Coca Cola Championship

Tuesday 9th August 2005

Withdean Stadium, 19:45pm kick-off

TEAM LINE-UP'S

Brighton - Henderson, Dodd (Turienzo 60), McShane, Butters, Mayo, Reid, Carpenter, Oatway, Hammond, Knight, Kazim-Richards (Robinson 84)

Subs not used; Martin (GK), El-Abd, Nicolas

Reading - Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Convey (Hunt 75), Little (Oster 61), Harper, Sidwell, Kitson, Lita (Doyle 83)

Subs not used; Stack (GK), Makin

MATCH REVIEW

Reading have got off the mark in the Championship with a comfortable 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion at the Withdean Stadium last night, thanks to goals from Glen Little and Dave Kitson.

Reading Manager Steve Coppell made 1 change to the side that suffered injury time heartache against Plymouth Argyle by surprisingly starting with Dave Kitson over Kevin Doyle. Kitson had been a doubt for the game with a knee injury.

The game started brightly with the Royals taking early control, and came close on 8 minutes when a Glen Little pass reached Steve Sidwell who fired just over.

Just 7 minutes later Reading were in front after striker Dave Kitson was fouled close to the left touchline. Glen Little whipped in a cross which neither Reading or Brighton players could make contact with and it curled into the far corner of the net. A difficult decision for the goalkeeper as to should he have claimed the ball or not, but he didn't which put Reading 1-0 in front. It was Little's 1st goal for the club since a free transfer switch from Burnley last summer, and it had been long overdue.

The Royals began to take control of the match, showing glimpses of why there is much optimism round parts of the Madejski Stadium with some neat passing moves.

American Winger Bobby Convey was unlucky midway through the 1st half when he went on a dazzling run to shoot only just wide of the goal.

Royals goalie Marcus Hahnemann had to be on his toes only a minute later when a mishit cross from the "Coca Cola Kid" Colin Kazim-Richards forced Hahnemann to produce a fine save, forcing a corner for the Albion.

Straight from a poor delivery of the corner, the Royals counter attacked using the pace of Murty and the brains of Kitson who found Leroy Lita who fired at the on-loan Aston Villa goalkeeper Wayne Henderson.

Brighton created there best chance of the game when Leon Knight crossed for Paul Read at the far post who made Hahnemann produce a fine save.

That was it for the 1st half and although the Royals were in front, Brighton were causing problems for the Royals defence.

Half Time - Brighton 0-1 Reading

13 minutes into the 2nd half, normal service resumed for Sidwell who picked up a yellow card who a reckless foul on Charlie Oatway, but his 25 yard pile driver of a free kick went wide of Hahnemann's goal.

The 1st changes of the game were made on the hour mark by both sides as manager's McGhee and Coppell gave debut's to a new player from each side. Federico Turienzo made his debut for the Seagulls while it was a welcome to John Oster who came on just a minute later.

Moments later it was game over as a Leroy Lita pass from deep found the overlapping Nicky Shorey who crossed in for a powerful Dave Kitson header which Henderson got a hand to, but was unable to stop the ball from crossing the line fully. The linesman confirmed the goal and it was Kitson's 1st goal of the 2005/2006 season.

As Albion threw bodies forward, more chances came Reading's way and it was nearly 3 as a neat passing move found Convey who crossed low for Lita who's stab of a shot fell into the hands of Henderson.

12 minutes from the end, the Royals came close again when a good counter attacking move from John Oster who crossed for Lita who's header went just wide.

Brighton came close on 2 occasions in injury time, but it wasn't enough and the game finished 2-0 to Reading.

A job well done on a slick pitch in unusual surroundings.

Man Of The Match - Ibrahima Sonko
Attendance - 6.676

NEXT OPPONENTS

Preston North End (A) - Saturday 13th August 2005, 15:00pm Kick Off

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