MATCH REPORT: 2005/2006 Season
16 October 2005: LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
READING 2 IPSWICH TOWN 0
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
goals
|
Reading: Naylor (18 mins, own goal), Doyle (47 mins).
Ipswich: - |
Half Time: 1-0 Attendance: 17,581
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
teams
|
Reading: Hahnemann, Makin, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little (Oster 72), Gunnarsson, Harper, Convey (Hunt 81), Lita, Doyle (Kitson 64).
Subs Not Used: Stack, Baradji.
Ipswich: Price, Sito, Wilnis, De Vos (Proudlock 45), Naylor, McEveley, Currie (Bowditch 83), Magilton, Horlock, Forster (Garvan 69), Parkin. Subs Not Used: Supple, Juan. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
bookings
|
Reading: -
Ipswich: De Vos, Naylor, Wilnis, McEveley, Bowditch. Referee: S Tanner (Somerset). |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
report
|
Despite the already amazing run, and despite the Sky TV cameras that usually manage to jinx the Royals, Reading carried on where they left off before the international break. Reading dominated this game and looked a class above Ipswich Town, who themselves were fancied for promotion before the season started. Describing this as a "comfortable" win doesn't go far enough to reveal Reading's superiority, and in all honesty the final score-line flattered the visitors who were lucky to escape without being humiliated. Reading kept up a determined whole team performance throughout the full ninety minutes and never eased off against an Ipswich side that simply couldn't cope with the pressure. We closed Ipswich down immediately - every time they got the ball - to ensure possession was nearly always with the Royals. Every player was willing to make that tackle, and then once we had hold of it Ipswich struggled to get it back. Reading were continually pushing forward to keep the game deep in the Ipswich half and the flowing passing game generated plenty of chances to put the game out of reach of Ipswich. We were excellent today.
|
FANS' POST MATCH OPINION
|
Very good, very very good. After the recent run of games where it was all hands to the pumps and defend like you lives depended on it, Reading strolled to an easy victory today against a very poor Ipswich side who will be probably happy they escaped with a 2-0 defeat and not four or five, it was that easy. No sooner had the players recovered from seven games in twenty one days when along comes three games in six days, and this was a vital win with yet again what looks like a tricky week with two away games. If we do get four points from Hull and Stoke, then we really do have to start believing and thinking this is our year, in saying that I'd probably settle for two away draws and two points but the way we are playing I think we can win both games. This Reading team really is starting to look the business and full credit must go to Coppell, the backroom staff and of course the players. Sonko typifies the current spirit, the man is quickly becoming a cult hero and his header off the line towards the end capped another great performance. Gunnarsson, what a player! The man has done so well since coming in for Sidwell who surely must be patient before he returns to the first team, no way can Gunny be dropped the way he is playing. Little and Convey also grow in confidence each game and Lita though still going down too easily maybe just needs a goal, I thought his workrate was much better today and he deserves credit, but the star striker is young Doyle. What a bloody find, what a bargain, this lad could go all the way and will prove instrumental in our destiny this season. It really is happy days at the moment, enjoy it while it lasts, we have to lose soon but let's hope it's not for a while yet. Keep going lads, keep playing as we are and keep believing. You never know! UUUURZZZZZZZZ
Six years ago to the day, I sat at the Madejski along with 7,700 others as we lost 2-0 at home to Wigan and slumped to 21st place in what is now League One. After coming down the previous season we looked to be heading the same way again. One more relegation after that and we'd be in the Conference.
A promising young signing by the name of one N Forster was taken off injured midway through the game. Would we ever score again? Having spent the previous decade standing on cold terraces watching Sir Trevor Senior pitted against the likes of Bury, Oldham and Lincoln, I had to ask myself whether this was really any better.
Towards the back end of that season, Fozzy came back. At the same time along came someone called Butler. And a bit later, someone called Cureton. Things seemed to be getting a bit better but surely it would the same old up-and-down for evermore. Massive potential, utterly unfulfilled.
For 16 October 1999 read 16 October 2005. Wigan are fourth in the Premiership and the only team to have got anywhere near nicking a point off Chelsea. Nobody needs reminding how many Big Clubs are looking enviously up at Reading. The table never lies, they say, and nor do performances like this. Perhaps this season might be the one. Maybe, just maybe, dreams sometimes do come true...
A good all round performance against a fairly poor Ipswich side got RFC a deserved win.
We played some very good stuff at times and probably, with a bit more luck/better finishing could have had more
than the two we got. Individuals who deserve special praise I reckon were Sonko (solid in defence and got Marcus
out of jail with his goal line clearance), Gunnarson (such a rock in midfield, Sidwell will struggle to displace
him on current form), Little (been very good & consistent since the off) & Doyle (so hard working, direct &
fully deserved his goal), but everyone did well & played their part in a good team showing. All I have say
about our returning 'star' is "Same old Forster, always off-side". Bit harsh Forster disciples?
Perhaps no-one could've profited from the lack of service he had today, but if you looked at the strikers we had
(young, fresh, hungry) and Forster, even he must have seen he truly now is a force who has had his day.
Graeme Murty reminded us in a recent Programme that the team were capable of a lot more and on Sunday this was demonstrated to the fullest. I was delighted to see an air of confidence throughout the entire squad and what's more we have strength on the bench, let alone the anticipation of the return of Sidwell and Murty who both will have to work to regain places. For me Doyle was a real star and Steve Coppell was right to praise him above all. It was good to see Leroy Lita working harder and for once staying more on his feet than usual. There is a lot more to come from this lad and all he needs is a little more service in front of goal.
The real test will come with the onbirth of the winter months and to continue to grind out away results, but as John Salako quite rightly retorted to the question on Sky to the effect that there was no reason why Reading cannot maintain their excellent start. For me we are now becoming a different class with confidence growing each week.
Keep it up lads.
|
Got an opinion? E-Mail us at opinion@royals.org
Appropriate submissions will appear on match report pages |