Catman

Reading V Portsmouth
Campbell and Utaka ensured Pompey's seventh victory away from Fratton Park - where they still have not won since September when Reading were thrashed 7-4 - but they now share the Premier League's best record on the road with Chelsea.

An incident-packed afternoon was always a probability given that previous result and the fact that Steve Coppell's side had racked up another crazy score-line at the weekend - a 6-4 reverse at Spurs, where they had lead three times.

A full house at the Madejski Stadium had to wait all of three minutes for the prediction to become reality when Sonko was sent off for conceding his third penalty in four games.

The centre-back allowed Benjani Mwaruwari to get goal-side of him, chasing Sulley Muntari's through-ball and referee Mike Dean had no hesitation in pointing to the spot when the Pompey front-man was impeded inside the box.

A red card followed for the man the home fans call Superman but who is struggling to live up to that reputation having spent nine months out with a serious knee injury.

He is about to depart for African Nations Cup duty with Senegal and will probably be relieved to be ending a torrid spell at club level.

Niko Kranjcar smacked the resulting spot-kick against a post, however, and the 10 men almost snatched the lead at the other end when Bobby Convey popped up in the box only to screw a good chance wide.

The American was immediately substituted to allow defender Andre Bikey to fill the Sonko-shaped gap but within seconds, Reading's other USA international, goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, had gifted Pompey a ninth-minute lead.

James Harper was aggrieved that referee Dean penalised him for a touchline challenge on Papa Bouba Diop but Muntari's free-kick into the box should have been an easy catch for the 35-year-old.

Instead, he spilled it on to the head of Diop, with Campbell applying the finish on the line after it had bounced off Kalifa Cisse. It was the Pompey skipper's first goal in just over a year.

Hahnemann was able to save efforts from Benjani, Muntari and Kranjcar before Utaka volleyed over as Portsmouth used their extra man to dominate and there was a let-off when Diop lost his marker, Cisse, only to head over from close range.

A chance did come Reading's way just before the break when Stephen Hunt set up Kevin Doyle but David James was able to deflect the ball away off his legs to keep his side level and there was still time for a let-off at the other end when Benjani saw a header bounce off the bar in stoppage time.

Reading returned for the second period in defiant mood and put their opponents under pressure for a spell, with Cisse seeing an acrobatic effort on the turn blocked by a defender, with the summer signing showing no ill-effects of a crunching late tackle from Richard Hughes which had earned the Pompey man a 58th-minute booking.

The home side had to admit defeat in the 66th minute however when the previously-quiet Utaka showed astonishing pace to over-take England defender Nicky Shorey in pursuit of Glen Johnson's through-ball.

The Nigerian had little difficulty in bypassing Hahnemann and locating an empty net to record his fourth goal since his summer switch from Rennes. Shorey, who had been suffering from illness over the holiday period, was then replaced by Ulises de la Cruz.

Hunt fluffed the chance of a consolation when he missed his kick completely after Doyle had found him beyond the back post but there was relief for the home side at the other end when a low Muntari drive missed by a matter of inches.

 

Catman

FA Cup 3rd round Reading V Tottenham
Paul Robinson failed to deal with Hunt's free-kick for the opening goal and was at fault again when he failed to hold onto Leroy Lita's shot for Hunt's equaliser.

Dimitar Berbatov had scored twice between the errors, then Tom Huddlestone was dismissed late on.

It means a replay at the Madejski Stadium, which helps neither side in a period of congested fixtures - but fans will not mind if there is more entertainment.

Spurs head coach Juande Ramos had written in his programme notes that he wanted another victory over Reading but "in a less stressful fashion".

There were never going to be the 10 goals that both sides produced here in the Premier League clash last week - yet both sides seemed intent on attacking again.

The 6-4 thriller was not the only omen pointing towards an exciting game, with Steve Coppell fielding a reserve side as predicted.

There was no place for Dave Kitson, who earlier in the week suggested he was focused on the league rather than the cup. Fringe players such as Lita and Liam Rosenior were given a chance instead.

Spurs had new signing Chris Gunter on the bench but Ramos was true to his word in picking his strngest side, with Ledley King and Michael Dawson reunited as a centre-back partnership.

