Coca Cola Championship

Saturday 13th August 2005

Deepdale Stadium, 15:00pm kick-off

TEAM LINE-UP'S

Preston - Nash, Alexander, Lucketti, Mawene, Davidson, Sedgwick (Jones 82), Etuhu, O'Neil, McKenna (Dichio 58), Nugent, Cresswell (Neal 82)

Subs not used; Davis, Agymang

Reading - Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Convey (Hunt 84), Little (Oster 87), Harper, Sidwell, Kitson, Lita

Subs not used; Stack (GK), Makin, Doyle

MATCH REVIEW

Reading picked up from where they left off on Tuesday night by producing a fantastic away day display at promotion rivals Preston North End, which condemned North End to there 1st home defeat since November last year. Even the most optimistic Reading fans wouldn't have expected to have won with such ease.

Steve Coppell's side remained unchanged from Tuesday night's 2-0 victory at Brighton and Hove Albion which meant Dave Kitson again got the nod over Irish striker Kevin Doyle.

In front of a partisan crowd at Deepdale, the Royals had the first chance of a game when Bobby Convey whipped in a 25 yard free kick from the touchline area, which was flicked on by Dave Kitson which didn't reach the impressive Imbrahima Sonko.

2 minutes later, North End registered there 1st shot on goal when ex Bury striker David Nugent picked up the ball in the Reading area, and embarked on a run, before shooting just outside the area, but his shot went wide of Marcus Hahnemann's goal.

It was a tense scrappy affair, with many tackles flying in with few chances. Preston's best chance of the half came on the 17th minute when captain Graham Alexander crossed from the right wing, only to see Richard Cresswell's header go above the bar.

On 35 minutes, the game saw it's 1st goal when Preston midfielder Paul McKenna's pass was intercepted by Bobby Convey, who drove forward and beat a defender before his well timed pass reached Leroy Lita who went 1 on 1 with Carlo Nash before he shot the ball into the top of the Preston Net. It was Lita's 2nd goal for the club since switching from Bristol City earlier this summer.

Preston tried hard to get a goal back before half time, but the lively Cresswell tripped over his own feat and missed the chance to level the game. The half time whistle blew and Preston will be disappointed that despite having most of the 1st half possession, they weren't able to create more opening's.

The 2 sides emerged from half time, and within 20 seconds of the 2nd half it was game over as a beautiful 50 yard cross field ball again from the impressive Convey who found his partner in crime Lita who took 1 touch past Davidson before firing low into the Preston net, beating Nash for a 2nd time to send 600 travelling supporters crazy.

11 minutes later the Royals put the game beyond doubt when Glen Little followed up his goal from Tuesday night with a powerful header at the back post. The moved followed by Convey threading a through ball onto the left wing to Nicky Shorey who's cross was headed in by the ex Burnley winger, to add pain to the Preston support who booed every touch of Little after being in there eyes, an ex "dingle".

North End tried there hardest to get back into the match, bringing on the much travelled striker Danny Dichio but he was unable to inspire his team mates into a wild comeback.

In the end the Reading players played down the clock looking to secure the 3 points, and as expected the game ended 0-3.  It had been Reading's 1st win at Deepdale in over 15 years and it was well appreciated by both players and supporters.

Man Of The Match - Bobby Convey
Attendance - 13.154

NEXT OPPONENTS

Millwall (H) - Saturday 20th August 2005, 15:00pm Kick Off

>Ticket Information

>Madejski Stadium Ground Guide

>League Table