A big rivalry is starting to form between Reading and Bristol Rovers, and this became even more apparent today as by the end this match had been ruined by needless aggression and stupid tackles from both teams. Bristol Rovers haven’t forgiven Reading for ruining their season last year by beating them three times in three months, and today both their players and fans were intent on getting their revenge.

In the end, 2-2 was probably a fair scoreline, but the farcical end to the match detracted from what had been a very exciting game which could have been won by either side. Bristol Rovers finished the game with just nine players, having seen two sent off and a further five booked. Things had got so heated by the end, that the referee blew his final whistle before playing any of the allotted three minutes of injury time.

The second half was also overshadowed by a serious looking injury to Phil Parkinson. Parky, who has been one of the players of the season so far, was stretchered off after falling badly and had to be replaced by Sammy Igoe.

Alan Pardew had started the game with the same side that had beaten Luton 4-1 on Saturday, leaving Keith Jones and John Mackie out of the side. Neil Smith rewarded Pardew for his selection with possibly his best game for Reading, capped with an excellent goal in the first half.

The game started poorly for Reading, and when Bristol took the lead in the first half it looked like it could be another miserable away day for the Royals. The Reading defence looked a shambles, and Nathan Ellington was gifted a goal for Rovers after Matt Robinson had been caught out of position on the left. The delight was evident among the Rovers players and fans, who hadn’t seen a home win all season.

However, Reading deserve some credit for getting themselves back into the game. Earlier in the season, we seemed incapable of getting anything from a game in which we conceded the first goal. As with Notts County two weeks earlier though, Reading bounced back strongly and were soon on level terms with Rovers. A Caskey cross from the right found Neil Smith who headed in superbly for this first goal of the season.

It soon got even better for the fans in the packed Reading terrace, as Phil Parkinson connected with a Caskey corner to put Reading in front. The turnaround had been dramatic, as prior to Ellington’s goal Reading had looked clueless. The goals were our first real chances in the match, and the lead was perhaps undeserved at half-time.

Encouraged by the scoreline, Reading started to look more confident in the second half and had chances to extend the lead. Martin Butler had one glorious chance to score after good work from Caskey, but could only fire his shot straight at the keeper.

However, it was Rovers who scored the next goal, after the referee awarded a dubious free-kick against Neil Smith on the edge of the area. Mark Walters’ delicate free-kick beat Whitehead only to hit the inside of the post, but the rebound was easily knocked in to make the score 2-2.

The most exciting ten minutes of the match followed, as both sides had chances to re-take the lead. Walters had the best chance for Rovers, as he raced through on goal, and although his shot beat Whitehead once again, the ball hit the post and this time rebounded to safety.

The excitement proved too much for Bristol Rovers’ Lewis Hogg, and his two footed tackle on Neil Smith started an almighty scrap between the two teams. Only Phil Whitehead kept out of it, as the ref lost control of the game altogether. His immediate red card to Hogg only seemed to provoke the others, and Challis soon followed him to the dressing room for his part in the brawl. Two other players were booked and the ball was moved forward ten yards before the game could finally continue. Reading threw everyone forward as they had three minutes of injury time against nine men to get a winner. However, two more needless tackled from Rovers saw another two yellow cards and an early stop to the game.

The draw is by no means a disastrous result, but the performance today was too patchy to take much encouragement from. We looked good in spells, but the defence made too many mistakes, and allowed Rovers to take a point from a game we should have won. The next game sees a trip to the slowly improving Swindon, but a win is needed against our struggling local rivals.

Report by Neil Cole.

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