Match Report: 2011/2012 Season
29 October 2011: CHAMPIONSHIP
CRYSTAL PALACE 0 READING 0
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goals
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Reading: -
Crystal Palace: - |
Half Time: 0-0. Attendance: 21,002
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teams
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Reading: A Federici, K Gorkss, A Pearce, J Mills, S Cummings, J McAnuff, M Leigertwood, J Karacan, H Robson-Kanu (J Kebe, 72), A Le Fondre, S Church (N Hunt, 71).
Subs not used: A McCarthy, I Harte, M Manset. Crystal Palace: J Speroni, A Gardner, D Wright, P McCarthy, N Clyne, J Williams (J Parr, 81), D Moxey, S Scannell (D Ambrose, 77), M Jedinak, G Murray, W Zaha. Subs not used: L Price, J Easter, K Dikgacoi. |
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bookings
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Reading: Mills, McAnuff, Karacan, Robson-Kanu.
Crystal Palace: Zaha. Ref: A Woolmer. |
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report
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It is rare for Brian McDermott to make excuses or criticise referees, but judging by his post match comments today, Reading were, as I suspected, robbed of a deserved three points by an incorrect decision to disallow a goal scored by Gorkss in the final seconds of added time. There would have certainly not even been insufficient time for Palace to mount another attack had the goal been allowed to stand. From where I was standing it looked a perfectly good goal and a fitting climax to a superb performance by the Royals. Once again Reading outplayed a team in good form and considered to be serious promotion contenders.
Both teams are currently unbeaten for several games and were therefore understandably confident of their chances of winning. Reading attacked purposefully with crisp short passes and Palace were troubling the Reading back four with their willingness to run at defenders and take them on. Mills and Cummings in particular were under pressure in the early stages but as the game wore on they both coped well apart from a rash challenge by Mills which earned him a deserved yellow card. Robson-Kanu, having learned last week how important it is to maintain concentration provided excellent defensive support for Mills on the left side of Reading's defence. The clearer chances of the first half were created by Reading. Karacan drew the first save of the game from Speroni soon followed by another from a long range effort by Gorkss. Both attempts were well struck but straight at the 'keeper. Ten minutes from half time Speroni had to work much harder to keep out a thunderous effort form the edge of the box by Karacan. Palace managed to put the ball in the net before half time but it was long after the flag and whistle for offside. Reading dominated the second half. Leigertwood and Karacan were again in outstanding form, breaking up Palaces' attempts to work the ball through midfield and moving the ball around quickly and purposefully. Palace were on the back foot and chasing shadows for most of the second half. Reading had learned from their mistake last week and were retaining possession and creating openings from throw-ins. Karacan almost made room a for shot in the box but was closed down quickly. Robson-Kanu missed a sitter with a glancing header from a great cross from McAnuff. Cummings was getting forward and posing a real threat. On the hour he ran through the Palace defence into the box but was unable find the finish the run deserved and he shot straight at Speroni. The large and vociferous contingent of Reading fans sensed victory and roared their team on. Hunt and Kebe replaced Robson-Kanu and Church but if anything Reading seemed to lose a bit of momentum following the substitutions. Kebe looked sluggish but did produce a good deep cross for Le Fondre to head against the bar with Speroni beaten. As Palace rallied, chances came their way too as both teams went for the win. Karacan headed the ball off the line to keep out a goal bound effort and there were optimistic appeals for a penalty when Parr tumbled over Federici as the Reading 'keeper reached the ball first to push ball beyond his reach. Deep into added time Mills curled an excellent corner to the far post where Gorkss headed past Speroni. The referee rescued Palace by giving a free kick, as they often do under pressure, for what he thought he saw, rather than what he actually saw, and Reading had to settle for less than they deserved. However, not even a dodgy referee's decision could detract from another fine away performance as the Royals continue to improve. As I left the ground I overheard several Palace fans analysing their team's performance. ' We did didn't play well today' was the general consensus. How else could they justify being outplayed at home by a team in the bottom half of the division? On this form we might yet see the teams swapping places by the end of the season. John Wells |
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