season. The visitors lead was
shortlived however with Dave Kitson pulling Reading level just two minutes later - a long kick from Hahnemann was
knocked into the centre of the box from the left and Kitson drove the ball home into the roof of the net for an
excellent goal. Reading were looking the more comfortable side and went ahead just before half time when Little
put over a cross from the right which was played onto Harper who came storming through and volleyed home from the
centre on the edge of the Brighton area. At 2-1 up Reading started stroking the ball around with ease with Brighton
looking ready to go home with 45 minutes still to play. The second half saw Reading increase their lead on the hour
mark when Forster broke free to fire past the keeper and it could have been more when Little again was the provider
and Kitson put a header against the Brighton post. The visitors pulled one back a few minutes later from a rare attack
but never really looked likely to pull level as Reading held on for a convincing victory. |
FANS' POST MATCH OPINION
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Another season of hope and dreams and blow me if you had blinked you'd have
missed the first two goals. To be a Reading fan as we all know, we are
used to ups and downs to put it mildly, but to have a "oh no here we go
again" after 12 seconds when Brighton took the lead really was pushing our
sanity to the limit! All in all I thought a good performance against a
team who I'm sure will be lucky to stay up this year. Sloppy defending by
Ade Williams let Brighton in on two occasions and ensured Reading never
wrapped the game up in blistering conditions. Though a great servant Ade
is going to have to up his game this year to ensure a place and stop
thinking he's Ade Beckenbauer. Great to see Fossie back capping a good
game with a tremendous finish, Harper and Sidwell worked their socks off
and Little had a great game, and maybe convinced a few sceptics including
myself, that he may prove a good signing. With the exception of Little it
was the same team that played most of last season which I think is a
concern, we do need new blood but it's early days and the squad though
lacking in quality is quite big. Two points out of the next two very
difficult away games would be great, and in a league where nobody stands
out, a good start is vital. Bet Pardwho is not looking forward to Tuesday,
I've a funny feeling we may get something, must be the sun.......URZ!!
So if this is what is to come, we are in for more entertainment this year. We looked better going forward and worse defensively, but there are signs that this will improve. Murty and Shorey will offer more than they did today, Williams will do better against the standard centre forwards in this division, i.e. big traditional players, and we will be better balance when Convey starts. I am not sure though whether he will put in Hughes's work and covering which were tremendous if the constructive part of his game were not quite as good.
Kitson was sharp and took his goal well and should have scored another with a header that hit the post. Forster got better as the game wore on and could have played Kitson in but how often have we said that about him? Little was outstanding and Harper and Sidwell both had good games.
We gave a newly promoted team a goal start and still beat them, that is great credit to the team. Yes there were weaknesses, but we looked more potent. We perhaps need more self belief and should have gone on to win this game comfortably, but then this is Reading!!!
Really pleased with Glen Little's effort throughout the game, he gave Brighton trouble on the right side all afternoon.
Sidwell and Harps had good solid games too. Fozzie and Kitson were brill - looks like a budding relationship is building
(although if only Foz had passed to an unmarked Kitson...). We've still got problems in defence - OK we all love Ade but
lets face it, he's too slow now and couldn't make a successful pass in a brothel. Still a good game to watch. The best
part however was the banter we had in the car in the traffic jam on the M25 with the Brighton fans!
Great to get 3 points. As has been said by others I thought we
looked good going forward but yet again we looked suspect at the
back. For the last couple of years we’ve lost far too many games
to realistically be looking for promotion and it’s at the back
where we need the most improvement if this it to happen. The
midfield looked strong in particular Little who looks a different
player from the one on loan and Sidwell and Harper looked good
in the centre. (I was particularly happy to see Harper score as
it followed a comment from someone sat near me that he never
does anthing) The only weakness was on the left. Hughes has
proved his usefulness with his versatility and in all fairness
was ok but with two specialists in that position coming in
over the summer why did he start? Kitson seems to be carrying
on where he left off at the end of last season and Forster
scored a goal only he could. I can see Kitson getting 20+
this year but I think we will need a good contribution from
the Goat again too as evidence (of past seasons) suggests that
Forster’s finishing is too erratic to get him 20. It should be
a stern test for the defence against Rebrov and co on Tuesday.
We have a lot of strength up front and in midfield so if we can
sort it out at the back I think we could do well.
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