MATCH REPORT: 2005/2006 Season

22 November 2005: LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
IPSWICH TOWN 0 READING 3
goals
Reading: Sidwell (29 mins), Lita (53 mins), Doyle (77 mins).
Ipswich Town: -
Half Time: 1-0
Attendance: 22,621

CHAMPIONSHIP 22 Nov 2005
Pos Team P Pts GD
1 READING 20 47 +25
2 Sheff Utd 20 46 +23
3 Watford 20 36 +11
teams
Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little (Oster 78), Harper, Convey (Hunt 78), Sidwell, Lita, Doyle. Subs Not Used: Stack, Makin, Obinna.
Ipswich Town: Price, Sito, De Vos, Naylor, McEveley, Williams, Juan (Westlake 60), Horlock (Wilnis 34), Richards, Currie, Parkin (Forster 18). Subs Not Used: Supple, Magilton.
bookings
Reading: -
Ipswich Town: -
Referee: P Melin (Surrey).
report

Reading went top of the Championship table with another stunning away victory this evening. Ipswich Town were Reading's latest victims as the Royals clocked up their 22nd game without defeat and their fourth straight league win. Sheffield United could only draw and saw Reading overhaul them at the summit and go a point clear. Watford could also only draw as the Royals moved eleven points clear in the automatic promotion positions. Reading have let in just three goals away from home this season and there was never any chance of Ipswich putting a dent in that record. The only likely winners were to be Reading who seem simply unstoppable. With an unchanged side, Reading took the game to the home side from the off, forcing a series of early corners. Lita had an early effort ruled out for offside, but Reading were ahead on the half hour mark when Convey worked hard to cross. Doyle's effort was blocked but Sidwell buried it to make it 1-0. Ipswich struggled to get a shot in on Hahnemann's goal in the first half, whiled Lita got in another decent effort before the break. The victory was wrapped up in the second half when Doyle cut back for Lita to score from close range. Doyle himself sealed the clear victory after Lita set him up from a Sonko corner. Another team performance as Reading emerge as clear promotion favourites.

FANS' POST MATCH OPINION

What a performance! I don't get to many games these days but do try and get to a new ground every year. What a game to choose this year! I was worried at HT as we had been so dominant but were only one up. Little's great run in the first half. Siddy apparently out of form but dominating midfield. Harper so much better than last year, Murty and Shorey steady, Marcus redundant, Sonko is Superman and the front two just looked fantastic. Lita is languid, again didn't look match fit but what a fantastic finish and he grew in confidence. Kevin Doyle looks a real bargain. He never gives up a chase and never stops running. Is this the best Reading team I've seen? Based on one match it's hard to tell but I've got a ticket for Arsenal and Brighton so I should know in a couple of weeks. Like many older supporters, I'm a hardened cynic who has seen us blow up so many times but this just could be our year at last. U Rrrrrrrrrrrrrs
Worzel, West Sussex Biscuit

So superior were Reading last night that Ipswich were lucky it was only three. Although the Blues never lacked effort they were way short of the quality that oozed from the Royals, who went top of the table and it is easy to see why. They had movement, guile, style, athleticism and finishing ability, something Ipswich were sadly lacking.
The East Anglian Times

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