11 December 2004: LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
LEICESTER CITY 0 READING 2
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goals
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Reading: Sidwell (68 mins), Ingimarsson (82 mins). Leicester: - |
Half Time: 0-0 Attendance: 24,068
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teams
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Reading: Hahnemann, Hughes, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little, Harper, Sidwell, Brooker, Morgan (Owusu 72), Kitson. Subs not used: Forster, Newman, Convey, Young.
Leicester: Taylor, Stearman, Dublin, Dabizas, Stewart, Gillespie, Nalis, Gemmill (Morris 78), Gudjonsson (Williams 64), Scowcroft, Blake. Subs not used: Tiatto, Keown, Benjamin. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
bookings
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Reading: Owusu, Kitson, Sidwell. Leicester: Blake, Nalis, Stearman. Referee: P Taylor (Hertfordshire). |
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report
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Reading ended a run of four away games without a win with an impressive 2-0 victory at Leicester City, grabbing two goals in the last twenty two minutes. Apart from the excellent three points away from home their were plenty of other positives for the Royals. Dave Kitson looked fit again and played out the whole ninety minutes and Nicky Forster made a return to the first team set-up starting on the substitutes bench but not making an appearance. With Murty out injured Andy Hughes returned to his full back position and had a very positive game. A victory wasn't always on the cards with Leicester starting as firm favourites nad having the better of the opening half. Thankfully the home side failed to take their chances after hitting the post and forcing a good save from Hahnemann in the Reading goal. The second half saw Reading look much the better side with the vital goals coming in the last quarter of the match. Steve Sidwell hit a powerful strike, from a Little free-kick, that flew into the top corner of the Leicester net with some speed to put Reading on their way. Leicester looked dead and buried before Reading's decisive second with eight minutes left on the clock, when Shorey's ball in was met by Ingimarsson who rose to head home. |
FANS' POST MATCH OPINION
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This is what away games are all about. You stifle the opposition in the first half and then pounce in the second with two goals of your own. One a terrific strike by Sidwell and the second, surprisingly, from a corner from the head of Ingimarsson. We were solid toady and I don't think the back four made a mistake between them apart from one Sunday league charge which failed to find anyone offside! Whilst Leicester had plenty of the ball in the first half they were restricted to two chances. With one Blake hit the post and the other was cleared off the line, I think by Hughes. He had a good game at full back showing how valuable he is to us. What was really good was to see what it meant to the players. They were really pleased with the performance and the result. You could understand what the management say when they talk about a tight knit squad, there was plenty of evidence of that. Sidwell was terrific and Kitson got better as the game progressed. The first half was tough for the frontmen as they did not get much service, but the whole team worked together as a unit. It would unfair to single out individuals, this was a team effort, but it was Sidwell's touch of class that separated the teams. What a good sight it was to see Forster warming up. It will be like having a new player. Now we have one win under our belts, let's hope that we can start a good run. This was an important result and the team delivered!
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