Match Report: 2009/2010 Season

24 March 2010: CHAMPIONSHIP
LEICESTER CITY 1 READING 2
goals
Reading: Kebe (16 mins), Sigurdsson (pen, 90 mins).
Leicester: Waghorn (40 mins).
Half Time: 1-1
Attendance: 20,108

CHAMPIONSHIP 24 Mar 2010
Pos Team P Pts GD
10 Doncaster 39 52 +3
11 READING 37 51 -2
12 Coventry 39 51 -8
teams
Reading: Federici, Mills, Griffin, Bertrand, Khizanishvili, McAnuff, Tabb (Gunnarsson, 61), Howard (Church, 64), Kebe, Sigurdsson, Long (Rasiak, 75). Subs not used: Hamer, Pearce, Karacan, Robson-Kanu.
Leicester: Weale, Hobbs, Morrison, McGivern, Andy King, Dyer, Solano, Oakley (Spearing, 71), Wellens, Gallagher (N'Guessan, 74), Waghorn Subs not used: Brown, Logan, Howard, Adams, Kermorgant.
bookings
Reading: Griffin, Howard.
Leicester: Dyer, Solano, Waghorn.
Ref: Dave Foster (Newcastle)
report
-
FANS' POST MATCH OPINION

I think we perhaps shaded it. We look like we wanted the win more in the latter stages. Kebe was unplayable tonight, even when they doubled up on him. Thought he messed up the first goal, but in the end took it well. Shame he couldn't of finished off his second chance in the first half or put in a better ball in the second half. Sigurdsson was a bit quiet, but when in matters he steps up. The penalty and the control and pass for the first goal was sublime. Mills and Zurab ate every long ball that came there way, why they playing that much long ball I don't know. Griffin was given a tough time by Dyer and his slip? proved costly for the first goal. Feds save at the end of the first half must be one of the best this season. MOTM - Kebe, Mills was up there though. From what I saw the challenge on Tabb was malicious and came after it got very heated. Although, it was quite far away, so can't be 100% on that. I hope he isn't too bad. You cannot beat last minute winners away from home.
savage 4 england

Highly entertaining game. When we went forward, we looked dangerous, the same when they attacked. Great advert for the league. Kebe's pace scared the crap out of their albino left back, but generally handled him quite well. We scored. It was Kebe. Great through ball from either Howard or Sig (Was scratching my balls at the time)... Kebe looked certain to score first time, a mass groan from the 500 or so away fans as he seemed to take it too far, but somehow slotted it away. Que mass celebrations... They scored. Tabby ended up on his arse, ball ended up with Dyer (The filthy little rascal) Ball to the back post, to the head of the unmarked Waghorn. Great header, but had far too much time and space. Second half... All action.... Shots left right and centre. Then... The ref, (Who was generally inconsistent and petty) added confusion to the mix. Dyer and Super Griff had a share of each others handbags, exchanging them at will. It looked to me like Griff made the 'first move' so to speak, which is why it didn't suprise me that much when Mr Re, brandished, what looked like to 50% of the crowd, a red card. Mass derision from the ranks as Dyer only got a yellow. Thing is, Griff didn't walk. GOd know's what happened, but it appears something went wrong. Anyway, 20 seconds later, Tabby got taken out in an incident so off the ball, no one I spoke to knew what happened. (Hope the little pinball is alright!) 90 Minutes... 4 Minutes injury time. We've all settled for a draw. Ball falls to the impressive Church, races through on goal, gets clipped by a late slider, and Mr Inconsistent points to the spot. Delirium ensues. Heads in hands, eye behind hands. The Sig, steps up and calmly slots it in the corner. The Sig, The Sig, THE SIG IS ON FIIIIRRRREEEEEE Badger Finger

Got an opinion? E-Mail us at opinion@royals.org
Appropriate submissions will appear on match report pages
QUOTES FROM THE PRESS

Gylfi Sigurdsson converted an injury-time penalty as resurgent Reading earned a dramatic win at Championship play-off hopefuls Leicester. Nolberto Solano conceded the crucial spot-kick with a foul on Simon Church, allowing Sigurdsson to earn the Royals a ninth win in their last 11 matches. Jimmy Kebe had earlier put the visitors ahead, collecting Sigurdsson's pass and rounding the keeper before slotting in. Martyn Waghorn slammed in Leicester's leveller, but they could not hold on. Defeat means Leicester missed the chance to move 10 points clear of seventh-placed Blackpool - though they remain in fourth spot and still firmly in contention for a play-off place. Reading, meanwhile, continue to make a remarkable push towards the play-off positions having been down in 23rd spot just over two months ago.

Reading boss Brian McDermott:
"We are not even thinking about reaching the play-offs at all. To even discuss the play-offs when we were four points adrift in January is testament to how far we have come as a group over the last two months. It has been a great run but we are not finished yet."

BBC Sport

Reading remain on course for a play-off charge that was unthinkable a few weeks ago thanks to Gylfi Sigurdsson’s penalty winner at Leicester. The Icelander kept his cool in stoppage time to seal Reading’s ninth win in their last 11 Championship games. Just two months ago the Royals were rock bottom and staring League One football in the face. Now they are just eight points shy of the play-off places and in the hottest form since they clinched promotion to the Premier League in 2006.
Mirror