MATCH REPORT: 2004/2005 Season
26 February 2005: LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
READING 0 LEICESTER CITY 0
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goals
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Reading: Leicester: . |
Half Time: 0-0 Attendance: 14,651
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teams
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Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Newman, Brooker (Little 71), Hughes, Sidwell, Kitson, Owusu (Ferdinand 61).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Morgan, Young.
Leicester: Walker, Tiatto (Nalis 70), Dabizas, Dublin (Heath 77), Stewart, Gillespie, Williams (Hughes 69), Stearman, Gudjonsson, de Vries, Connolly. Subs Not Used: Canero, Hirschfeld. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
bookings
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Reading: Shorey. Leicester: Connolly, Stearman, Gudjonsson. Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire). |
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report
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Reading's barren spell continued today with a dull goalless draw. It was another frustrating afternoon for the home fans as they saw the Royals struggle to create any clear cut chances against a mediocre City. Coppell was obviously desperate to shake things up by dropping Harper and Little.
Unfortunately their replacements had poor games. Newman's passing was unusually poor and Brooker scurried around on the left without really providing a threat. It was a scrappy game which stuttered along disrupted by petty fouls, poor passing, and bad refereeing from Mr Rennnie. The ball spent a lot of time in the air.
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FANS' POST MATCH OPINION
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Entertainment - this was not. What we saw did represent an improvement on last week's desperate and embarrassing performance against Coventry. The first half was completely forgettable. Neither side were able to create and our midfield sat too deep and therefore were totally unable to offer any support to the front two, who did OK.
The second half was better and I thought that we were the better side but the current problem of not being able to score continues to plague us. One disallowed for offside and a disappointing strike from Kitson were the best efforts but we did not create enough. Like many I still wonder about Brooker and we looked more positive when Little came on. In terms of the defence - well I don't think Marcus had a meaningful shot to save.
The really disappointing point about our run is that this may well prove to be one of the easier seasons to get out of this league and for a large part of the season we have looked very capable of doing that. We just to to scramble a win and then it should statrt again. I though there were at least some encouraging signs today. Have we ever had a stronger bench than today?
When the biggest moment and most exciting cheer of the game came when Sonko attempted to boot the ball out of the stadium, we know things are bad.
Maybe it's contagious with Reading being so boring at present, but I can't think of anything to say really about the game or the players.
Support the lads through thick and thin and all that stuff comes to mind, but by golly it pushes us so called loyal Royals to the limit. Director of
football Mr Hammond is doing a good job isn't he?? Horrible
feeling it's going to get worse before it gets better.
Ken C is absolutely right - one of the easiest seasons to get out and what are we doing - very little.
Strangely even now, a decent run could see us way up the league but I can't see it happening.
This brings me to talking the talk - let's manage expectations here - if what we really mean is that
we're a small town club making decent progress but let's get real about the premiership i.e. we don't really
want it - then let's say so and be happy with what we've got.
If we do mean it, then we need some magic on the pitch - can anyone see a creative player who'll make a real difference?
As for Brooker, he is good on the ball and can deliver a decent cross. However, he reminds me of kids football
when they're scared of a tackle, he always seems to run the wrong way...on purpose! Time to have a word with him,
do you want to earn your money or find a different job - quickly! Final point - Marcus throwing it to the full backs
and building from there - the opposition are closing it down and the alternative is the hoof - whether marked or not,
let's shift it to the fullbacks quickly and have a go - it's better than the hoof!
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