MATCH REPORT: 2004/2005 Season
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22 February 2005: LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
CREWE ALEXANDRA 1 READING 1
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goals
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Reading: Kitson (70 mins). Crewe: Varney (12 mins). |
Half Time: 1-0 Attendance: 5,703
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teams
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Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hughes, Sidwell, Harper (Little, 66 mins), Brooker, Kitson, Owusu
Subs: Convey, Morgan, Newman, Young.
Crewe: Ince, McCready, Foster, Murdock, Tonkin, Lunt, Sorvel, Bell, Vaughan, Varney, White (Higdon, 73 mins). Subs: Walker, Jones, Williams, Rivers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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bookings
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Reading: Crewe: Tonkin (80 mins). Referee: G Laws. |
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report
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Dave Kitson, playing just his second game after returning from injury, grabbed a vital goal with twenty minutes left to play to grab a point for Reading at Crewe this evening. Although the 1-1 draw means Reading have now gone nine league games without a win, it could have been worse. Crewe looked set to end their own poor run after taking the lead after twelve minutes when Ingimarsson failed to clear a cross and the ball was stuck home from inside the Reading area. There seemed no way back for Reading when the second half got underway with another poor showing from both sides. With Forster missing, through a reported injury that's rumoured to be something else, Owusu partnered Kitson but there were few chances created with another poor Reading midfield showing. The unimpressive Harper was eventually replaced just after the hour by Glen Little who looked a much better prospect. With twenty minutes to go Murty hoofed the ball up field and the Crewe keeper came charging out to gift Kitson with the equaliser. Reading looked more likely to take the win with a good period as the game drew to a close - but we haven't scored more than a single goal in a game since Boxing Day and it wasn't to be. Kitson could have broken that run when he went close from a Little cross and Brooker put one over in injury time but the draw was the fair result. |
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FANS' POST MATCH OPINION
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Even after our disappointing defeat to Coventry on Saturday, and our draw at Crewe,
I still believe we can achieve a play-off place. Obviously at the moment, the players aren't plying at their best, but lets not forget that this team is more than less the same group of players that got us to the top of the league (our highest position in our history) back in September. Perhaps Coppell should remind the players of this fact. Of course our defeat against Coventry was a setback, but even the best teams lose to teams near the bottom. Last Season, all three teams promoted to the premiership lost games to teams who got relegated to League One. Both Norwich and Crystal Place lost to Bradford, and West Brom lost to Wimbledon. Every team goes through a bad run and loses matches that on paper, they shouldn't have. So instead of having a go at the players and management, lets back the boys in our quest for promotion.
Frankly unless we quickly loan or buy some talent who like Dave Kitson does look like scoring goals, very soon this season will be an embarrassment! It will simply not do to say look how far we have gone and a few seasons ago we would have dreamed of this position.The truth of the matter is that a good well managed squad firmly settled in playoffs position should have cosolidated and injected young talent at an affordable cost. It is inexcuseable to buy spent players from latter days and pay them a fat salary for their name to be linked with us:no thank you! I don't know if Mr Coppell reads this site but he should and see how us loyal supporters are thinking; and incidently it is not made up of kids of 13 to 15. I have supported the Royals for over 50 years. How about taking a look at Phil Jeavons of Yeovil if they would sell him? I still have his original Everton shirt at home!
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