By Mark Sugar
February 5 2004

After watching Man City produce probably the best FA Cup comeback of all time last night,it got me thinking to all of those RFC comebacks I have witnessed and there are the good one's,but also the bad one's that still haunt me.Read more to find out my top games with incredible comebacks. If anyone wanted to introduce someone else into football then last night would have been a good night to do it.At 3-0 up at half time,and Man City down to 10 men surely Spurs had it in the bag and were set for a trip to Manchester United,well were they?
Sylvain Distin gave City hope with a header on 48 minutes.13 Minutes later Paul Bosvelt got a second goal with a deflected shot off Ledley King.Suddenly City only needed 1 goal before they were level and could they do it?They could,with Shaun Wright Phillips beating the offside trap and finishing the move with a lovely finish to make the game all square with 10 minutes to go.Now you would have fancied your money on City,and they got that goal in the 91st minute thanks to Jon Macken,a £5million signing for Keegan that has barely kicked a ball.What a true footballing comeback,and it got me thinking of some fanous RFC one's,for good and bad reasons.

Here are some of the best one's I remember

12/04/97 Reading 2-1 Wolves

Who could forget the return of the "Judas",Mark McGhee?A double from Stuart "Archie" Lovell in injury time sent a packed Elm Park into disbelief and Judas home frustrated.

20/02/99 Reading 2-1 Preston North End

A last minute Tony Thorpe penalty was enough for Reading on this occasion after earlier Darren Caskey gave the Royals the lead with a free kick before Basham,on loan from Southampton equalised before our loanee stepped up and won the game.

01/09/99 Reading 2-2 Preston North End

At 0-2 down at half time,Tommy Burns looked like it was to be his last game in charge.But goals from Neil Smith and Keith Scott saved his skin for a few more weeks.

05/05/01 Reading 3-3 Bournemouth

The seasiders raced into an early 2 goal lead thanks to goals from Wayde Elliot and on loan West Ham star Jermaine Defore.But a superb Martin Butler free kick got 1 back before Bournemouth got another thanks to Elliot again.But Darren Caskey made it 2-3 with his first touch after coming of the substitutes bench before Nicky Forster in the 88th minute scored the goal that levelled the game and meant Bournemouth wouldn't be in the Playoffs.

16/05/01 Reading 2-1 Wigan

After the first leg 0-0,Reading bought Wigan back to the Madejski Stadium for the 2nd leg.But Kevin Nicholls gave Athletic the lead with a free kick that beat Phil Whitehead.But super sub AGAIN Nicky Forster first set up the ball for Martin Butler to level the game.Then Forster went off on a run again and this time was fouled in the area.PENALTY!Up steps Curo against Roy Carroll,fantastic save by the Northern Ireland International before that hero again,Nicky Forster scores the rebound.22,034 fans watch in amazement.

24/11/01 Peterborough 1 Reading 2

Reading pulled off a dramatic victory thanks to Super Sub Darius Henderson.Andy Clarke gave Posh the lead on 7 minutes and it took untill the 83rd minute for Henderson to get the 1st.Then in injury time Henderson pops up again to send the Royals travelling army crazy,and some onto the pitch.

20/04/02 Brentford 1-1 Reading

Brentford needed to win to go up,Reading needed to draw to go up.Martin Rowlands sent the Bees 1-0 up on 49 mins before Jamie Cureton pops up on 77 minutes to send 2,000 Royals fans crazy as well as 5,000 back home at the Stadium.The match ends a draw,and Reading are promoted.

Here some we will want to forget

29/05/95 Bolton 4-3 Reading

Reading were 1 game away from the Premiership,and were favourites to go up.Early goals from Lee Nogan and Adie Williams put the Royals 2-0 up with only 25 minutes gone.But the game turned when Stuart Lovell missed a penalty and it gave Bolton life.2 goals in the last 10 minutes made it game 2-2 and Wanderers then went 4-2 in extra time.But a last minute Jimmy Quinn goal wasn't enough,meaning the end for Reading's Premiership dream.

27/05/01 Reading 2-3 Walsall

Reading finish the 2nd Division in 3rd place,and after reaching the final were favourites to go through.The Royals took 32,000 fans there and were given an early lead thanks to Jamie Cureton.Walsall levelled after half time sending the game into extra time.But early in the 1st half of extra time a Martin Butler header made it 2-1 Reading,before Tony Rougier put through his own net.Then 1 minute later Darren Byfield scored sending the Saddlers 3-2 up,and Reading weren't able to come up with any more goals.We failed in the Playoffs yet again.

30/03/02 Bristol City 3-3 Reading

Andy Hughes and a Nicky Forster penalty put the Royals into a 2 goal lead with only 8 minutes gone.But City hit back immeditately with a goal due to an Adie Williams mistake then suddenley City were awarded a controversial penalty decision and it was safely tucked away.But a Kevin Watson free kick moments later gave the Royals a 1 goal lead again before a Scott Murray goal levelled the game at 3-3.

11/01/03 Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 Reading

Nicky Forster and Martin Butler gave the Royals a 2-0 lead at half time but an amazing comeback by Sheffield Wednesday left Royals fans bemused at how they failed to defend a 2 goal lead.Goals from Alan Quinn,Gerrald Sibon and Alan Johnston left Wednesday with the 3 points.

10/05/03 Wolves 2-1 Reading

In this Division 1 Playoff Game 1st Leg,a mistake by Matt Murray let Nicky Forster score.But the turning point was Forster's injury,which left the Royals very weak at front and gave Wolves an edge.A Greame Murty own goal and then a Lee Naylor free kick left the score 2-1 with the Royals upset that they lost despite an impressive performence.

This is what football is all about,there can be great times but sad times.But its why I love the game so much.If you got any other games you would liked to be added email me at mark@1871royals.co.uk.