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2001/02 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goal: Joey Alcott (20 minutes)
Assist:
Opposition goals:
Half-time: Southampton 3 Reading 1
Gamebreaker:
Attendance:

Reading line-up: Simon Cox (senior), Marcel Nugent (Nathan Stamp, half-time), Alex Stanley, Declan O'Hara (Callum Earl), Ricky Allaway, Scott Williams, Matt Birnie, Steven Laidler, Jason Awbery, Louie Soares (Chris Davies), Joey Alcott
Subs:
Reading yellow cards:
Reading red cards:

Match report:

By a guest reporter:

Reading , who were looking to extend their recent spell of good form, today met an opponent who were too good. Southampton, like Millwall last week, fielded five pros including two who have played first team football this season, and it was those two who proved to be the matchwinners.

Reading started slowly and within ten minutes were two goals behind. They were identical goals at that, balls played along Reading's right were pulled back from the byline to be met with thunderous finishes. Although mostly outplayed, Reading fought back into contention with a Joey Alcott goal twenty minutes in.

From there on though Reading were defending, with Southampton showing good invention and movement. Scott McDonald, who has played for the Saints first team this season, should have scored twice. Firstly he forced Simon Cox into a good save after forcing his way into the box, then from a quickly taken free-kick (where Cox was still lining up his wall) brought the best out of Cox who tipped the ball onto the crossbar in the top right hand corner. Just before half-time, McDonald did restore the two-goal advantage.

The second half brought a little respite with some good possession but no real chances were created and soon the Saints reasserted themselves, McDonald getting his second. Reading plugged away but the Saints continued to create chances and Cox had to make two more fine saves to deny McDonald his hat-trick.

Plenty of effort from Reading but Southampton had just a little too much class. On the positive side, Cox after injury was back to his best and Ricky Allaway was superb, but the man of the day for me was Matt Birnie. He was outstanding, he covered every inch of the park and made so many tackles I lost count. A superb leader and his example, closely followed by Cox and Allaway, was enormous.

Match notes:

Marcel Nugent played again - I had understood that his trial period was over, but this was apparently his final game.

Match preview:

None.

Ticket information:

None.

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