The excitement started within two minutes when Hunt and Bobby Convey broke, with Lita having a glimpse of goal but Jermaine Jenas slid in and blocked on the edge of the area.

Spurs countered in the next move and Aaron Lennon skipped beyond Reading's defence but Robbie Keane could not get on the end of the England winger's cross.

Keane was found again, this time by Berbatov after a mistake by Andre Bikey, but with the finish slipped wide with the goal at his mercy.

Spurs have been woeful at defending set-pieces this season, although none of the defenders could be blamed for the opener in the 25th minute when Didier Zokora had fouled Shane Long around 40 yards out.

Hunt is no stranger to goal-line controversy after his strike against Sunderland - and his speculative free-kick dipping under the crossbar set off another debate.

Robinson should have dealt with it, even with Bikey closing in, yet the momentum dragged the England goalkeeper back and the assistant referee flagged for a goal. Replays could not determined whether the whole ball crossed the line.

Spurs' response was swift, with Berbatov grabbing the leveller in the 28th minute. Lennon's reverse pass found him beyond the Reading defence and the Bulgaria striker crashed in his finish off the crossbar and post.

It was then a similar end-to-end game that fans saw last week.

Berbatov went wide with a scissors kick from Jenas' cross, then the midfielder latched onto Keane's flick but Adam Federici was down well to save.

Jenas was sent through again in the last minute of the first half and Federici was down again smartly.

There was no shortage of action when play was restarted after the interval.

Spurs were ahead in the 48th minute when Keane was played behind the Reading defence but was blocked by Rosenior in the process of shooting.

Keane had missed his last two penalties, so Berbatov stepped up and beat Federici, despite the Australian diving the right way.

Keane had the ball in the net when he followed in Berbatov's shot from the edge of the area, but the Republic of Ireland striker was ruled offside.

He was close again just after the hour mark when Pascal Chimbonda cross from the right, but he was then replaced by Adel Taarabt.

Berbatov had the scent of a hat-trick when Chimbonda crossed again, but Hunt and Bikey were on the goal-line to deny him.

Reading continued to threaten and Robinson took out Dawson when clearing a long ball as Lita lurked.

Lita played a crucial role in Reading's equaliser, cutting in from left and shooting at Robinson's near post. Robinson could not hold and Hunt tapped in the rebound from a tight angle.

Huddlestone was brought on for Steed Malbranque and was involved in an ugly incident with Convey where he appeared to clash heads with his opponent. Referee Mark Clattenburg gave him a straight red card.

 

Catman

Reading V Aston V
Aston Villa's potency at set-pieces proved sufficient to earn them a third successive win in the Barclays Premier League with a 3-1 home victory over Reading and keep them on course for a European spot. John Carew's header from an Ashley Young free-kick broke the deadlock after 23 minutes and then a corner from the England winger was turned home by Martin Laursen early in the second period.

Carew put the icing on the cake with his sixth goal of the campaign a minute from time, before James Harper scored an injury-time consolation. Martin O'Neill's side capitalised on a Reading defence lacking Ibrahima Sonko - on African Nations Cup duty - and the injured Michael Duberry.

It means the Royals are still without an away win this season and have conceded 32 goals in 11 matches on their travels.

Villa were worthy winners and were driven on by another excellent performance in midfield from skipper Gareth Barry.

Gabriel Agbonlahor's pace and Carew's power posed problems to the Reading rearguard, while Craig Gardner acquitted himself well at right-back after becoming a late replacement for the ill Olof Mellberg.

Reading were left to rue Kevin Doyle and Dave Kitson missing two good first-half opportunities, but overall their performance lacked cohesion.

Even reverting to five at the back has failed to stop them looking vulnerable and they need to start picking up points away from home to banish the threat of being sucked into a relegation battle.

Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann was called into action for the first time after 12 minutes to turn aside a powerful drive from a narrow angle by Stiliyan Petrov.

Villa keeper Scott Carson looked relieved to cling onto a free-kick driven straight at him by Nicky Shorey at the second attempt.

O'Neill was animated on more than one occasion towards referee Uriah Rennie, who seemed reluctant to play the advantage rule.

Doyle had a chance to put Reading ahead after flicking the ball past Curtis Davies but clipped his shot over the bar with only Carson to beat.

Villa were beginning to take control, though, and after 23 minutes their constant threat from set pieces resulted in Carew putting them ahead with his fifth goal of the campaign.

