MATCH REPORT: 2008/2009 Season
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14 March 2009: LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
READING 0 IPSWICH TOWN 1
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goals
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Reading: -
Ipswich: Stead (47 mins). |
Half Time: 0-0 Attendance: 20,592
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teams
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Reading:
Hahnemann, Rosenior (Matejovsky 74), Pearce, Duberry, Armstrong, Little, Gunnarsson, Harper, Stephen Hunt (Kebe 64), Kitson, Long (Doyle 68).
Subs Not Used: Federici, Cisse.
Ipswich: Richard Wright, David Wright, McAuley, Balkestein, Thatcher, Miller, Norris, Quinn (Garvan 80), Civelli, Lisbie (Counago 90), Stead (Giovani 71). Subs Not Used: Supple, Campo. |
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bookings
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Reading: -
Ipswich: Thatcher, Garvan. Ref: Michael Oliver (Northumberland). |
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report
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Things went from bad to worse for Reading this afternoon as their appalling run of form at home continued. It was a worrying sign that so many puzzling changes were made for this game, and although Steve Coppell is not prone to panicking, he does now appear to be clutching at straws. The introduction of Kitson and Little this week should have given the squad lift but by the end of today's game morale looked to have plummeted to a new low. We now seem to have a squad of players low on confidence from being dropped and reshuffled. Nobody, including Steve Coppell seems to know what is the strongest starting line up or even who should be on the bench. Ipswich looked very ordinary but at least they were organised, and having weathered the initial surge of Reading attacks, won comfortably.
In the early stages of the game Glen Little was causing Town real problems with his direct play and tight control and it was his free kick that was headed onto the bar by Kitson after four minutes. Harper managed to get a shot on target after some neat passing and Long also forced a save when he turned and ran across the edge of the box. The visitors defence had to resort to some hefty challenges from behind to discourage both Long and KItson. For twenty minutes it looked as if Reading had rediscovered their form. It was a false impression. As the half time approached Ipswich gradually established a foothold in the game and by half time the home fans had gone very quiet indeed. There was nothing for them to cheer about. The gloom descended immediately after half time when once again Duberry failed to deal with a ball to the far post. Stead, who he should of been marking was able to score with a spectacular overhead kick which gave Hahnemann, who had no right to be on the field, no chance. Coppell claimed the change of 'keeper was to enable the team to benefit from his experience at a tense time of the season. I think with hindsight it might have been better to keep someone who can catch crosses. The big American did pull of one outstanding save from Lisbie's header but he looked shaky on crosses and his distribution is nowhere near as good as Federici's. Ipswich should have made it two immediately after their goal when they wasted a three on one advantage as Reading's defence degenerated into a complete shambles. Little continued to show an appetite for the game but ended up coming inside to compensate for a lack of authority in the centre of midfield which meant the attack was lacking in width. Stephen Hunt and Rosenior were replaced by Matejovsky and Kebe. Even a tired Gunnarsson at right back looked better than Rosenior who concedes possession far too often and far too easily. (He sliced the ball into touch at least twice when under no pressure at all.) Hunt has always had a tendency to give the ball away but has now even lost the spark that used to unsettle defences. Reading might have equalised with a header from Duberry which was hooked off the line with the 'keeper beaten but apart from that Wright didn't have a save to make in the second half. Long was replaced by Doyle after he too had begun to look very poor as his touch deserted him and confidence ebbed away. Kitson was far from impressive. He hardly won a ball in the air and spent a lot time complaining about the treatment he was receiving from the Ipswich back four who contained him with ease. Kebe came on and was asked to play on the left where he looked out of place. By the end even Matejovsky had begun to misplace simple passes. In his post match interview Steve Coppell admitted he 'didn't have a clue' what his next team will be. I think that has been the problem since Christmas because nobody has shown any consistency over that period. When he does decide I hope he sticks with it for the next ten games because the constant chopping and changing is not working either. The team is crying out for Bikey's return to give the team some authority at the back. Cisse's strength will be needed in midfield and Doyle and Noel Hunt are the liveliest pairing up front. Tabb and Little out wide would ensure more possession and a few decent crosses. Armstrong and Pearce are solid enough, but I would certainly hope to see Federici return. Stephen Hunt and Long can make a real difference when they come on for last fifteen or twenty minutes but are not worth a place in the starting eleven. As for motivation, a glance at the league table should be enough. A few wins and we could be in the Premiership. John Wells |
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