I do not generally attribute the outcome of any game to luck, but today Stoke came away with point today as a direct result of an enormous slice of good fortune. It could be argued that Reading should have finished the game off when they on top during the first half, or that Stoke were threatening to score when they put the Royals under pressure during the final ten minutes, but Reading were in my opinion a better team throughout the game and deserved all three points.

Reading started brightly and as early as the 3rd minute Cutler fumbled a Hughes low cross, and with Cureton lurking, had to desperately scramble the ball away. Shortly after that Stoke produced their best chance of the game when a deep cross floated over Murty but Hahnemann saved the resulting close range header. In the 11th minute Rougier scored his long awaited goal. A slick move ended when Cureton let the ball run to Rougier who swept the ball low and hard into the bottom left hand corner of the net. It was such a well taken goal it makes you wonder why he doesn't do it more often.

The Reading formation which proved so effective last week at Wolves completely subdued Stoke and their fans for almost the entire first half. Newman's passing was a bit erratic but in partnership with Watson he provided a very solid barrier in midfield allowing Hughes to get forward to support Rougier and Cureton. Upson looked impressive at the back especially in the air. Rougier is back to the form he was in throughout January when he performed so effectively with Forster. Igoe and Shorey are good players who pass and move well, but the side looks much stronger since they have been replaced.

The City equaliser came ironically at a time when the Royals defence was looking as solid as I have seen it in recent years. Vandeurzen was given the credit for the goal although from where I was sitting it didn't even look like a scoring attempt. Either way the ball was heading for the corner flag until it struck Adie Williams and was deflected into the net with Hahnemannn left stranded going in the opposite direction. It was a complete fluke and not at all deserved by the visitors.

Reading set about their task with purpose in the second half and Hughes using his energy to break forward more frequently from midfield proved the main threat. I the 52nd minute he ran clear through the City midfield and defence and slipped the ball past the keeper only to see his effort cleared off the line. In the 71st minute he hit a superb volley just wide from just outside the box. He best chance came in the 67th minute but he blazed his shot over the bar. He should have hit the target or maybe even played the ball across goal. Alan Pardew said he couldn't understand how Hughes didn't score in this game. In that instance he simply needed to keep his head.

Gradually Stoke got back into the game. Hahmemann was forced to make a good diving save in the 72nd minute and the game became more open. Both sides went looking for the winner and neither team looked comfortable defensively. Stoke's intentions were made clear when they brought on a battering ram in the form of Iwelumo. Upson crucially won a superb defensive header against the huge striker almost as soon as he came on. Reading's substitutions didn't help their cause. Tyson looked a bit out of his depth and I did not feel it was the right situation to bring him on. Stoke pinned Reading back in their own half in the closing stages and in the end I was relieved that Reading did not concede a late goal.

This game was further evidence of how well the team is developing. This week Stoke have beaten Ipswich and drawn with Forest proving that they are good enough to compete with the best in this division. Reading dominated them for most of the game. I think the tactics and formation are right and Pardew is getting the best out of his squad. He was also absolutely right in pointing out that Salako produced some very good crosses. Perhaps in January Mr. Madejski will decide it is worth producing the money for a striker to convert crosses into goals.
Report by John Wells