MATCH REPORT: 2006/2007 Season

24 February 2007: FA PREMIER LEAGUE
MIDDLESBROUGH 2 READING 1
goals
Reading: Oster (87 mins).
Middlesbrough: Viduka (7 mins), Yakubu (69 mins).
Half Time: 1-0
Attendance: 26,412

PREMIERSHIP 24 Feb 2007
Pos Team P Pts GD
5 Bolton 27 47 +4
6 READING 28 43 +6
7 Everton 28 42 +11
teams
Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Duberry, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt (Oster 72), Sidwell, Harper, Little, Long (Kitson 62), Lita. Subs Not Used: Federici, Gunnarsson, De la Cruz.
Middlesbrough:: Schwarzer, Davies, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor, Cattermole (Morrison 74), Boateng, Arca, Downing, Viduka, Yakubu (Lee 85). Subs Not Used: Jones, Parnaby, Euell.
bookings
Reading: Ingimarsson.
Middlesbrough: Taylor.
Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).
report
Reading tasted their first defeat of 2007 as Middlesbrough ended our run of nine games without defeat. After an uneventful first half it took Reading a long time to get going as the home side looked good for their win. Reading were up against it early on after a clever Middlesbrough set-piece saw the first goal after seven minutes. A strangely placed group of players caused confusion in the Reading defence and allowed the ball to reach the far post where it was headed back before being back heeled past Hahnemann to set Middlesbrough on their way. Reading struggled to respond in the first half - Coppell had opted to pair Long and Lita up front but they were to have a quiet afternoon. Hunt headed a reasonable chance well wide before another chance fell to Long who shot wide of the of the target. After half time Reading picked up the pace of the game but struggled to break through. Despite the improved possession from the Royals, chances were limited. Long hit a shot against the top of the crossbar but Middlesbrough continued to look dangerous on the break. Instead, Middlesbrough doubled their lead with twenty minutes left to play with Yakubu driving a strong shot past Hahnemann. Reading were beaten but continued to play. Murty missed a decent opportunity to get Reading back into the game before substitute Oster grabbed a consolation with three minutes left on the clock. Little crossed from the right and Oster bounced the ball over the keeper for his first Premiership goal for the Royals. However time ran out for Reading to salvage a point.
FANS' POST MATCH OPINION

-
-

Got an opinion? E-Mail us at opinion@royals.org
Appropriate submissions will appear on match report pages