Coca Cola Championship

Sunday 16th October 2005,

Madejski Stadium, 13:30pm Kick-Off

TEAM LINE-UP'S

Reading - Hahnemann, Makin, Shorey , Sonko, Ingimarsson, Little (Oster 72), Convey (Hunt 81), Harper, Gunnarsson, Lita, Doyle (Kitson 64)

Subs not used; Stack (GK), Baradji

Ipswich Town - Price, Sito, Wilnis, De Vos (Proudlock 45), Naylor, McEveley, Currie (Bowditch 83), Magilton, Horlock, Forster (Garvan 69), Parkin

Subs not used; Supple (GK), Juan

MATCH REVIEW

If there was ever a more 1 sided game then please send me a video of it because today's match will take some beating. The score line suggests it was a comfortable victory but it was more than that, it was easy. Perhaps the chants of Mr Lovejoy of Soccer AM were finally justified at a football match.

Steve Coppell made 1 change to the side that beat Sheffield United 2:1 a fortnight ago. Nicky Shorey made a welcome return to the side at the expense of Stephen Hunt, who dropped to the bench. Joining Hunt on the bench was striker Dave Kitson, who like Shorey made a return after 6 weeks on the sidelines.

Joe Royle's Ipswich welcomed back former Reading striker Nicky Forster to the side. It was Forster's first match up against his former club since moving during the summer.

It was only 2 minutes into the game when the referee had to make a difficult decision after Jason de Vos pulled down Kevin Doyle who would have gone 1 on 1 with Lewis Price. At the time, it looked like a red card would be the only option, but having viewed the incident again, a yellow card was fair.

Reading went 1:0 up on 18 minutes when a lovely Kevin Doyle cross was perfect to the incoming Leroy Lita, but Richard Naylor's worry left him converting the ball into his own net.

Half an hour into the game, former Reading striker Nicky Forster had the ball in the net after a neat interchange with his strike partner Sam Parkin but the effort was ruled out for deliberate hand ball.

Just minutes later the pace of Forster which one Reading fans enjoyed turned into worry when he went 1 on 1 with Marcus Hahnemann, but the American goalie forced Forster wide, and with Sonko and Hahnemann covering the ball went out for a goal kick.

Half Time : Reading 1-0 Ipswich Town

Town made 1 change at the break with a change in personnel and change in formation. Adam Proudlock, who was "sacked" from Sheffield Wednesday for gross misconduct came on in place of Jason de Vos. It meant a change in formation from a 3-5-2 to a 4-4-2.

The change didn't have much of an effect, with just 3 minutes of the 2nd half gone, the Royals had doubled there lead. Brynjar Gunnarsson delivered a pass out on the wide to the impressive Glen Little who crossed for Kevin Doyle and his header from 6 yards out was too strong for Lewis Price.

The Royals were in total control of the game, and how it wasn't at least 3:0 I don't no. Kevin Doyle came close again when his shot hit the bar, and after a scramble the ball fell to Lita who fired against the crossbar as well and the frantic action wasn't over when the ball to Wilnis who was on the floor, and maybe a penalty appeal was fair.

On 64 minutes, 2 Reading players deservedly received standing ovation's when Kevin Doyle was replaced by Dave Kitson. It was an impressive performance by Doyle who was watched by the nation on Sky Sports and it was a return to action for Kitson after 6 weeks out injured.

Lita, Convey and Kitson saw effort's go close for Reading, and another standing ovation was given by the vocal Reading crowd when Nicky Forster was substituted. Clearly he didn't have the best of games, but credit is due to RFC fans who gave an ovation to a player who gave so much to the blue and white cause during his 6 year stint in Berkshire.

Ipswich came close with minutes before the full time whistle when Marcus Hahnemann flapped a Sam Parkin cross, and it was left for Proudlock to fire into the empty net but somehow Sonko's header cleared the ball for a corner.

In the end it was an easy 3 points for Reading, and now the players have just over 48 hours before making the long trip to the KC Stadium on Tuesday night when Hull City welcome us. 

Full Time : Reading 2-0 Ipswich Town

Man Of The Match - Kevin Doyle
Attendance - 17,581

WHAT THE MANAGER SAID

Steve Coppell, Reading Manager

"Ipswich were a bit different in terms of their shape but our front two harassed the back three well, we closed down in behind and we looked likely most of the day.

"We played well and once we got our noses in front it was hard for them to come back at us."

The Royals are back in action on Tuesday night when they make the long journey to the KC Stadium to face Hull City.

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