Match Report: 2009/2010 Season

10 April 2010: CHAMPIONSHIP
CARDIFF CITY 0 READING 0
goals
Reading: -
Cardiff: -
Half Time: 0-0
Attendance: 21,248

CHAMPIONSHIP 10 Apr 2010
Pos Team P Pts GD
10 Sheff Utd 43 58 +2
11 READING 41 56 0
12 Doncaster 43 55 0
teams
Reading: Federici, Griffin, Bertrand, Pearce, Khizanishvili, McAnuff, Tabb ( Rasiak, 77) , Howard, Kebe, Sigurdsson, Long ( Church, 64). Subs not used: Hamer, Henry, Karacan, Robson-Kanu, Gunnarsson.
Cardiff: Marshall, Gerrard, McNaughton, Kennedy, Whittingham, Ledley (Burke, 69) , Blake, McPhail, Chopra (McCormack, 46) , Etuhu (Wildig, 69) , Bothroyd. Subs not used: Quinn, Enckelman, Matthews, Feeney.
bookings
Reading: Pearce.
Cardiff: -
Ref: Anthony Bates (Staffordshire)
report
-
FANS' POST MATCH OPINION

Cardiff had the clearer chances on the break and the only way we stayed in the game was due to Fedders. At least two cracking saves were made, possibly three. The first half was neutral, the home support bad and the difference between the new stadium and Ninian is light years. I was right about the stadium being soulless and that came from a Cardiff supporter. The hint of trouble has been snuffed out. The stewards wouldn't let anyone sit in the back row at first and this created lunacy with some of us scrabbling for seating. Cheers to the selfish idiots who decided to leave one seat gaps dotted around. The second half was better from both sides and at times finger biting stuff. We actually looked like we had a game on. Cracking weather added to the all around away day experience. Kebe had telling moments but was pretty much controlled all game. Occasionally in the second half he used his pace to get around the LB but was having trouble due to being marked by two plyers all game. Ditto McAnuff. First touches often let us down and Cardiff played a very effective game in their defensive area, closing ranks and snuffing us out with sheer numbers. The half time ciggie out on the grass was much appreciated and all in all the stewarding was fairly innocuous, allowing those who wished to, to actually stand all game. The only gripe was not allowing us to use the back row. It was so good to see Mills sat in with the supporters and respond to the chanting.
royalexile

Cardiff looked OK but on that form not good enough for promotion. The 1st half was turgid with hardly any goalmouth action but in the 2nd half we were all over them but just couldn't get the breakthrough. If it was boxing we would have won it on points. Couple of smart saves from Federici though....
Barry the bird boggler

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QUOTES FROM THE PRESS

Reading need wins to keep alive their slim hopes and nearly took three points when Simon Church came off the bench to hit the woodwork with a header... Reading weathered some early Cardiff pressure and both sides cancelled each other out in the middle of the park, leading to a significant lack of goalmouth action.

Reading manager Brian McDermott:
"I thought we might nick it at the end when we switched formation to play two up front trying to do just that. If you consider where we were in January then the players deserved all the plaudits as it has been a fantastic effort. Fair play to Cardiff, they have done very well over 40 matches and I loved my time here as a player. My job was to make sure we stayed in this division, we have done that and now we can go on from here."

BBC Sport