Young's inswinging free-kick was perfectly weighted and Carew needed only a touch to deflect the ball past Hahnemann from close range.

Ulises De la Cruz became the first player to be yellow-carded for holding back Agbonlahor in full flight.

Petrov was only just too high with a fierce 20-yard drive, although replays suggested his effort had deflected off De la Cruz and should have resulted in a corner.

Kitson needed lengthy treatment after landing awkwardly on his right knee following an aerial challenge with Davies but was eventually able to continue.

The Reading striker should have done better four minutes before half-time when he dragged his shot across the face of goal after being found in space by Shorey.

Villa made a positive start to the second period and Hahnemann became the second Reading player to be booked after charging out of his area and bringing down Agbonlahor.

It came as no surprise when yet another set-piece led to Laursen doubling Villa's lead.

Young won a corner and his centre was met firmly by Laursen, who headed past Hahnemann into the corner of the net.

It was the 20th goal Villa have scored from a free-kick or corner this season.

Villa were now in complete control and Laursen climbed above the Royals defence to force a save out of Hahnemann from another Young corner.

Reading suddenly came to life and Doyle had a shot deflected just wide, before Carson produced a fine reflex save to keep out Brynjar Gunnarsson's near-post header from a Harper corner.

But Carew struck for the second time in the 89th minute when he turned home a low cross from Agbonlahor, before Harper snatched an injury-time consolation for Reading Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has hailed the impact made by Ashley Young during his first 12 months at the club.

Young moved from Watford for an initial £8million last January and has become one of the most potent players in the Barclays Premier League.

He again showed his worth by having a hand in the build-up to all three goals in the 3-1 win over Reading when John Carew (twice) and Martin Laursen were on target.

O'Neill said: 'If you had asked me whether I thought Ashley would have played for England by this time, then I would not have been sure about that.

'But if you are asking me whether I thought he would have made an impact, then the answer is yes.

'He was a young kid who had been at Watford all his life and took a bit of time getting used to the surrounds here.

'But he has taken things by storm. He has been fantastic. He can go 60 yards at pace, beat players at the edge of the box and has the ability to deliver from the open play of free-kicks.

'But he also works hard. The way in which he tracks back is brilliant.' Carew and Laursen both took advantage of Young's accuracy at set-pieces and 20 of Villa's 40 goals have come from either a corner or a free-kick this season.

O'Neill said: 'If you have got someone who can deliver a ball like Ashley, then I think I could score!

'But you still have to have people who have the desire to get on the end of his balls into the box and we have that.

'The delivery for the first goal was inviting someone to get in there and John Carew did that.'

Laursen has now scored six goals this season and O'Neill is desperate to keep the Denmark international, whose current contract expires in the summer.

O'Neill said: 'Martin has been sensational. As regards to his future, we are hoping... we want to keep him badly. He keeps playing brilliantly.'

Reading Boss Steve Coppell admitted his side lacked the physical presence in defence to deal with Villa at set-pieces because of African Nations Cup call-ups and the absence of Michael Duberry, who failed a fitness test on a knee injury.

He said: 'We are disappointed. It was going to be a tough call when Michael failed the test. Then we had to re-jig things and a physical presence at Villa Park is necessity.

'Villa are so powerful on set-pieces, the bigger your team, the more chance you have on combating that.

'But having said that the bottom line is Carew was offside for the first goal and it should not have been a corner before they scored their second goal. Those are the cold facts.'

Coppell refused to criticise referee Uriah Rennie, who appeared to anger both managers with some of his decisions.

Coppell said: 'You can't win so what is the point of moaning about it now. I am not going to say anything about the referee because we are going to get him again.'

 

Catman

FA Cup 3rd Round replay Reading V Tottenham
Robbie Keane scored the only goal of the game at the Madejski Stadium to put Tottenham into the fourth round of the FA Cup at the expense of Reading.
The Republic of Ireland striker is now one away from a century of goals for Spurs, after his 15th strike of the season set up a mouth-watering tie at Manchester United a week on Sunday.

Reading almost forced extra-time in the replay when Stephen Hunt came off the bench and smacked a volley against the crossbar, but Steve Coppell's men can now focus on the league.

