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2001/02 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goals: None
Assists: None
Opposition goals: None
Half-time: Queens Park Rangers 0 Reading 0
Gamebreaker: Final whistle
Attendance: 13,829
Referee: Barry Knight (Orpington)

Reading line-up: Phil Whitehead; Graeme Murty, Adrian Whitbread, Adie Williams, Matt Robinson; Sammy Igoe (Andy Hughes, 79 minutes), Phil Parkinson, James Harper, Alex Smith; Nicky Forster (Jamie Cureton, 72 minutes), Anthony Rougier (Darius Henderson, 54 minutes)
Subs not used: Jamie Ashdown, Adi Viveash
Reading yellow cards: Phil Parkinson (foul, 19 minutes), Nicky Forster (delaying an opposition free-kick, 68 minutes)
Reading red cards: None

Match report:

It was a scorching day and after foolishly deciding to walk five miles to get to the ground I was rather pleased that the end for Reading supporters was the one that was entirely in the shade! In such weather, it would be understandable if players took things a little more easily, but for the most part that didn't seem to be the case.

In what is the first part of the "You're Not Fit to Wear the Hoops" Cup, Reading obviously had to play in our change strip. It was however noticeable that the current QPR home kit is far closer to the classic Reading style than our own home kit. Why is it that they can have narrow hoops that go all the way round, whilst we have to put up with wide semi-hoops?

Normally before a League game, the two sides come out together just behind the referee, but for whatever reason we decided to be different today. Several minutes before the appearance of the QPR side, Martin Allen led the Reading players out and into a area of the pitch in the shade on the far side. The fourth official came out and (I think) asked us to return to the tunnel, but got no joy. The fourth official reported back to the referee, and then returned to the Reading players in order to inspect their kit, check for dangerous jewellery and so on. This is something you don't often get to see as it normally takes place out of sight of the fans. Whilst the home team entered the pitch from one side, we ran from the other!

I had said before the game that I thought Darius Henderson should keep his place in the side, but Alan Pardew instead played Anthony Rougier from the start. (I would just like to say that I was right!) Rougier showed little interest in the game, but more to the point he was nearly always involved in aerial challenges rather than receiving the ball to his feet. Henderson would have been far more effective under those conditions.

In the very first minute, Rougier almost played a significant role. He appeared to be fouled whilst jumping for the ball in the penalty area, but the referee instead gave QPR a free-kick for backing in. This event was at the far end from me, and on this occasion I suspect that the ref got it right, particularly given the number of fouls in similar situations that Rougier conceded for the remainder of the half.

A minute later, we had the ball in the area again. This time it was Nicky Forster on a run taking on two defenders. Under pressure from both he went down just as he was about to shoot - this looked a clear penalty but the referee waved play on. Had Forster dived he should have been booked, so I reckon that the ref was not convinced either way. He also got no help from his linesman at that end.

Having taken centre stage, the referee Barry Knight decided to keep it for himself. For the remainder of the game, he proceeded to blow his whistle for every real or imagined little infringement, completely destroying any chance that either team had of building some momentum. How he can be one of the top 24 chosen to go full time is completely beyond me.

On the rare occasions when we were able to make some play, our finishing let us down. We managed two shots that went tamely into the keeper's hands and two more that blazed into the upper tier of the stand behind the goal. Phil Parkinson tried to repeat his goal from a corner at Blackpool but got the wrong contact with his header which therefore went 20 yards wide. We had another potentially good early move stopped when the linesman flagged for offside against Rougier (who was standing still and not interfering with play) whilst the clearly onside Forster was rushing onto the ball.

This was all still far more than the home side could manage - it was a rare event for them to have the ball whilst in our half, and I can only remember one worthwhile attack of theirs in the entire first half. That ended with the ball hooked over the bar, with Phil Whitehead probably beaten.

We did have one good chance near just before the break, when Forster put in a good low shot from the right, which the keeper could only clear with his legs.

The half-time entertainment consisted of potentially humiliating people by making them turn round ten times before shooting at goal whilst exceptionally dizzy. Despite some home town cheating forcing the Reading entrant to turn about 13 times, he was still the only contestant to score a goal, and therefore won!

The second half promised more of the same, although both sides seemed to improve their games. There were less free-kicks and so more action. QPR had brought on a substitute just before half-time and his presence on the right side seemed to give them a genuine attacking option. However, Reading still had more of the game and the home defenders had to resort to some bad challenges to stop our attacks. They picked up several yellow cards - one was for a bad foul on Adrian Whitbread, and Phil Parkinson tried to dish out some summary justice on the offender. As Parky had already picked up a yellow in the first half, it was fortunate that another of our players led him away quickly.

