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2001/02 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goal: John Salako (79 minutes)
Assist: Sammy Igoe
Opposition goal: After 22 minutes
Half-time: Bury 1 Reading 0
Gamebreaker: Final whistle
Attendance: 3,667
Weather: (Surprisingly) dry
Referee: Michael Jones (Chester)

Reading line-up: 31 Ben Roberts; 2 Graeme Murty, 23 John Mackie, 8 Adie Williams, 28 Nicky Shorey; 14 Sammy Igoe, 11 Andy Hughes (12 Jamie Cureton, 66 minutes), 16 Phil Parkinson, 29 John Salako; 10 Nicky Forster (24 Darius Henderson, 74 minutes), 7 Anthony Rougier
Subs not used: 21 Jamie Ashdown, 3 Matt Robinson, 4 Keith Jones
Reading yellow cards: John Mackie (dissent, 35 minutes), John Salako (dissent, 57 minutes)
Reading red cards: None

Match report:

The only cliche that I haven't heard about the result of this game is the one that takes the form, "Well, we'll just have to go on another run of wins without conceding a goal." On that basis, I'd just like to say that after this 1-1 draw, we'll just have to go on another run of wins without conceding a goal.....

An away draw against a relegation-threatened side who were missing several of their normal starting line-up does not sound like a good result, but it's not possible to win every game and the Reading performance in this match showed sufficient quality for no-one to start to get concerned just yet. The Bury pitch is absolutely atrocious, consisting of mud and no grass at all - this makes playing the ball along the ground almost impossible whilst the Bury line-up not unreasonably includes quite a few big players who are comfortable with the sort of style demanded by the terrain. I have to wonder exactly why Manchester United use such a surface for their reserve games, that being the principal reason for the pitch condition at this stage of the season.

In the opening ten minutes, Reading did look as though we would swamp the home side even with these factors stacked against us. In fact, after four miuntes Bury got the ball into our half and I think that might well have been the first time! However, the early Reading pressure did not lead to a goal and Bury got back into the game. After 21 minutes and 38 seconds (not that I was timing it, you'll understand), our defence was breached for the first time this year. The Bury midfield played a good long ball over Graeme Murty's head to one of their two decent forwards - he took the ball nicely, advanced a few yards, and placed a low shot from a tight angle past the onrushing Ben Roberts and into the net. The whole Reading team did a quick pseudo-huddle before kicking off, probably with captain Phil Parkinson saying something like, "OK, lads, we knew someone would score against us eventually - let's make sure it doesn't happen again today."

Although the goal gave Bury some confidence, Reading still had far more possession. The main difference was that we had to be a bit more careful of the home side on the break. By the end of the half, we were still a goal down and much of the game had been scrappy, with neither keeper involved in much further action.

Most of the second half appeared to be played in the Bury half of the field, but without any cutting edge to the Reading attack. Although we managed to get a number of shots on goal, all of them were easy for the goalkeeper (either straight at him or with no power) except for the Anthony Rougier shot that was heading for the corner flag.....

We should have had an opportunity to test the keeper from 12 yards when Rougier was wrestled to the ground in the penalty area. Amazingly, the referee waved play on and John Salako got booked for protesting about the decision. Five minutes later from a cross the ball struck the hand of a Bury defender on the goal-line, but I think to give a penalty for that one would have been a bit harsh. Another referee might have grasped the opportunity to make up for his earlier howler.

Instead, it was Roberts who was forced into a good save when a Bury break left a striker with a clear shot on goal. Roberts was able to fly to his right and turn the ball away for a corner.

The Bury fans at this stage were practically dancing in the stands but eventually the pressure told. A good passing move ended when Sammy Igoe passed the ball to John Salako just inside the area. Salako made room for the shot and put a fantastic curler just beyond the keeper's reach which clipped the post and went into the net. From behind the goal the amount of swerve Salako got on the ball was amazing.

As at Peterborough (the only time this season we have come from behind to win), Reading continued to press and were clearly not content to settle for a draw. However, we still failed to force the Bury goalkeeper into a save and there was really only one last chance to get a winner. That came in injury time when Rougier broke the offside trap and got the ball round the keeper, although this was well outside the penalty area and wide of goal. The goalkeeper pulled Rougier's shirt forcing him to miss with the shot. The referee's decision - goal kick. Of course had he actually given a free-kick and sent the keeper off as he should have done, we would not really have benefited as there were only seconds remaining.

For me, the disappointing aspect of this game is that we only had one good shot on target all game - the goal, obviously. I would have liked to see the goalkeeper tested more as I'm not sure that he would have been up to the task.

Match notes:

Reading fielded the same starting line-up as for the previous game against Colchester United (a very rare occurrence!). On the bench, Matt Robinson replaced Joe Gamble.

The Bury goal in the 22nd minute ended our run of not conceding a goal at 675 minutes (seven full games plus 23 minutes away to Cardiff City and 22 minutes in this game). It was also the first goal conceded in a Reading shirt by Ben Roberts.

The final result also meant that Reading's run of seven straight wins came to an end. However, we are still unbeaten in the last 10 games (seven wins, three draws), and in the League are unbeaten away from home in the last nine games (seven wins, two draws).

Match preview:

None.

Ticket information:

The away end at Gigg Lane holds 2,676 fans. There is also usually space for up to 600 away fans in the family area of the Main Stand. Standard ticket prices this season are:
Adults - £14
Over-65s / Under-16s - £7

Bury also offer a limited numbers "executive-style" package for a price of £31 (possibly a lower price for juniors) which provides a car park pass, matchday programme, four-course lunch, entry to the main stand for the game, half-time refreshments and access to a bar. It needs to be pre-booked by phoning Bury on 0161 705 2144.

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