MATCH REPORT: 2008/2009 Season
|
22 November 2008: LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
READING 1 SOUTHAMPTON 2
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
goals
|
Reading: Kebe (57 mins).
Southampton: Wright-Phillips (14 mins, 49 mins). |
Half Time: 0-1 Attendance: 23,121
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
teams
|
Reading:
Hahnemann, Rosenior, Bikey, Ingimarsson, Armstrong, Kebe, Harper (Gunnarsson 83), Cisse (Matejovsky 55), Stephen Hunt, Doyle, Noel Hunt (Long 61).
Subs Not Used: Henry, Andersen.
Southampton: Davis, James, Perry, Cork, Skacel, Lallana, Schneiderlin, McGoldrick, Surman, Wright-Phillips, Robertson (Paterson 74). Subs Not Used: Wotton, Mills, Bialkowski, Gasmi. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
bookings
|
Reading: Matejovsky.
Southampton: Surman. Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire). |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
report
|
This was a result and a performance which made complete nonsense of the league table as a struggling Southampton side completely outplayed Reading in the first half and only the good goalkeeping of Marcus Hahnemnann restricted the score to one. Steve Coppell was puzzled by his team's poor display but it was an enterprising performance by a young Southampton side who seem to perform better away from home. For forty-five minutes they gave Reading a lesson in passing. Not only were they superior in possession but they also closed Reading down quickly all over the pitch, and tactically had the upper hand. It is difficult to calculate how much Reading contributed to their own downfall, but they were guilty of some very sloppy play at the back. Armstrong and Rosenior were fully occupied as the Saints pressed forward at every opportunity, and opportunities were frequent as Reading squandered possession repeatedly. There were no new weaknesses revealed in the Reading squad today, they simply all came to the surface at the same time. Steven Hunt set the tone conceding possession four times out of five in the opening five minutes. In spite of a slightly better performance in the second half Reading were unable to overcome their well disciplined and skilful opponents.
The one minute of applause in celebration of the tragically brief life of Stewart McEwan before kick off was conducted with equal respect by both sets of fans. It was an appropriately moving tribute which seemed to leave the home crowd somewhat subdued. Southampton were anything but subdued as a lively opening saw the first chance fall to Kevin Doyle who had his shot well saved by Davis. The Saints created a several chances before Wright-Phillips headed in a Lloyd James cross. It was a well taken goal but I felt either Hahnemann should have claimed the cross or Rosenior should have at least made it more difficult for him to direct his header into the net. Reading's defence was looking very shaky with Bikey over elaborating and getting into all kinds of trouble. Rosenior constantly found himself isolated as Saints stroked the ball around with ease. Hahnemann was at full stretch to tip a Lallana header past the post for a corner just before half time. Cisse battled away in midfield but Southampton were comfortable on the ball and dominant in midfield. It was a poor half from Reading but I was appalled to hear sections of the home crowd booing their own team off at half time. Reading were more focussed at the start of the second half but were dealt a severe blow by Wright-Phillips in the forty-ninth minute. It was a good strike but an opportunity invited by pedestrian defending on the edge of the box by Rosenior who did not close him down, made a half-hearted attempt to send him wide onto his left foot, and then let him step inside and drill the ball past Hahnemann. It was only when Matejovsky was introduced ten minutes into the half that it became apparent that the real issue was a lack of quality in the play of his team mates. Apart from giving the ball away with his first pass, his touch and range of passing stood out amongst the mediocrity around him. Three minutes after his arrival Reading pulled a goal back. Matejovsky started a move which ended with Doyle forcing a save from Davis. As the ball rolled away Kebe seized the opportunity to score his first goal for Reading smashing the ball home from an acute angle. For the first time in the game Saints were looking rattled. Eventually they steadied themselves and returned to their composed passing game which frustrated Reading who were unable to mount a period of sustained pressure. Southampton threatened to kill the game on the break but Reading continued to press for an equaliser. With a minute left Doyle rose to meet a Gunnarsson cross and headed powerfully just over the bar. It turned out to be Reading's last clear chance to salvage a point which, to be honest, they did not desrve. This season we have seen teams come to the Madejski and defend in numbers. Today the skill, confidence, and energy took Reading by surprise. Steve Coppell will never criticise individual players but the performances of Steven Hunt and Rosenior must be a concern for him. Hunt would do better if he restricted his more ambitious stuff to the attacking third of the pitch, and Rosenior needs to defend with a bit more determination and keep his head in possession. I would not be surprised to see either Harper or Cisse make way for Matejovsky on Tuesday, but would not expect to see any other changes, apart from a change of attitude! Southampton will, on this form, soon be moving up the table. As for Reading, having comfortably beaten or outplayed most of the teams in the top half of the table so far, will bounce back with some good results although I am not sure Ninian Park is the best place to do that. John Wells |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|