|
|
|
|
 Tuesday 17th January 2006, FA Cup 3rd Round Replay, Madejski Stadium, Kick-Off 8:00pm
Reading:
Stack, Murty, Makin, Gunnarsson, Ingimarsson, Harper, Sidwell, Oster (Osano
107), Hunt, Lita (Cox 101), Long (Doyle 90). Subs not used: Hahnemann
(gk),
Little
Albion: Kirkland,
Hodgkiss, Carter, Albrechtsen, C Davies, Inamoto (R Davies 90), Wallwork (S
Nicholson 106), Chaplow, Greening (Dyer 81), Earnshaw, Ellington. Subs
not used: Kuzsczak (gk), Elvins
Referee: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire)
Assistant Referees: Andy Williams
(Herefordshire), Martin Cassidy (Somerset)
Half-Time:
Attendance: 16,723 Conditions: Overcast but dry
SKY SPORTS
Leroy Lita had the game's the first opportunity after being threaded through by Steve Sidwell. However, the former Bristol City player could only shoot wide from a difficult angle. West Brom picked up a surprise victory away at Wigan on Sunday, and they continued their good form by taking the lead at the Madejski Stadium. A seemingly innocuous clearance from the Reading defence, fell to Ronnie Wallwork who knocked a ball over the top for Chaplow to run onto and drill a shot into the bottom corner. After going a goal behind Reading upped the tempo, and almost forced an equaliser after 20 minutes. John Oster always looked a threat and it was his right wing cross which was headed back across the six yard box by hunt. The ball then fell to Shane Long, but he fluffed his opportunity directly in front of goal. After being under pressure West Brom's Premiership class told as they raced up the other end to score against the run of play on 31 minutes. Nathan Ellington latched onto a beautiful Darren Carter cross, but his volley was blocked by Reading keeper Graham Stack. However, Chaplow was on hand again to bury rebound to score his second goal of the game and his second ever for The Baggies. Reading's quick attack continued to cause problems on the West Brom flanks. Youngster Jared Hodgkiss was given a torrid time by Hunt on the left and Oster continued to deliver good crosses but the home side were unable to scratch out any clear cut chances before the break. Reading continued to put the pressure on the away side, and got what they deserved when the pulled a goal back through Lita. Oster again caused problems on the right hand side, his ball in found Lita who spun well and fired his chance into the back of the net. The Royals' dominance continued and they were unlucky not toequalise when the lively Sidwell fizzed a shot just wide from 25 yards. Steve Coppell had obviously fired his side up at half-time and they completed their comeback on 65 minutes with a fantastic team goal. A series of passes on the right found there way to James Harper who fed the ball to Lita on the edge of the area. Lita swivelled and curled in a sublime dipping effort which Kirkland had no chance with. After being two up The Baggies found themselves level, and tried desperately to reassert their Premiership authority. Nathan Ellington drifted in from the right and easily shrugged off Chris Makin but could only strike the ball straight at Stack who saved well. On 75 minutes Robert Earnshaw had another chance, but blazed over the bar from the edge of the area. Despite crafting a number of decent chances West Brom could not cope with Lita. Late on the burly forward won himself a free-kick, which he took, but his shot was straight at Kirkland. Extra time looked to have taken its toll on the West Brom players, who were shown up by Reading's fresh legs and it was the Championship side's attacking play that was once again highlighted. The influential Oster fed Harper, and his mis-kick fell kindly to Lita who pounced to give his side the lead. Reading's dominance almost reaped a handful of goals in exrtra time as Hunt and Lita both went close.
wba.co.uk
Bryan Robson:
"We should have done better. It was disappointing after
playing pretty well in the first half - we passed the ball well and had good
movement. At half time I just asked the lads to do the same but keep
possession a bit better to take the sting out of the game. Unfortunately my
lads weren't good enough to do that. Credit to
Reading. They stepped up the
pace a bit in the second half and scored an excellent second goal. "It's disappointing
not to get an unbeaten run going because, whatever competition the results
come in, it breeds confidence. "If you stay in the cup for a fair time, you do pick up injuries and suspensions. What this defeat means is that we know exactly what we're doing between now and the end of the season. We can concentrate on the Premiership. But that's the only consolation from tonight. Hopefully, it will help us to achieve safety." Source: wba.co.uk
Steve Coppell:
"Leroy is explosive, and he can score goals. When he gets a
sight, he sees the goal and nothing else. There was a lot of pent-up emotion
today. He's spent a lot of time in the treatment room and the gymnasium, and
he wants to be judged on the pitch. Source: readingfc.co.uk
Jared Hodgkiss, Rob Davies and Stuart Nicholson all make their competitive first team debuts.
Richard Chaplow scores his first goals for the club
in competitive action.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
