MATCH REPORT: 2003/2004 Season

10 April 2004: LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
BRADFORD CITY 2 READING 1
goals
Reading: Kitson (25 mins).
Bradford:
Wetherall (12 mins), Emanuel (53 mins).
Half Time: 1-1
Attendance: 10,287

DIVISION ONE 10 Apr 2004
Pos Team P Pts GD
8 Sheff Utd 41 63 +8
9 READING 41 63 -2
10 C Palace 40 60 +6
teams
Reading: Ashdown, Murty, Williams, Ingimarsson (sent off 59 mins), Hughes, Brooker (Goater 80), Newman (Gordon 73), Harper, Salako (Forster 73), Kitson, Morgan. Subs not used: Young, Owusu.
Bradford: Combe, Edds, Wetherall, Gavin, Heckingbottom, Summerbee, Windass (Forrest 89), Atherton, Wolleaston, Branch (sent off 55 mins), Cadamarteri (Emanuel 45). Subs not used: Paston, Kearney, Muirhead.
bookings
Reading: Ingimarsson sent off (59 mins).
Bradford:
Atherton, Branch (second yellow, sent off, 55 mins), Gavin, Wetherall, Wolleaston.
Referee: K Hill (Royston)
report

Reading wasted a chance to move fourth in the table by going down 1-2 at Bradford City. With a number of the teams in play-off contention dropping points it was an excellent opportunity to make the most of our previous results against Coventry and West Ham United. Reading haven't managed to string together three consecutive league wins all season and this defeat continued that as Reading were beaten by a team who appear certain to be relegated at the end of the season.

Before kick-off things looked good with Williams back in the starting eleven in the centre of defence and Forster available on the bench along with Goater and Owusu. Coppell started with the in-form pairing of Kitson and Morgan up front and there was little reason to think we wouldn't be able to find the goals. However it was the home side that got off to the better start as they won a series of early corners. After a few attempts near goal Bradford took the lead after twelve minutes when a corner from the right was headed home at the near post. Bradford held the lead for just thirteen minutes until Kitson pulled Reading level with a spectacular goal. Morgan provided Salako with the ball and his cross was met with an overhead kick from Kitson that stunned the defence and saw the ball firmly in the back of the net.

The second half saw an explosion of activity early on with Bradford getting the winner just eight minutes into the half when a cross was headed home, followed by two red cards as both teams finished with ten men. Firstly Branch was sent off ten minutes into the half for his second yellow card as once again he was booked for diving. Reading had only a couple of mintues to make their extra man count, which they failed to do, before Ingimarsson got his marching orders with a straight red for violent conduct after getting involved in a disagreement with Bradford's Windass. Coppell threw on Gordon, Forster and Goater in an unsuccessful late attempt to claw back a point. Forster had a couple of shots but nothing that tested the keeper and Gordon came closest with a free-kick that needed a save from the Bradford keeper. However Bradford could have extended their lead with a late effort that struck Ashdown's post. The defeat for Reading saw them drop to ninth in the table.


FANS' POST MATCH OPINION

After the highs and joys of last week to the lows and gloom of this week. It's results like this against a Bradford team doomed to relegation that makes supporting Reading FC such a tortuous affair at times. Just to cap it all, the three teams above us all lost and West Ham could only draw, bloody marvellous! How many more chances do we need to get in the play offs? Said all along, we're simply not good enough or as is painfully proven, consistent enough to make the play offs yet alone go up. Knowing us we'll probably stuff the Canaries on Monday.
Nick Newbury

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