Reading Roars!

So Reading lost to Man United, who scored the only goal of the game through Louis Saha. The slender scoreline was surprising, as the Royals had three players sent off (Sonko, Sidwell and Kitson) for seemingly no apparent reason (the Konami Difference, perhaps?).

Of course, it was difficult to argue with the ref when the players were merely well-drawn characters on a Samsung screen, for I was playing Pro Evolution Soccer 6 on the Xbox 360.

Yes, in anticipation of the weekend’s hot encounter with the Red Devils, I was guiding the Berkshire Blues, as Reading is termed in Pro Evo, against Ferguson’s men in the hit console game. There wasn’t an Old Trafford to play at, and certainly no Madejski, so instead I played in front of a packed Santiago Bernabeu crowd.

The game was realistic enough: I picked up all the cards (3 reds, 2 yellow), while Man United escaped the wrath of the ref. And there was plenty of time added on.

As for the real clash between the two sides, I predict a draw.

Steve Coppell is the calmest man in English football. While every game is ‘hyped into a four-day event’ the Reading manager quietly goes about his business - and, despite his team having not a single Premiership appearance between them at the start of the season, he is producing stunning results.

So begins Amy Lawrence’s “Big interview” with Steve Coppell in today’s Observer newspaper. The interview was conducted at the club’s training ground and you can read it on Guardian Unlimited Football.

With delight, I recount the prediction I made several days earlier, following Reading’s defeat of Man City:

Next up: Aston Villa at the Madejski. Reading will surely raze this Villa to the ground.

Two goals by Steve Sidwell ensured that the Royals did just that (my prediction was also more accurate than Mark Lawrenson’s, of the BBC, but then he also forecast a Reading loss against City - why doesn’t he have confidence in the Royals?). The 2-0 defeat of the Midlands club, once European Cup holders (a long time ago), was the club’s 5th win in a row.

Sidwell headed in his first goal from 6 yards within the first 15 minutes of the game, thanks to a Stephen Hunt corner. He added his second in the 90th minute, with an assist provided by Dave Kitson. Sidwell could have completed a hat-trick 3 minutes later from 25 yards out, but was blocked by the Villa keeper.

It seems to me that club most do everything possible to secure Steve Coppell’s services next season. It just wouldn’t be the same in Europe without him. And of course, it would also help that McClaren remains at the helm of our pathetic national side, as the Reading manager is presently very highly coveted indeed.

Leroy Lita. Again. Twice. What a magnificent forward Reading have. What a magnificent season Reading are having. The press are saying the E word (that’s “Europe”). Can it really be happening?

Lita scored twice late in the game (79, 89) to punish Man City 2-0, a great result that elevates Reading to a mind boggling 6th place in the league. The Royals have not lost since their Old Trafford defeat by Man United at the end of December. Undefeated since last year! That reads well, doesn’t it?

Next up: Aston Villa at the Madejski. Reading will surely raze this Villa to the ground.

Those Thursday night encounters with FC Košice are edging closer.

Sheffield failed to shine against the Royals at the Madejski this afternoon.

Reading’s Shane Long scored the opening goal (”stabbed in”, as the BBC put it - I like it), with Ecuadorian De La Cruz’ piercing run resulting in Reading’s second just six minutes later.

Knives were sharpened, however, in a gloomy second half. Keith Gillespie, who made me red when performing rather well one evening against Barcelona, saw red just two minutes after arriving as a substitute. He was sent off for apparently elbowing Stephen Hunt.

Still dissatisfied, Gillespie attacked Hunt again on his way to the tunnel. Son, off the pitch!

More madness was to ensue. A touchline clash broke out between both teams, players and staff, with Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock and his opposite Steve Coppell’s assistant Wally Downes sent to the stands.

When the game returned to normal, Hunt put away Reading’s third from close range in the 70th minute, before Sheffield’s Nade gave his side a consolation goal.

The Blades’ fork up has left Reading looking very comfortable indeed - 7th in the table.

Sylvester Stallone took to the Goodison Park pitch this afternoon to show his support for the local side. Holding up an Everton scarf, Sly was cheered by the 30,000 or so Toffees supporters before the game against Reading.

And it was Reading who drew first blood: an own goal from Everton’s Lescott gave the Royals the lead after 28 minutes. Their joy was shortlived, however, when Kevin Doyle suffered a hamstring injury and was taken off the field. But unlike Sly’s hard-as-nails Rambo, the injured 23 year old hitman did not make a return to the action and will unfortunately be out for two weeks.

