Match Report: 2011/2012 Season

14 January 2012: CHAMPIONSHIP
WATFORD 1 READING 2
goals
Reading: Kebe (42 mins), Le Fondre (85 mins).
Watford: Cummings (og, 29 mins).
Half Time: 1-1.

Attendance: 11,291

CHAMPIONSHIP 14 Jan 2012
Pos Team P Pts GD
4 Middlesbrough 26 45 +5
5 READING 26 42 +8
6 Hull 26 42 +2
teams
Reading: A Federici, I Harte, K Gorkss, A Pearce, S Cummings, J Tabb, J Kebe (M Antonio, 88), J Karacan, H Robson-Kanu , N Hunt, S Church (A Le Fondre, 83).
Subs not used: B Gunnarsson, M Andersen, J Mills.
Watford: S Loach, C Dickinson, A Mariappa, N Nosworthy, L Hodson, M Yeates (C Iwelumo, 88), J Eustace, P Buaben, C Forsyth (R Jenkins, 81), T Deeney, M Sordell.
Subs not used: L Doyley, J Garner, J Bond.
bookings
Reading: Tabb, Robson-Kanu, Le Fondre.
Watford: Forsyth.
Ref: Graham Salisbury.
report
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FANS' POST MATCH OPINION

Thoroughly deserved the three points. Hunt, rhk and Jem were supers. Federici didn't have a lot to do. Little bit disappointed with cummins for their goal. You should never go studs first when facing your own goal. The ball can only go one way. At least it didn't cost us. I never though at any point we were going to lose the game. Haven't seen hrk challenge yet but heard it should have been a red. Swings and roundabouts. We should have had a pen In the second half and possibly one in the first. How their 11 stayed on the pitch is beyond me. Disappointed with Kebe for not a acknowledging the fans when he was taken off. Not sure what that means. And keeping the ball in the corner for 2 mins was class. A good team performance. Never really looked troubled. Big 5 games coming up!
gazzer, loyal royal

Yep, good vocal support which I imagine was just as well for the TV as otherwise it would probably have sounded like a game played behind closed doors. The Watford support was indeed shocking, I think we heard one shout of 'yellows' the whole game. Not quite sure why the Watford Mascot chose to do it's Dad dancing in front of the away fans but fair play to him/her they even turned out to be the drummer, desperately trying to wake the home fans from their slumber. A battling performance with very few chances. The first half almost reminded me of the warm up before the match where they split into two teams and try to retain possession with no end product. Church ran and ran and ran and, well ran not much more I can say. Hunt put a good shift in and was always involved. Tabb and Jem get the joint MOM from me, great engine room. Kebe?? If his brain worked as quick as his legs do he'd be some player, just makes too many wrong decisions. Absolute quality for the last 4 minutes which were spent at the corner flag in front of the Reading fans. Jem and Noel with the fancy footwork which must have been so infuriating for the Watford players. Not a classic, it was never likely to be, but three points just about deserved.
leicsroyal

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QUOTES FROM THE PRESS

Substitute Adam Le Fondre scored late on as Reading came from behind to overcome a battling Watford. The comeback ensured Shaun Cummings' blushes were spared after he turned into his own goal in the 29th minute to put the hosts in front. Jimmy Kebe struck back for Reading just before the break when he headed in Hal Robson-Kanu's cross from close range. Then, with five minutes remaining, Le Fondre found the bottom corner to seal the win with a clever finish.

With seven of the last 11 games between these sides ending level this was expected to be a tight affair, despite high-flying Reading being in fine form with six wins in eight league outings before this match. And Watford proved not to be fearful of Reading's lofty position as they took the lead midway through the first half, albeit with a slice of luck, when Cummings put the ball past his own keeper after failing to deal with Troy Deeney's cross. As the hosts pushed for an equaliser as half-time approached, Reading struck on the counter-attack, with Robson-Kanu bursting down the left wing before crossing for Kebe to head in his second of the season. Deeney wasted a couple of half chances after the break for the hosts but nobody really looked like grabbing a winner until Le Fondre replaced Simon Church in the 83rd minute. Then, just two minutes later, Ian Harte's corner fell to the striker with his back to goal and he instinctively flicked the ball with the outside of his boot past Scott Loach to grab a dramatic winner.

BBC Sport