COCA COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

MATCH REPORT

Reading produced one of their worst performances of the season to allow relegation candidates Cardiff City an easy three points to steer themselves further from relegation. The Royals created very little all match not managing an effort on target till the last five minutes.

Steve Coppell kept with the team that overcame Nottingham Forest last Saturday at home. It meant James Harper yet again continued on the right wing, where he had struggled in the previous two games. Les Ferdinand remained on the bench with Ricky Newman maintaining his place in centre midfield and Martin Keown again keeping Ivar Ingimarsson out of the team.

It was the home team that started the much better with Cameron Jerome having City's first effort on goal. And Cardiff did not have to wait long to take the lead. The goal came inside the first quarter of an hour when Peter Throne outsmarted the Reading defence by staying onside from a Neil Ardley set piece and firing past Hahnemann.

Reading looked to try and get back on level terms but without much success, a Nicky Shorey free kick that hit the wall and a Paul Brooker header which was comfortably saved was the best it got for the large contingent of away supporters inside Ninian Park.

It continued to get worse for Reading when Cardiff doubled their advantage on the half hour. It was another Neil Ardley set piece, this time a corner that caused numerous problems before the ball fell kindly to Cameron Jerome who made no mistake to make it 2:0 to the home side.

Half Time: Cardiff City 2:0 Reading

Steve Coppell made one change at half time to try and get Reading back in the game. Les Ferdinand was introduced to replace Ricky Newman. Yet Ferdinand was unable to make any real impact in the game as Reading continued to look poor.

It was a forgettable second half until the final ten minutes when Reading started to show why they are on the brink of a Play-Off place. It was Ferdinand who was unlucky with a header from a Nicky Shorey cross which hit the bar and then shortly after Reading had their first attempt on goal when Dave Kitson latched onto a Graeme Murty cross but his header was well saved by Neil Alexander.

The only positive to take from the day was the news that Brighton had scored a last minute equaliser to draw 2:2 with West Ham. Although West Ham did jump above Reading into sixth place the only way the teams can be separated is on goals scored. So with two games remaining Reading realistically need to win both games to stand a good chance of making the Play-Offs. Although with West Ham facing Sunderland next week, four points may be enough to secure a top sixth finish if the Mackams can do Reading a favour.

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Full Time: Cardiff City 2:0 Reading

Man Of The Match: Steven Sidwell

No Reading player played well, Steve Sidwell did fight in the midfield but was unable to really create anything for the forwards.

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NEXT LEAGUE MATCH

30th April 2005, Madejski Stadium, 3:00 PM Kick Off

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