The clash was never going to be a 6-4 or the 2-2 in the previous matches between the clubs - there was plenty of attacking but the game missed the cutting edge of Dimitar Berbatov, who had flu.

England boss Fabio Capello was in the stands and he was able to cast his eye over an eager Jermain Defoe, a versatile Nicky Shorey who was played in central midfield and Jermaine Jenas returning from suspension.
Paul Robinson was not in the squad, though, as his wife gave birth to a boy on the eve of the game. He was unlikely to have been in the starting XI anyway after losing his place to Radek Cerny.

With Coppell's focus on the Barclays Premier League, it was a chance for him to look at his fringe players again, although he still kept five players in the starting XI from the weekend.

His players clearly cared about the competition - unlike Dave Kitson, who was not in the squad - but lacked the penetration of Hunt until he came off the bench.

Berbatov had scored six goals in the previous thrillers, and both teams adopted attacking approaches again.

Jenas made an early burst after robbing Kalifa Cisse of the ball but his cross was just ahead of Keane.

Chris Gunter, making his Spurs debut, also had a dangerous cross cleared and Defoe headed over from the resulting corner after Younes Kaboul flicked on to him.

Keane grabbed the opener in the 15th minute, stabbing home from close range after Kaboul met Jenas' corner and Adam Federici tipped onto the bar.

Reading had their moments going forward, with Leroy Lita at the heart of their attacks.

He had a glimpse of goal early on but his finish looped to safety - and he was also booked for diving, although it looked harsh as he merely fell as he attempted to get his shot away.

Robinson's replacement, Cerny, did not get the right contact on a punch seven minutes before the break - but Lita blazed over the crossbar. He also glanced a header wide from Shane Long's cross.

At the other end, Keane had a tame penalty appeal turned down by Mike Riley when Ulises de la Cruz blocked his cross, straight after the full-back had gifted the promising opportunity with a mess of a clearance.

Pascal Chimbonda then had Federici backtracking with a sliced cross - but there was no repeat of the type of blunder which put Robinson in the spotlight during the drawn match at White Hart Lane.

Federici was also down smartly to save at his near post just before the break when Defoe met Kevin-Prince Boateng's cross with a first-time volley.

Trying his utmost to impress, Defoe also wriggled through the Reading defence on the stroke of half-time but could not get a shot away.

Coppell tried to get back in the game by bringing on Simon Cox for Alex Pearce, with Shorey moving into central midfield and looking to spread the play to Long in attack.

Shorey shot wide after 56 minutes when Long tamed a cross from Rosenior and laid the ball back.

At the other end, Defoe was off target with an impish chip from the edge of the area - it was his last action as he was taken off just after the hour mark for Aaron Lennon.

Reading brought on their own winger, with Hunt replacing Shorey - and the substitute was teed up for a volley by Ivar Ingimarsson with seven minutes remaining but the Sunderland target's effort crashed off the crossbar.

Steed Malbranque had a volley tipped onto the bar in stoppage-time.
Juande Ramos has established himself as the king of the knockout competitions in Europe - and Steve Coppell believes the FA Cup is within his grasp at Tottenham.

'Of course they can win it,' said the Reading boss. 'They are capable of winning six games to win the cup. You look at the players they have got and they shouldn't be where they are in the league.

'I call them part of the top five in the country in the last couple of years. It hasn't quite worked for them this year but they are a very good team.'

Ramos knows it is against the odds that his unbeaten run in cups will continue - he has won back-to-back UEFA Cups and the domestic knockout trophy in Spain - but is targeting more glory.

'We're going to try,' said Ramos. 'The next game is very difficult and we know how tough it will be. They are clear favourites.'

Ramos's men were ahead in the 15th minute when Keane stabbed in after Younes Kaboul's header was tipped on to the crossbar by Adam Federici.

The Spaniard said: 'The most important things is to get through to the next round, we have not conceded a goal and it was quite an effort to overcome Reading.

'I'm very happy with the performance. The conditions were not good with the rain and we only had three days rest from the match against Chelsea at the weekend.'

Despite victory, Ramos is concerned that cup ties will distract his side from their league revival.

'This is my biggest concern,' he said. 'We are making a big effort to win in the cups and we have injured players and suspensions as a result.'

