MATCH REPORT: 2007/2008 Season
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29 December 2007: FA PREMIER LEAGUE
TOTTENHAM 6 READING 4
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goals
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Reading: Cisse (16 mins), Ingimarsson (53 mins), Kitson (69 mins, 74 mins).
Tottenham: Berbatov (7 mins, 63 mins, 73 mins, 83 mins), Malbranque (76 mins), Defoe (79 mins). |
Half Time: 1-1 Attendance: 36,178
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teams
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Reading:
Hahnemann, Murty (De la Cruz 71), Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt, Cisse, Harper, Convey (Long 84), Doyle, Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Federici, Lita, Bikey.
Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Kaboul, King (Defoe 61), Lee, Lennon (Boateng 67), Jenas, Huddlestone, Malbranque, Berbatov, Keane (Tainio 80). Subs Not Used: Cerny, Taarabt. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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bookings
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Reading: Cisse, Shorey, Long.
Tottenham: - Ref: Keith Stroud (Hampshire). |
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report
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Reading again scored four away from home and again came away with nothing in an amazing game of ten goals at White Hart Lane. This time Reading will feel disappointed at failing to come away with something after leading Spurs three times - including being 4-3 up with just fifteen minutes left to play. The Royals played some excellent attacking football in a pulsating game, but defensive errors against a striker in amazing form saw Berbatov hit four and ensure Reading left empty handed. It might have worked out differently after Reading went 2-1 up in the second half and had chances to extend their lead. Perhaps if we had added another to move further ahead we would have been looking at our first away victory of the season, but instead the game ended very differently indeed as the ball continued to hit the net with amazing regularity.
After Gunnarsson's red card on Boxing day Cisse found himself in the side for a rare start but otherwise the Royals were unchanged from our recent run that had seen us clock up five Premiership games unbeaten. Reading quickly found themselves behind when Berbatov scored after just seven minutes with a simple close range goal. The Royals pulled level with their first meaningful attack of the game. Nicky Shorey, who was to create plenty of chances througout the game, saw his free kick punched out by Robinson in the Spurs goal. The ball came out to Cisse who drove it in through a crowded area to make it 1-1. After the break Reading moved ahead after earning a corner. Shorey's delivery found Ingimarsson whose header beat Robinson. At this point Reading perhaps should have put the game out of Spurs' reach. Kitson was twice played in and was twice narrowly thwarted by the Spurs keeper. Bobby Convey did well to provide a near perfect ball into the area for Kitson to run on goal, but Robinson dived at Kitson's feet as he was about to shoot. Reading's first half equaliser may have been against the run of play but Spurs' equaliser was perhaps even more so as they pulled level just as Reading looked like they would go on to win. Murty's clearance found Berbatov rather than space and the Spurs striker buried it into the roof of the net to make it 2-2. It set up a frantic period of play with both sides steaming forward and looking for goals. Shorey provided his third assist of the afternoon from a corner with Kitson rising at the near post to direct a header into the far side of the net to make it 3-2. The lead was again short lived as Berbatov found plenty of room to complete his hat-trick. Hunt was the next to turn provider with a great ball through to Kitson. This time Kitson got the better of Robinson, cooly chipping the ball over him as the keeper came out to put Reading back ahead again at 4-3. Once again the lead was short lived as it became 4-4. There was still plenty of time for more drama and for Spurs to nick the three points. Sonko conceeded a penalty only for Spurs to see Hahnemann make a good save as he got down quickly. However Defoe, who was nearly level with the penalty taker when the ball was struck found himself illegally in the area with plenty of time to tuck home the rebound. It should have been retaken - but would Marcus have been able to make a second save? With time running short and Reading clearly knackered Spurs wrapped up the win with Berbatov's fourth goal which made the scoreline harsh on Reading. |
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