Match Report: 2010/2011 Season

30 April 2011: CHAMPIONSHIP
COVENTRY CITY 0 READING 0
goals
Reading: -
Coventry: -
Half Time: 0-0.

Attendance: 22,436

CHAMPIONSHIP 30 Apr 2011
Pos Team P Pts GD
4 Swansea 45 77 +23
5 READING 45 74 +25
6 Nottm F 45 72 +16
teams
Reading: A. Federici, M. Mills, I. Harte, A. Griffin, Z. Khizanishvili, J. McAnuff, M. Leigertwood, J. Karacan, M. Antonio (B. Howard, 61), N. Hunt (H. Robson-Kanu, 77), S. Long. Subs not used: J. Tabb, M. Manset, A. McCarthy, A. Pearce, S. Church.
Coventry: M. Quirke, R. Keogh, M. Cranie (R. Wood, 85), J. Clarke, C. Hussey, D. Bell, S. Clingan, C. Baker, A. Gunnarsson, M. King, L. Jutkiewicz (C. Platt, 89). Subs not used: F. Eastwood, L. Burge, M. McIndoe, S. O'Halloran, G. Deegan.
bookings
Reading: Mills.
Coventry: Clingan, Gunnarsson.
Ref: James Linington.
report
-
FANS' POST MATCH OPINION

The best part of all that was when the players came out at the start-cue a mass of inflatables in the air. Said crocodiles, beach balls and Mr Blobbys were then thrown down towards the pitch with the stewards collecting them with smiles on their faces. Good to see. As for the game. Job done. Point gained.However we didn't get out of first gear. Feds clearly our MoTM but he didn't have much competition. We lacked energy, conviction and creativity. Quite why Noel Hunt remains in the side is a mystery. He offers so little. Apart from one decent header on he was anonymous and barely made any attempt to close down the opposition. Antonio struggled and boy we must hope Kebe is fit for the play-offs. Assuming he is then I would bring Howard in for Hunt and play 5 across midfield. Its also time to play Pearce ahead of Mills. We are living off borrowed time at the back and one of these days a decent side will make us pay. It said much about the game when the home fans started doing the Mexican Wave in the second-half. Despite the above we have made the play-offs and reached the FA Cup quarter-finals. Its one of our best ever seasons. Lets hope the players can raise their game and make it a special season. They do need to improve massively to achieve it though.
Pearcey

Poor, poor game - Reading looked like they were just going through the motions rather than wanting to win. Not really much desire there so they were slowest to every ball. Having said that. they got absolutely nothing out of the ref - he was as bad as the one who reffed us vs Hull a few months ago ( :wink: ) So we've stuttered into the play-offs- but it's worrying just how timidly we've crept in compared with how emphatic everything was just a few weeks ago. Not a good omen. Inflatables not as good as in some years - too many people just held onto them, and the stand was much too high and steep for them to work well - everything was lost down the front really quickly, and no-one at the front had the foresight to send them back up. Plus there it was just too big an area - with quite a few day trippers - for it to really work. Blackburn was still the best for inflatables.
Svlad Cjelli

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QUOTES FROM THE PRESS

Reading confirmed their place in the Championship play-offs after claiming a point in an entertaining stalemate with Coventry at the Ricoh Arena. The Royals knew a point would be enough to seal a top-six league finish. But it was clear neither they, nor Coventry, were happy to just settle for a draw in a game of numerous chances. Shane Long and Noel Hunt went close for Reading, while Marlon King and Richard Keogh had the best opportunities for Coventry, who are secure in 17th place.

With a play-off spot sealed, Reading can look to the future with optimism, but equally Coventry have reason to be hopeful after such a positive display in Andy Thorn's since being confirmed as their permanent manager. The home side had the better of the opening exchanges and fashioned a number of opening that saw Lukas Jutkiewicz and Carl Baker, twice, go close. Reading hit back and should have gone ahead through Long in the 16th minute, but the striker took too long to control the ball before firing over from 12 yards. With regular keeper Keiren Westwood injured, City called upon Michael Quirke in goal and the youngster did well to parry Hunt's header and block Michail Antonio's effort after he ran clear on goal. At the other end, David Bell's volley forced a superb save from Royals keeper Adam Federici.

The second half began as the first had ended, with Jutkiewicz rolling an early chance wide for City. After that though, the first real lull of the game followed until Sammy Clingan's free-kick forced a solid save from Federici with 20 minute to go. The Australian keeper then made superb block to deny King, who was subsequently flagged offside, before the striker saw another shot take a deflection and fly narrowly off target. From the resulting corner Keogh should have broken the deadlock but could only head wide from six yards, ensuring the encounter remained goalless.

BBC Sport