MATCH REPORT: 2005/2006 Season

18 October 2005: LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
HULL CITY 1 READING 1
goals
Reading: Little (74 mins).
Hull City: Brown (56 mins).
Half Time: 0-0
Attendance: 17,698

CHAMPIONSHIP 18 Oct 2005
Pos Team P Pts GD
1 Sheff Utd 14 36 +18
2 READING 14 31 +16
3 Luton 14 27 +8
teams
Reading: Hahnemann, Makin, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little, Gunnarsson, Harper, Convey (Oster, 70 mins), Lita (Kitson, 70 mins), Doyle. Subs: Sidwell, Hunt, Oster, Kitson, Stack.
Hull City: Myhill, France, Cort, Delaney, Lynch, Green (Elliott, 76 mins), Woodhouse, Welsh, Ellison, Brown, Fagan (Burgess, 79 mins). Subs: Duke, Burgess, Elliott, Barmby, Joseph.
bookings
Reading: -
Hull City: Woodhouse.
Referee: G Laws.
report

Glen Little scored the vital goal to maintain Reading's unbeaten run as the Royals came from a goal behind at Hull City this evening. The resulting 1-1 draw was enough to stretch Reading's run without a defeat to 15 games - thirteen of those in the league. Luton Town and Sheffield United both scored four goals each in big victories as Luton moved to four points behind the Royals, and Sheffield United pulled five points clear at the top of the Championship. Reading got off to another good start before the home side eventually got into the game. The Royals had the better first half chances, with Lita having a good chance to put Reading ahead after coming off second best in a one-on-one with the Hull keeper. Doyle was lively again and fired just over the bar after being set up by Convey. Hahnemann was having little to do in the Reading goal, but City took the lead just before the hour mark. A corner was swung in and the resulting header hit the crossbar. Reading failed to clear the ball and after a scramble it was prodded in from close range. Little came to the rescue with the equaliser with just over fifteen minutes left to play, Nicky Shorey provided the cross and Little headed home the vital goal.

FANS' POST MATCH OPINION

Two points dropped but still a good away point. We battered Hull for 94 minutes but poor finishing from Lita resulted in us not taking a comfortable win . The lad needs dropping and Kitson should come in. Lita does not hold the ball up well and is too easily displaces off the ball. He's badly lacking in confidence and maybe a few goals in the reserves would do him good . Sonko and Gunny again had outstanding games and we were simply unlucky in not winning the game , but we have had the rub of the green recently in other games. Hull had one shot on target all night and scored . What a bummer . Big mention to the loyal travelling fans and good to see the players taking time to clap the fans after the game with genuine thanks. Happy days at the moment being a Reading fan, long may it last.
Nick Newbury

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