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2002/03 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goals: Jamie Cureton (24 minutes), Darius Henderson (32 minutes), Phil Parkinson (37 minutes), Jamie Cureton (40 minutes), Jamie Cureton (penalty, 50 minutes)
Assists: Darius Henderson (fouled for free-kick), Sammy Igoe, Anthony Rougier, Anthony Rougier, Sammy Igoe? (fouled for penalty)
Opposition goals: After, 17, 19, 61 and 81 minutes
Half-time: Reading 4 West Ham United 2
Gamebreaker: Final whistle
Attendance: 7,818
Weather:
Referee: Paul Armstrong (Thatcham)

Reading line-up: 1 Phil Whitehead; 2 Graeme Murty, 6 John Mackie (8 Adie Williams, 80 minutes), 5 Adi Viveash, 3 Nicky Shorey (26 Alex Smith, 76 minutes); 14 Sammy Igoe (15 James Harper, 68 minutes), 16 Phil Parkinson (11 Andy Hughes, 76 minutes), 19 Joe Gamble (4 Kevin Watson, 76 minutes), 7 Anthony Rougier (17 John Salako, 50 minutes); 12 Jamie Cureton, 24 Darius Henderson (9 Martin Butler, 60 minutes)
Subs not used: 21 Jamie Ashdown
Starting formation:

Reading yellow cards: None
Reading red cards: None

Match report:

It was back to 4-4-2 as Reading fielded a starting line-up mostly containing reserves. Of the players that took the field, only Phil Whitehead, John Mackie, the two full-backs and possibly Sammy Igoe can expect a place in our first choice eleven. West Ham on the other hand put out more-or-less their best team.

After some initial exchanges where we seemed to threaten with deep crosses to the far post but failed to capitalise on this, it really did look like Reading reserves against a Premiership first team, as the visitors dominated the match and scored two goals. The first came after a good move to get the ball into the box, followed by a quick turn and shot that beat Whitehead at his near post. The second was a mishit shot from outside the area that the Reading keeper allowed to squirm under his body.

There's no doubt that from that point on, West Ham eased up and this allowed Reading to get back into the game. The referee awarded us a rather dubious free-kick on the edge of the area after a foul on Darius Henderson, and Jamie Cureton struck the ball sweetly around the wall and into the net.

The equaliser came from another free-kick, this time after a foul on Graeme Murty wide on the right. Igoe swung the ball to the far post where Henderson should have buried it. However, the keeper made a decent enough save, except for the fact that he pushed the ball straight back to Henderson who knocked it in at the second attempt.

Five minutes later, we had another. From an Anthony Rougier corner, the West Ham goalkeeper failed to collect the ball, and it bounced out to Phil Parkinson who fired home just inside the post.

As if that wasn't enough, Reading's best goal of the match came just before half-time when Anthony Rougier beat the right-back with embarrassing ease, and for a change put over a decent low cross between the last line of defence and goalkeeper. Predator Jamie Cureton was on hand to stab the ball past the keeper, who on this occasion had no chance.

Overall, it had been a half that both defences would want to forget. We had been put in trouble on several occasions due to Whitehead's inability to claim crosses, and he was clearly at fault for the second goal. The West Ham goalkeeper should have done better with three of our four goals, and fully deserved the taunts he received from the Reading fans about the player he had replaced in their starting line-up.

Early in the second half, a good Reading move left Igoe running into a scoring position when he was pulled back in the penalty area. The linesman gave the decision, and although some defenders protested, it was clearly the correct decision. They were obviously just trying to protect themselves from dressing-room blame after the match. In a league game, the culprit would have been sent off as well. Before we took the penalty John Salako replaced Rougier, but it was Cureton who made no mistake with the penalty kick to claim his hat-trick.

Both sides made a large number of substitutions in the remainder of the game, and the West Ham players who came on clearly had something to prove, as they upped their game considerably. Reading suffered from an inability to keep the ball and conceded a third goal after a slick passing move (albeit past static defenders). After we had changed our midfield, and in particular brought on Kevin Watson, I was hoping that we would see some better passing, but if anything things got worse as we conceded possession on a regular basis.

With ten minutes left, Adi Viveash gave the ball away in a dangerous position, not for the first time, and this set up a chance for the so-called Premiership side to pull a goal back as a hard shot was fired past Whitehead. Although there was more pressure in the closing minutes of the game, Reading somehow held out to clinch the victory.

It remains to be seen what selection headaches this performance has given Alan Pardew. I assume that his plan was to play 4-5-1 against Derby on Saturday, which would mean no place for any of the forwards or midfielders who started this game (except possibly Igoe). I can't really see him changing his mind. On the other hand, we clearly have real problems at the back, and given that Adrian Whitbread is not going to be match-fit by Saturday even if he is over his injury, then that is likely to continue. There could be some high-scoring matches in the near future.

Match notes:

None.

Match preview:

None.

Ticket information:

Tickets are on sale now. The North Stand will be closed for this game. Prices are as follows:

Tickets booked in advance via the official club website:
Adults - £13
Concessions - £6
There will also be a £1 fee per transaction.

Other tickets bought in advance:
Adults - £15
Concessions - £8
Wheelchair - £12
There will also be a £1 fee per transaction for tickets bought over the phone.

Tickets bought on the day:
Adults - £20
Concessions - £13
Wheelchair - £18

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