Everton bounced back late in the second half, with Andy Johnson scoring from a header nine minutes before time.

With a point gained from this afternoon’s bout, Reading remain 9th in the Premiership table and now need just one more to stay in the top flight for another season. They entered the Premiership as rookies but have fought with admirable resilience and determination, throwing some quite considerable punches. As Rocky Balboa says in the latest Rocky instalment:

It ain’t about how hard you hit, it is about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much can you take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!

Reading FC are far from looking rocky at the moment, but Rocky will soon be looking at Reading from afar.

Celluloid action man Sylvester Stallone has been invited by Everton investor Robert Earl to watch the Toffees take on Reading this Sunday at Goodison Park.

Sly is no stranger to the national game: he played the goalie in 1970s classic Escape to Victory. Especially excited about the visit is Bobby Convey, who said the following to the Evening Post:

It will be pretty good to have Sly there. I have seen all the Rocky films. The character is from Philadelphia where I grew up, and the films are huge in the States. People always run up the stairs at the art museum – like Rocky did when he was training. I have never done that but everyone else did because it was the thing to do. Hopefully I will meet him before the game.

As I’m sure Beckham will next season, but that’s another story.

So altogether now Reading:

Risin’ up - straight to the top,
Had the guts, got the glory…

On a day when many of us were nursing headaches (myself included), Reading FC players looked “bright and breezy”, stunningly slotting six past West Ham at the Madejski. Like turkeys one week earlier, the Hammers were truly stuffed.

Brynjar Gunnarsson (12 minutes), Stephen Hunt (15), Leroy Lita (53) and Kevin Doyle (twice; 36, 78) all found themselves on the scoresheet, as did, amusingly, Anton Ferdinand, with an own goal in the 30th minute.

New West Ham manager Alan Curbishely gave the following explanation for the hammering:

Reading had everything that we didn’t. They were full of enthusiasm, pace, shape, aggression, and above all, hunger. They have commitment, they want to be in the Premiership, they want to drive the baby Bentleys. We don’t have anything of that right now. The players have shown me why we are down there. We are very fragile.

The win was Reading’s biggest for over 16 years, and West Ham’s heaviest for more than five. Shame that both sides will probably not meet again for at least another season.

We’re fast approaching the end of 2006 (the year just zipped by, didn’t it) and Reading FC have had a magnificent 12 months.  Just for fun, BBC Radio Berkshire’s Joel Hufford has compiled a quiz so that you can test your knowledge of the Royals’ year.  There are 10 questions in total (I scored a dismal 6 out of 10).  Get 10 out of 10 and you can yourself a true fan!

“Mourinho at a loss as Reading expose Chelsea’s fragility” (The Guardian)

“Chelsea squandered two priceless Premiership points against Reading” (BBC)

“Regal Reading show Chelsea value of class” (The Scotsman)

Reading have achieved something stupendous, drawing away to Mourinho’s giants, Chelsea, at the Bridge, a feat that not even mighty Barcelona could accomplish this season.

It was never going to be an easy game. The difference in wealth between both clubs was poignantly demonstrated by the record signings made last summer. Shevchenko moved from Italian superclub Milan to the Blues in a £30 million move. Seol Ki-Hyeon joined Reading from un-giants Wolves in a transfer costing a whopping…£1.5 million.

Furthermore, the Petr Cech collision in Reading’s home game against Chelsea resulted in anger among some Chelsea supporters. Stephen Hunt, disgustingly, received death threats. Mourinho stupidly attacked the town’s ambulance service.

Despite the gulf in spending (and therefore talent), and the air of bitterness, the Royals contended well. Blues marksman Didier Drogba, who unlike his Ukranian counterpart has had a cracking season, was first to score, from a header after 38 minutes. Reading, however, equalised through Leroy Lita on 67 minutes before Drogba headed in another a few minutes later. The Royals’ fighting spirit persisted and the team was rewarded with an own goal courtesy of videolar hizli kuryeMichael Essien, bringing the game level.

With a point apiece, it is Reading rather than Chelsea, who are the more content side. They have complicated Chelsea’s bid for the title (thank you!) and won themselves even more credit with a strong, battling display. Having a team of Seols rather than Shevas is clearly no bad thing.