After about an hour, we scored. We had a free-kick on the edge of the area, and in the absence of Darren Caskey, it was James Harper who stepped up to curl the ball into the top corner. I'm a fairly cautious person and even in a case like this, I always look at the referee before celebrating a goal. I saw him signalling the score and running back to the centre circle, but what neither of us had noticed at that stage was that the linesman had amazingly flagged for offside. If there was a player in an offside position it is very difficult to see how he could have been interfering with play, and I have never seen a goal like this disallowed for that reason before. When a linesman flags, it's usually wrong to blame the referee for the decision, but in this case the ref could easily have checked with the linesman whether or not the player concerned was interfering, and he chose not to do so.

The obvious injustice fired up the Reading side and for the next few minutes we completely dominated the game. Unfortunately we didn't manage to score, and the best chance was ended when Forster was again fouled in the penalty area, this time leading to a QPR free-kick! Forster then blocked the free-kick and was (rightly) booked for doing so. Soon after he was substituted, which meant the return of Jamie Cureton.

Queens Park Rangers then had their best attempt of the day, with a very long shot that was heading for the top corner before Whitehead was able to tip it away for a corner.

Cureton looked fairly lively considering that he hadn't played for the first team this season, but he never seemed to be quite sharp enough to get a shot in. That changed just before the end of normal time when he turned in the penalty area to fire a low shot towards goal, that the QPR keeper managed to parry. Henderson was in the vicinity but the ball instead fell to a defender who was able to clear, although as his clearance skied into the stand behind the goal it seemed that he didn't really know where he was hitting it.

Despite the five second half substitutions, a couple of injuries, a lengthy "goal" celebration and several bookings the fourth official showed three minutes of added time whilst the referee played only just over two. Given the hot conditions, this might have been understandable but it shows that the new directives about time added on are already going by the wayside. Whilst we the more likely side to score, no doubt had we done so some excuse would have been found to disallow it.

Reading played pretty well in this game, especially the wide players. Alex Smith, Sammy Igoe and (for the brief time he was on) Andy Hughes all went past players and put over good crosses. Both full-backs, Graeme Murty and Matt Robinson, also looked good going forward, with Robinson perhaps getting back to the form he showed during 2000.

Although we can look at this game and say that we failed to take three points from a poor side, that's obviously rather more consolation that the home fans can take. Those that I heard talking after the game had rapidly reassessed their chances in this division this season, and the fact that they were able to beat Stoke City two weeks ago also offers us some confidence for our trip there in three weeks.

Match notes:

Compared with the Luton Town League Cup match, Matt Robinson replaced Nicky Shorey and Anthony Rougier came in for Darius Henderson. Jamie Cureton and Andy Hughes were on the bench instead of Nathan Tyson and Joe Gamble. Compared with the last League game (against Huddersfield Town), the only difference to the starting line-up was Sammy Igoe replacing Andy Hughes, whilst Hughes and Cureton replaced Igoe and Nicky Shorey on the bench.

Although Reading lost our 100% League record, we are still unbeaten and yet to concede a goal this season.

Jamie Cureton and Andy Hughes both returned from injury and played as substitutes.

Match preview:

It's a bit difficult to know what to make of Queens Park Rangers this season. They have a 100% record in the League after two games, but managed to lose to Northampton Town in the Worthington Cup. After relegation last season, they have had something of a clearout, and are currently playing a few young players. Broadly speaking, this has worked so far but it seems unlikely to sustain them through the entire season.

After the win against Luton Town on Tuesday, Alan Pardew has given himself some selection headaches. The two obvious ones are whether he recalls Matthew Robinson for Nicky Shorey at left-back, and who plays alongside Nicky Forster up front. I think that Robinson will regain his place in the side and that Henderson will get the nod ahead of Anthony Rougier (assuming that Martin Butler is still injured and Jamie Cureton is only ready to start from the bench).

The remaining defensive players and the midfield pretty well pick themselves, again assuming that Andy Hughes is not yet fit to return. I don't think he would come straight in for Sammy Igoe at the moment in any event.

Forster may play a key role in this game as QPR are vulnerable to quick breaks, a tactic we are certain to employ away from home. Alex Smith also had an excellent game against Luton, and hopefully he can continue at that level against opposition of a slightly higher standard.

The last time I went to QPR the game was postponed about five minutes before kick-off after the heavens opened, and I couldn't get to the rearranged fixture. The other memorable visit there in recent times (and for better reasons) was the 3-1 1st Round win in the victorious Simod Cup run in 1987/88 - the only time Reading won a game on an artificial pitch.

Ticket information:

There are no more tickets on sale, but as predicted previously there are 1,000 seats available on the day.

Prices are as follows:
Adults £15
Concessions (OAPs/Seniors/Students) £7

Earlier information: Whilst there is a student concession, QPR dictate that a valid NUS card must be produced at the time of purchase, and as the tickets will be stamped "Student", this NUS card must be taken to the game and produced at the turnstile.

The away end at Loftus Road has two tiers, and the lower tier has to be sold before the upper. Our total allocation is slightly more than 2,500. As at 22/8/2001, there are about 250 tickets left. [NB The away end at QPR holds 3,897 so I'm not sure what is going on here. It may be that the 2,500 refers to an initial allocation with other places available on the day, but don't take the risk - buy your ticket now!]

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