Coppell picked five players from the weekend clash at Aston Villa and insisted the cup still has its magic, despite clubs going into matches under strength.

'Winning can give you a lift and help self-esteem,' he said. 'Who cares if you are not going to win the cup in the end? Victories in the competition against bigger teams is what the magic of the cup is.'

 

Catman

Reading V Man U
Wayne Rooney was Manchester United's hero as his cool second-half finish set up a 2-0 victory over Reading at the Madejski Stadium. The Royals are a tough nut to crack on home turf - and held firm until 77 minutes, when Rooney deftly flicked Carlos Tevez's clever chip into the box.

Cristiano Ronaldo put the icing on the cake in stoppage time when he slid the ball past Marcus Hahnemann following a swift counter-attack.

Steve Coppell's troops played their part in a highly-entertaining game, with Dave Kitson's 40-yard effort cleared to safety by Rio Ferdinand and James Harper sliding a low shot past the upright late on.

But United really turned the screw after the break, with Hahnemann denying shots from Ryan Giggs, Rooney and Ronaldo before the visitors' pressure was finally rewarded by Rooney's clinical finish.

United arrived in Berkshire after hammering six past Newcastle last weekend and were hungry for more right from the off.

Reading had problems containing Ronaldo, who was enjoying a free attacking role with Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick anchoring the midfield.

Within a minute Ronaldo had worked space on the edge of the Reading box with a trademark trick and his low shot whistled just past the post.

Reading twice worked promising wide positions before managing to penetrate the United box and Edwin van der Sar was forced to rush off his line to dive at Leroy Lita's feet.

The ball fell to Kitson, whose shot was blocked by Nemanja Vidic, and in the ensuing scramble the Reading striker went down with Carrick but United were given the free-kick.

Ronaldo ran at Nicky Shorey from half-way and rifled his drive inches over the bar before Hahnemann did well to turn Tevez's shot behind for a corner.

Reading were missing key defenders Ibrahima Sonko, Andre Bikey and Michael Duberry and United were exploiting space at the back.

Rooney almost latched onto a long ball forward from van der Sar inside the Reading box and then strayed just offside as Tevez's pass opened up the Reading defence.

Van der Sar dealt comfortably with Harper's cross-come-shot and then launched a quick counter-attack but Cisse blocked Rooney's fierce drive on the edge of the Reading box.

Reading refused to be cowed and continued to attack with equal vigour.

Van der Sar could only get a weak punch on Stephen Hunt's free-kick and Cisse's low shot was deflected wide for a corner.

Hahnemann then produced an astonishing diving save from a Hargreaves free-kick which seemed destined to put United ahead until the American hurled himself across goal and tipped it wide.

Van der Sar raced out of his box but scuffed a clearance straight to Kitson, who struck a 40-yard shot first time only be denied by the retreating Ferdinand.

There was no drop in pace after the interval as Reading twice pressured Vidic into clearances and Bobby Convey almost picked out Lita inside the United box with a neat through ball.

Ryan Giggs had replaced Ji-Sung Park at half-time and virtually his first act was to swing in a dangerous corner which had Reading at sixes and sevens.

Hahnemann's punch hit Kitson's back and the ball was on its way in when Cisse made an acrobatic interception to hook it clear from under his own bar.

Hahnemann then dived bravely at Tevez's feet to claim a dangerous low cross from Ronaldo, who had escaped down the right wing.

Reading then received two let-offs in as many minutes. Hahnemann's poor goal-kick flew straight to Rooney but as the England striker charged goalwards the ball was caught under his feet and the immediate danger cleared.

United kept the pressure on but when Ferdinand picked out Ronaldo in the box, his first-time shot from just eight yards ballooned over the bar.

Hahnemann was at full stretch to deny Rooney and Hunt then threw himself in the path of a Giggs shot from the edge of the area.

Kitson tried his luck from 25 yards and then wrestled past Vidic to meet a long ball from Hahnemann but could not lift his shot over the advancing van der Sar, who just managed to get a hand to it.

Finally, United made the breakthrough as Tevez picked out Rooney in the box and he flicked the ball into the far corner.

United had the chance to kill the game off but Carrick missed a late chance and Hahnemann blocked Ronaldo's shot.

Harper then saw his shot fly wide and as Reading piled forward, Ronaldo was able to wrap up the win.

