MATCH REPORT: 2006/2007 Season
19 August 2006: FA PREMIER LEAGUE
READING 3 MIDDLESBROUGH 2
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goals
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Reading: Kitson (43 mins), Sidwell (44 mins), Lita (55 mins).
Middlesbrough: Downing (11 mins), Yakubu (21 mins). |
Half Time: 2-2 Attendance: 23,855
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teams
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Reading:
Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Sidwell, Harper, Convey (Hunt 83), Ki-Hyeon (Gunnarsson 83), Doyle, Kitson (Lita 45).
Subs Not Used: Stack, Oster.
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Pogatetz, Riggott, Arca (Davies 45), Morrison (Johnson 84), Rochemback (Mendieta 68), Boateng, Downing, Viduka, Yakubu. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Maccarone. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
bookings
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Reading: Sidwell.
Middlesbrough: Riggott, Rochemback, Boateng. Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire). |
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report
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The Royals staged a Premier class comeback to come from two goals behind to win their first ever top tier fixture in stunning fashion. Reading's Premier League debut was worth the very long wait as the Royals defeated Middlesbrough 3-2 in a thoroughly absorbing game. In front of a full house, and plenty of media attention, Reading initially made a very nervous start. Despite fielding the same side that wrapped up the Championship title at the end of last season - with the only exception being Soel Ki-Hyeon in for the injured Glen Little - we struggled to get going. Soel was to have a first class debut throughout, but the nerves were clearly on show across the rest of the side. Sonko, Sidwell, Shorey and Murty all went on to have excellent games but were all guilty of gifting possession.
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FANS' POST MATCH OPINION
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Unbebloodylievable!! Where is this amazing ride going to stop? Well most of us thought after the first twenty minutes today. Like rabbits caught in the headlights Reading simply froze - and crash bang wallop. After dreadful marking for the first Boro goal then poor keeping by Marcus for the second, at 2-0 down mumblings of game over and taunting from the Boro fans brought us all crashing down to earth with a big bump. But, oh but, just like the fireworks before the game Reading after half an hour suddenly sprung into life with a big bang, and just like they'd had a huge injection of belief and confidence suddenly started playing. Caution to the wind, nothing to lose, whatever, suddenly Boro were on the back foot and Reading started playing. 2-2 at half time was a dream and the second half we got even better, and better and better!
What a result! What an occasion! What an atmosphere! It was a game which started as we might all have secretly feared. We were tentative, nervous and hopelessly outclassed. we finished like the champions from last year, but even better.
Middlesborough looked a class outfit as they passed the ball around with a technical proficiency that we could not match. We were almost in awe of them. Our play was typified by Shorey's first touch which sent the ball straight into touch. We gave Downing too much space and he converted with clinical efficiency. A free kick was given away by Harper and Marcus failed to hold onto a hard shot and we were two down. Then it changed. The moment that signalled that change was Shorey taking them on. He suddenly realised that he could do to Middlesborough what he has always done and from that moment we believed. The team was transformed. Two quick goals came at the perfect time as Kitson bundled one in and Sidwell converted Ivar's cross. Half time came too soon for us and Doyle was within inches of giving us the lead.
We wondered how we would react but the second half started as the first had finished. Lita was on for Kitson and he too managed a scrambled effort. Inevitably we sat back a bit. There was a mix up between Sonks and Marcus, Viduka's goal was disallowed for offside but we hung on. The match facts showed that we had more possession, more shots etc. but they do not tell you about the tension. This was calssic sporting drama of the highest order for us fans. It was a huge team effort to which everyone contributed. No stars - all brilliant.
And so - the fairytale continues but get even better and better. This was a superb start to the season, not only for the unbelievable comeback and the final, very well deserved, result - but just as importantly for the lessons that I'm sure will be learnt from the painful first 20 minutes. To have the chance to see what can happen when we don't play to our full potential - but then the time to turn it around and see what we can do when we do ...
couldn't have been scripted better.
Saturday night - and Reading are 4th in the Premiership!!
I went home on Saturday feeling like we'd won the Premiership! A day later, I still do. To see us headlining on Match Of The Day and looking every inch a premiership outfit (cough: save for the first twenty minutes) was something special. Let's be realistic, we're not going to be fourth all season, but if we carry on like this we're not going to be "Sunderland In Disguise" either. One word sums it all up: "belief". And "teamwork". (Sorry, that's two words: I still can't think straight after yesterday.) Just believe, and it won't be just Boro that are made to look ordinary this season....
Blimey, we'll all remember our 1st game in the Premiership. A jittery 25 mins where Boro dominated (or were allowed to dominate) but then we build some momentum and score two goals in 2 mins. We then score early in the 2nd half and defend for most of the remainder of the game. Special mention to Soel for a blinding debut and to the forwards. Sidwell and Harper gave Boro too much respect early on but then realised they could get stuck in. What a fantastic start to the season. More of the same on Wednesday please but without the lousy start!
I was very proud of the way the team came back for this important win. Hopefully lessons will be learnt from the mistakes made at
the back, things we can ill afford to do at this level and the players have now seen they will be punished. But after the nervy
opening period, the team began to believe in themselves and showed they can compete at this level. This was the first time I'd seen
Seol properly and he looks a good buy, skilful and tricky going forward. But he was at fault at times (most notably for their first
goal) in his defensive duties, although he improved vastly in that area as the game wore on. I have to say I'm very pleased to have
Sky to watch, as I found the BBC's 'coverage' on Match of the Day appauling. Gary and the two Alan's could barely get the names of
our players right and seemed more eager talking about Southgate's search for a new defender than our first performance in the top
flight. Strangely, the Arsenal game that followed ours got much more in depth analysis... Anyway, well done Reading! We showed in the
match that we're not going to be the whipping boys of this league and it was good to hear the 'Boro fans getting their
"are you Sunderland in disguise" and "that's why you're going down" chants returned with interest because of how well the team
performed. COME ON...
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