Match Report: Reading 2-0 Wednesday
By Nicholas Rigg
November 1 2005
Wednesday's unbeaten run of five games came to an end at the Madejski stadium after the Royal's ran out 2-0 winners. An unfortunate Glenn Whelen own goal and a Dave Kitson effort made the difference in an entertaining end to end game. Wednesday drop down to 20th in the table as a result.
Reading 2-0 Wednesday
Date: Tuesday 1st November
Venue: Madejski Stadium, Reading
Wednesday went in to the game with the promotion hopeful Royal's knowing that anything other than a defeat would be welcome bonus points to Hillsborough. Reading are unbeaten in 18 games, and had made the Madejski stadium a fortress, having lost only on the first game of the season to Plymouth Argyle.
Despite that, every unbeaten run has to come to an end at some point, and maybe Wednesday were the team to do that, having gone on a five game unbeaten run of their own. The Owls first away win of the season at Norwich on Saturday must also have given Sturrock's team a confidence boost.
Paul Sturrock surprisingly decided to change a winning team, and it was the in-form Chris Eagles who was dropped to the bench in place of Richie Partridge. Eagles has been the star man for the Owls in the last few games, and maybe the current fixture congestion gives Sturrock the chance to rest him. That was the only change for Wednesday.
Reading boss Steve Coppell was sweating on the fitness of highly-rated defender Ibrahima Sonko, but he passed a late fitness test and retained his place in the Reading back-four. Reading were unchanged from Saturday's draw with Leeds United. Dave Kitson continued in the place of the injured Leroy Lita.
Despite the tough task ahead, Wednesday began the brighter of the two teams. The Owls pinned the Royals back in the early minutes, and Craig Rocastle went close with a 20-yard volley which was gathered by Marcus Hahnemann in the Reading goal.
That's as far as the Wednesday dominance lasted though, as Reading kicked in to gear from an early stage and forced the better of the openings in the early stages. Dave Kitson headed just wide from a Bobby Convey cross, and the Reading hitman also headed over from a Graeme Murty cross.
Wednesday were still looking dangerous on the break though, and loan-signing Gaby Agbonlahor had a good chance in front of goal, but mis-fired his shot.
On the half-hour mark Reading nearly broke down the stubborn Wednesday defence when Bobby Convey was released down the left wing. His low cross found Kitson at the front post but his effort wa somehow blocked. The rebound fell to the feet of James Harper who fired his shot over the bar.
Wednesday were still pushing the hosts back on the counter though, and in-form Chris Brunt forced a save from Hahemann.
Richie Partridge then found himself one-on-one with the Reading goalkeeper, but the American came out from his goal and smothered the ex-Liverpool winger's chance, which proved to be costly.
Reading immediately went on the attack from the smothered shot and Doyle provided an inch-perfect cross to Kitson, who's effort was unfortunately put in to the back of his own net by captain Glenn Whelen.
Wednesday will have gone in at half time with their heads held high despite trailing 1-0.
The second half started in much the same manner with Reading attacking and looking for that vital second goal to kill of their visitors.
They should have had a golden opportunity to do so on the hour mark when Doyle outpaced Graeme Lee in the box only to be felled by the former Hartlepool defender. The offence looked to have taken place in the penalty box but the referee pointed outside the area for a free-kick to the dismay of the home players and crowd alike.
The incident was soon forgotton though, as just four minutes later Kitson made it 2-0 to the hosts. Glen Little went on a mazy run down the right flank and provided an excellent cross for Kitson, who made sure he got his goal this time around.
As shown many times this season, Wednesday continued to fight til' the end and nearly came back in to the game though a deflected Chris Brunt free-kick. Brunt's free-kick caught a Reading defender and deflected on to Hahnemann's post for a corner.
Towards the end of the game Reading could have got a third, which would have been harsh on a battling Owls performance. A 'sunday league scrap' emerged inside the Owls penatly box which involved Bobby Convey hitting the post, and a number of other Royal's players attempting to score, but the ball finished up in the hands of David Lucas.
Wednesday will have been dissapointed not to carry-on their unbeaten run to climb up the table, but put in a decent effort against a team that is surely going to be up there near the end of the season.
Wednesday now have four of their next five games at Hillsborough, and will be hoping to salvage some much needed points to help them climb up towards mid-table.
My Man Of The Match: Craig Rocastle
Reading:
Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Harper, Sidwell, Little (Oster 81), Convey (Hunt 71), Doyle, Kitson. Subs Not Used: Stack, Osano, Obinna.
Wednesday:
Lucas, Simek, Lee (Graham 89), Wood, Hills, Partridge (Eagles 63), Whelan, Rocastle, Brunt, Peacock (O'Brien 81), Agbonlahor. Subs Not Used: Bullen, Heckingbottom.
Paul Sturrock told the official SWFC site:
''We've played a good team tonight. The result was dissapointing but I'm relatively pleased. In the first half we gave as good as we got but they wore us down a wee bit in the second.''
''The two central midfield players had their best game tonight. They were very disciplined and did everything I asked of them. Brunt got in to areas of the pitch which caused them concern and Partridge adapted well in his first game for a while.''
''There hasn't been a team who has run over the top of us. We played the second-top tonight and didn't look out of sorts. If we keep playing like that I think we'll win a lot more games.''
Paul Sturrock told BBC Sport:
Attendance: 16,188
Referee: M Thorpe (7/10)