MATCH REPORT: 2008/2009 Season
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27 January 2009: LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
READING 1 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0
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goals
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Reading: Collins (2 mins, own goal).
Wolves: -. |
Half Time: 1-0 Attendance: 23,009
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teams
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Reading:
Federici, Kelly, Duberry (Gunnarsson 30), Pearce, Armstrong, Kebe, Harper, Cisse, Stephen Hunt, Noel Hunt (Long 80), Doyle (Lita 82).
Subs Not Used: Andersen, Matejovsky.
Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Collins, Stearman, Ward, Kightly, Quashie (Edwards 86), Henry, Jarvis (Vokes 84), Keogh (Iwelumo 63), Ebanks-Blake. Subs Not Used: Higgs, Hill. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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bookings
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Reading: Gunnarsson.
Wolves: Ward. Sent Off: Collins (90 mins). Ref: Russell Booth (Nottinghamshire). |
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report
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Reading secured a crucial victory against league leaders Wolves with peculiar own goal in the opening minutes of a tense and fiercely competitive contest. Doyle's persistence forced an error which lead to an opportunity for Armstrong to cross in the second minute. Collins looked perfectly placed to head clear but sadly for him the ball struck his head and looped over a statuesque Hennessey and dropped into the net. It was a perfect start for the Royals.
What unfolded was not a pretty sight but hugely entertaining as neither side were given time to settle on the ball and defenders consistently played the ball long and safe. At the mere hint of danger the ball was hoofed into touch. Play in midfield was scrappy and the ball bobbled about in the air. Challenges flew in thick and fast leading on one occasion to a nasty clash of heads between two Wolves players. Luckily no serious injury was inflicted. Duberry was not so fortunate. On the half hour he clattered into the back of a Wolves forward with a typically rash challenge and had to be replaced by Gunnarsson. Cisse dropped into the vacant centre back position and performed magnificently. The back four was now robbed of the three first choice central defenders. Coppell bravely selected the inexperienced Kelly to replace the suspended Rosenior, and although he looked out of his depth initially he grew in confidence as the game progressed. Pearce was excellent winning almost everything in the air and doing the simple things well. It was just the sort of performance which was required. Wolves, in true Mick Mccarthy style, huffed and puffed but lacked the finesse to penetrate the Reading defence. Reading created the best chances of the first half. A deft touch by Noel Hunt set Harper up for strike on goal but the shot lacked power and was directed straight at Hennessey who saved comfortably. The Wolves 'keeper had to work considerably harder to keep out Noel Hunt's superbly struck free kick which was curling into the top corner of the net until he palmed it over. The second half followed a similar pattern. The refereeing which was weak throughout, became increasingly controversial. Stearman remarkably avoided a caution for a blatant foul. As time ran out Wolves became increasingly desperate but Reading looked more likely to score. Kebe produced a couple of good crosses. Stephen Hunt volleyed one wide and another was cleared at the near post with desperate lunge. Noel Hunt and Doyle were replaced by Lita and Long as they began to look weary after getting through an amazing amount of work up front and tracking back to help out the defence. Near the end Reading pinned Wolves in the corner and they seemed to lack the guile to play their way out their own half. Collins finally lost the plot and was sent off for verbally abusing the referees assistant who had clearly made the correct decision in awarding a corner when he allowed the ball to run out of play. Lita added to the drama when he dislocated his shoulder. John Fearn was quickly onto the scene and popped it back into its socket. Lita to his credit immediately returned to the fray."We are top of the league" taunted the Wolves fans, which is true, but now their lead has been cut to two points and on current form they don't look as if they will be there much longer. |
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