 

Catman

Reading v Chelsea
Avram Grant paid tribute to veteran midfielder Claude Makelele following his dominating showing in Chelsea's 1-0 win over Reading on Wednesday. A 33rd-minute goal from Germany captain Michael Ballack earned Chelsea a 1-0 verdict to keep them in touch with Arsenal and Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.

But Makelele was the architect of the victory with an impressive performance that left Blues boss Grant full of admiration for a player who was supposed to take a back seat this season.

Instead, Makelele has used all his experience to guide Chelsea through a period when they have been without four players because of international duty in the African Nations Cup and three others through injury.

The France international, 35 next month, has played five games during January - including Chelsea's Carling Cup semi-final triumph against Everton and FA Cup win over Wigan.

"I told Makelele at the beginning that I would not be using him all the time but would use him when I needed him," explained Grant.

"Now I think Makelele becomes younger with every game. He is an intelligent player, and we ask him to go forward when there is space to do so.

"He made two great 'assists' for Shaun Wright-Phillips and for me he is a great personality. All the time when we need him, he is there."

 

Catman

Reading v Bolton
Goals from Kevin Nolan and Heidar Helguson allowed Gary Megson's side to bank three precious points and move up to 13th.

The result pushed Reading nearer to the drop zone ahead of next week's trip to in-form Everton and, had Derby not equalised at Birmingham late on, they would have dropped into the bottom three.

Steve Coppell's side have yet to win away and are banking on their home form to pull them through, but this was a desperately disappointing performance and the Royals have now lost as many as they have won in front of their own fans.

Reading did not initially look like a side that had suffered five straight league defeats and failed to pick up a single point in 2008.

But although Jussi Jaaskelainen was required to punch away crosses and come of his line to boot away through balls, the Bolton goalkeeper did not have to make a save of note in the opening 20 minutes.

After that the visitors began to take control and there was a let-off for Reading in the 23rd minute when Marcus Hahnemann pulled off a penalty save to deny Matt Taylor.

New signing Marek Matejovsky was the man who gave it away, with the Czech Republic midfielder marking his first start with a clumsy challenge on Gretar Steinsson just inside the box.

Hahnemann guessed correctly with a dive to his left to add to his denial of Robbie Keane at Tottenham five games previously.

The American ended up conceding six that afternoon, however, and it was not long before he was picking the ball out of the net as Bolton turned their new-found superiority into a lead.

Leroy Lita had been booked for dissent after Matejovsky had given away a free-kick and the Reading back-line failed to deal with Jaaskelainen's long-ball into the box.

Kevin Davies out-jumped Kalifa Cisse to head across the danger zone where Nolan had arrived to slot home from 10 yards. It was his fifth goal of the season and Bolton's first in four games.

The half-time whistle could not come soon enough for Reading, whose confidence had been drained away by the set-back, and Dave Kitson, back following flu, showed his frustration with a late challenge on Ricardo Gardner that earned him a booking. The striker looked nothing like a player who had been on the brink of an England call-up.

Bolton's new £5million signing from Aston Villa, Gary Cahill, had to concede a corner as Reading came out fighting and Ivan Campo almost put through his own goal from the Nicky Shorey set-piece.

Danny Guthrie was perfectly placed to hack off the line on that occasion but Reading had only themselves to blame when Ivar Ingimarsson scuffed wide from 10 yards from the next attack after the defender's initial shot had been blocked by a defender.

It was to prove costly as Bolton then doubled their lead through their own Icelander, Helguson, who poked past Hahnemann in the 58th minute after Taylor's initial shot had been partially blocked.

The home fans were convinced the former Fulham man should have been flagged offside as no defender was near him as he applied the finish to net only his second goal of the season. But television replays showed the linesman on the far side had made a correct call.

Kitson's miserable afternoon was ended in the 67th minute when he was replaced by John Oster, with Taylor and Helguson also coming off to give El-Hadji Diouf a run-out on his return from African Nations Cup duty, with Jlloyd Samuel the other replacement.

Shorey saw a free-kick saved by Jaaskelainen and Reading sent on their own returning Senegalese, Ibrahima Sonko, in the hope the centre-back might get on the end of a high ball into the box.

But those are Bolton's speciality and the Trotters held firm to bank three vital points.