Match Report: 2010/2011 Season
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22 January 2011: CHAMPIONSHIP
READING 1 HULL CITY 1
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goals
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Reading: Harte (80 mins, pen). Hull: Evans (51 mins). |
Half Time: 0-0. Attendance: 16,494
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teams
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Reading:
Federici, Mills, Harte, Griffin, Pearce, McAnuff, Leigertwood, Kebe, Karacan (Robson-Kanu, 73), Long, Church (Manset, 62)
Subs not used: Tabb, Howard, Ingimarsson, Cummings, McCarthy.
Hull: Guzan, Rosenior, Gerrard, Dawson, Chester, Koren, Ashbee, Stewart (Evans, 45), Harper, McLean (Barmby, 83), Fryatt Subs not used: McShane, Simpson, Oxley, Devitt, Bullard. |
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bookings
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Reading: -
Hull: Ashbee, Dawson, Rosenior Ref: James Linington (Newport) |
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report
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Reading are still proving a very difficult side to beat, but today a lack of penetration prevented them from claiming all three points. Having dominated the first half they failed to convert possession into goals, then they gifted a goal to City early in the second half and were grateful to salvage a point with a Harte penalty ten minutes from the end. For all their possession Reading only managed match City's five goal attempts on target over the ninety minutes. Reading were not at their best today but were still far superior to City in all departments. It was a missed opportunity to pick up three points.
McDermott wisely stuck with his tried and tested line up apart from the enforced replacement of the injured Hunt with Church. The change provided the opportunity include Manset, signed less than twenty-four hours before kick-off, amongst the substitutes. Mills returned from injury to replace Ingimarsson. Reading were on top from the start, and were far more direct in their approach play but there were few clear-cut chances created. A combination of poorly timed runs by Church and some equally poor decisions by the referees assistant frustratingly brought promising attacks to a halt. A hopeful appeal for a penalty was ignored when Kebe was blocked but it seemed likely that the Royals were going to take the lead. Long was subjected to a heavy and clumsy challenge which required a lengthy spell of treatment (a minute according the referee!). Having recovered, he resumed his role as Reading's greatest threat. He struck a shot which forced a save from Guzan and then drew a superb save with a powerful and well placed header from a ball from Harte. He then stumbled when in good position to score and miscued. McAnuff went on a run which took past several City defenders but could not apply the finish it deserved. Reading started the second half brightly and Church intelligently found Liegertwood on the edge of the box. Sadly his shot did not match the quality of his excellent midfield play. Completely against the run of play City took the lead. A cross which should have been dealt with easily, resulted in Evans giving them the lead. Harte was clearly at fault. It could be argued that Federici could have come to claim it, or called for Harte to clear it, but it appeared that Harte simply left it for his 'keeper. With a player of his experience he should know better. If there is no call from the 'keeper (and Federici's reaction would imply that there was not) there is only one thing to do in that situation - hoof it. Now the result was in doubt, and for the first time in the game Hull looked interested and passed the ball around with greater urgency. McDermott reacted by moving McAnuff into midfield and replacing Karacan with Robson-Kanu to fill the spot wide on the left. Manset came on for Church to give a different dimension to the attack with his height. The new signing looked full of confidence, won the ball in the air, demonstrated good touch and passed the ball well. He looks a promising prospect, but time will tell. It was left to the more established players to rescue a point. A good ball into the box ffrom McAnuff found Long, and Guzan rashly clipped his legs as he ran away from goal. Harte clearly eager to make amends for his earlier costly error, demanded the ball, and whacked the spot kick past Guzan bringing a sense of relief to all concerned. The next three league games are against the top three sides. The results of these games will not break the season for the Royals, but they could make it. I would give them a good chance of picking up a few points, but Cardiff away is the fixture which concerns me the most. City revealed how cynical and brutal they can be against Watford yesterday in the way they systematically battered Buckley (black and blue after being fouled ten times by different players according to Malky Mackay). In front of a hostile crowd and with a weak referee the likes of Kebe and McAnuff may well be similarly targeted. John Wells |
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