MATCH REPORT: 2008/2009 Season

21 April 2009: LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
DERBY COUNTY 0 READING 2
goals
Reading: Kitson (56 mins), Long (73 mins).
Derby: -.
Half Time: 0-0
Attendance: 31,345

CHAMPIONSHIP 21 Apr 2009
Pos Team P Pts GD
2 Birmingham 44 80 +17
3 Sheff Utd 44 76 +24
4 READING 44 74 +31
5 Cardiff 44 74 +16
teams
Reading: Hahnemann, Rosenior, Bikey (Pearce 87), Duberry, Harding, Little (Stephen Hunt 75), Karacan, Tabb, Kebe (Matejovsky 89), Kitson, Long. Subs Not Used: Federici, Cisse.
Derby: Bywater, Connolly, Albrechtsen, Nyatanga, Todd (Pearson 80), Varney, Savage, Bannan, Teale, Hulse (Villa 83), Commons (Barazite 89). Subs Not Used: Price, Sterjovski.
bookings
Reading: -
Derby: Bannan.
Ref: Colin Webster (Tyne & Wear).
report
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FANS' POST MATCH OPINION

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QUOTES FROM THE PRESS

Kitson, back on loan at the Berkshire club after a barren spell as Stoke City's £5m record signing, led the way with the first goal after Reading saw no fewer than three efforts ruled out for offside during the opening seven minutes. He then made the second for Shane Long, prompting Coppell to suggest his team were emerging from a bad run at an opportune time. Away from the Madejski Stadium pitch, which Steve Coppell describes as "bobbly", a Reading side inspired by Dave Kitson exploited a near-pristine surface to secure the victory that confirms their place in the Championship play-offs and leaves Derby still uncertain of survival. Reading have laboured horribly at the venue they share with the rugby union men of London Irish, but they outclassed Derby to gain only their third victory in 15 matches with a blend of style and commitment that augurs well for the end-of-season festival of frayed nerves. Kitson, back on loan at the Berkshire club after a barren spell as Stoke City's £5m record signing, led the way with the first goal after Reading saw no fewer than three efforts ruled out for offside during the opening seven minutes. He then made the second for Shane Long, prompting Coppell to suggest his team were emerging from a bad run at an opportune time...
The Guardian

...Long had a goal disallowed for offside and Kitson's bullet header was ruled out for the same reason. Reading opened the scoring when Jimmy Kebe crossed from the left for Kitson to head beyond Stephen Bywater. Derby were unable to respond and the lead was doubled when Long broke the offside trap to slot past Bywater.
Reading boss Steve Coppell:
"I'm not saying we can relax but you feel as if the cloud isn't following you around so much. I've being saying for a few games what we needed was a performance and a result and I do believe we got both. The boys stuck at it, tried to play and I must say the surface was a delight for us to play on."

BBC Sport