By Longsider
February 25 2004

HARPER SAVES READING

The Guardian

Reading kept their play-off hopes alive as James Harper struck deep into stoppage-time to give them a point they hardly merited. Steve Coppell's side were second best all night against Burnley, who remain unbeaten in the league since the turn of the year and are edging ever closer to safety.
With his side leading 2-1, Burnley's manager Stan Ternent looked far from happy at the fourth official's surprising decision to add on four minutes which gave the lacklustre home side renewed impetus. But he was philosophical.

"We're very disappointed to come away with just a point because we felt we'd done enough to win it," he said. "It's frustrating because I felt we were comfortable for most of the game, but they got the break they needed at the end."

Coppell said: "I actually anticipated about five minutes at the end, but I suppose four was enough. We were reduced to playing primitive football to try and get something, but I've got to give my players credit for hanging in there."

Reading were gifted their opener after some comical Burnley defending. Ivar Ingimarsson's ball forward caused confusion in the visiting defence as the goalkeeper Brian Jensen came sprinting out of his area to clear. Unfortunately Mo Camara failed to see him and headed the ball back towards goal, giving Lloyd Owusu the simplest of chances.

Glen Little denied them a second minutes later when he cleared Ingimarsson's header off the line. But Burnley hit back in the 23rd minute when Camara's ball down the left was not dealt with by Ingimarsson and Ian Moore took full advantage to score his 12th goal of the season.

From then on the Clarets grew in confidence and it came as no surprise when they went in front with 23 minutes remaining. A Robbie Blake corner was not dealt with by the home defence and the substitute Bradley Orr's deflected cross was swept in by Burnley's captain David May for his second goal in five days.

When Owusu crashed a shot against the bar in the closing stages it looked as if Burnley had done enough to claim their first away victory since September. But deep into stoppage-time a long punt forward from Graeme Murty was flicked into the danger zone by Reading's substitute Dave Kitson and the ball broke to Harper, who gleefully fired home from 15 yards.


HARPER TO THE RESCUE FOR READING
Daily Telegraph

James Harper saved a point for Reading at the end of a match punctuated by three defensive howlers.

Reading fans did not suppress their mirth at Lloyd Owusu's opening goal but their team responded in kind to gift Burnley two goals, although Owusu struck the bar in stoppage time.

Burnley have had their share of defensive disasters this season but probably few as clownish as the one which gave Owusu the opening goal in the 19th minute.

As left-back Mo Camara prepared to deal with a high, bouncing ball on the edge of the centre circle, goalkeeper Brian Jensen left his area and Camara headed the ball past him for Owusu to roll home.

Four minutes later, Reading's Ivar Ingimarsson returned the compliment, seemingly losing his bearings and allowing Ian Moore a simple, side-foot finish from Camara's pass.

Defensive resolve continued to turn to ashes as David May scored Burnley's second. Although the former Manchester United defender can take credit for a sure, left-footed finish, the Reading rearguard was culpable for more slipshod covering.



HARPER MAKES POINT AT DEATH FOR READING
The Times

READING were denied a chance to move into the Nationwide League first division play-off places last night by a determined Burnley team, who deservedly maintained their unbeaten record in 2004 and were unlucky not to win away for the first time since September. Victory would have taken Reading into the top six, but only an injury-time equaliser by James Harper brought them a fortunate share of the spoils. “We looked comfortable, but they got a break,” Stan Ternent, the Burnley manager, said.

Burnley had handed Reading the lead after 20 minutes, when Mo Camara nodded the ball past Brian Jensen, his goalkeeper, who had rushed out in an attempt to head the ball away, and Lloyd Owusu ran the ball into the empty net. However, Reading were not laughing for long.



Ivar Ingimarsson had a header cleared off the goalline by Glen Little and then fell over his own feet to allow Ian Moore to run on to Camara’s pass and squeeze the equaliser past Marcus Hahnemann for his twelfth goal of the season.

Another gaffe gave Burnley the lead after 67 minutes, as two Reading defenders failed to cut out a low cross from the left by Bradley Orr and David May swept the ball home for his second goal in as many games. Reading’s football became “primitive” after that, according to Steve Coppell, their manager, but when Owusu hit the crossbar in the 90th minute, it looked as if Burnley would hold out. Instead, a loose ball broke to Harper, who drove it in from 12 yards.

READING (4-4-2): M Hahnemann — G Murty, I Ingimarsson, R Newman, N Shorey — A Hughes (sub: S Murray, 72min), S Sidwell, J Harper, J Salako (sub: D Morgan, 58) — S Goater (sub: D Kitson, 72), L Owusu. Substitutes not used: A Williams, J Young.

BURNLEY (4-4-2): B Jensen — L Roche, D May, M McGregor, M Camara — G Little, T Grant, R Chaplow (sub: B Orr, 46), P Weller — R Blake, I Moore. Substitutes not used: P Rachubka, D West, A Moore, L Chadwick.

Referee: A Penn.