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2002/03 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goals: None
Assists: None
Opposition goals: After 61, 63 and 72 minutes
Half-time: Derby County 0 Reading 0
Gamebreaker: Derby's first goal
Attendance: 33,016
Weather: Dry, sunny
Referee: Graham Laws (Whitley Bay)

Reading line-up: 1 Phil Whitehead; 2 Graeme Murty, 6 John Mackie, 8 Adie Williams, 3 Nicky Shorey; 4 Kevin Watson (16 Phil Parkinson, 86 minutes); 14 Sammy Igoe (12 Jamie Cureton, 58 minutes), 11 Andy Hughes, 15 James Harper, 17 John Salako; 9 Martin Butler (24 Darius Henderson, 81 minutes)
Subs not used: 21 Jamie Ashdown, 7 Anthony Rougier
Approximate starting formation:

(the gap between Butler and the rest is not a mistake, but how I read the formation)
Reading yellow cards: Martin Butler (only the referee knows why, 6 minutes), John Mackie (foul, 15 minutes), Darius Henderson (foul, 89 minutes)
Reading red cards: None

Match report:

I did say in my match preview that I thought this might be "glorious failure". Well I was half-right. Unfortunately it was the second half of that phrase that was correct. As expected, Reading lined up with the defensive 4-5-1 formation. Martin Butler was left completely isolated throughout the game, with even the more attacking midfield players clearly under instructions not to push too far forward. Butler himself did not have a good game in this role, although given the complete lack of support this is hardly a surprise.

Although we managed to get through an hour's play with the score still at the manager's desired 0-0, it was clearly only a matter of time before we conceded. Any real hopes of a smash-and-grab raid were undone by the choice of formation and tactics, and any faint hopes of a unjustified positive result were probably extinguished by the referee's inconsistency.

The first major incidents of the game came after about five minutes. A Derby attack at the far end saw a loud penalty appeal that the referee turned down. I have no idea whether he got that decision correct, but given that the Derby forward concerned is well known for diving it seems quite likely that the ref was right. I shall refer to the forward concerned as "Cheat No. 1" in the rest of the report. Whilst Derby were appealing Reading went on a quick break. Martin Butler got the ball just inside the home team's half and although in a wide position it looked as though we might have a dangerous attack (for the only time in the game, as it turned out). Butler was cynically brought down by the Derby right-back, who we'll call "Cheat No. 2". The referee booked both cheats but also booked Butler. Unless our forward said something, it was impossible to tell why.

Attacking down the left wing was clearly our best hope, and shortly afterwards John Salako ran at Cheat No. 2 and was cynically fouled. This time the referee dished out only a lecture whilst even the home fans wondered how their captain had managed to stay on the pitch (and given the player's start to the season, they were probably half-hoping he'd get sent off!). From that point on, it was clear that we should put the right-back under serious pressure as he could not risk another similar foul. And so in the remaining 75 minutes, how many times did we run at him? None.

The best two chances to score in the first half were at the far end. Derby attacks down the left were causing Graeme Murty all sorts of problems, and from one they managed several good passes inside our area until a defender cleared the shot off the line. I think it was Nicky Shorey who had got back to do so. Then, after Kevin Watson had conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position, Cheat No. 1 hit an excellent free-kick that hit the outside of the post with Phil Whitehead given no chance at all.

Generally speaking, we had conceded far too much possession in the half, and even clearances had sometimes unnecessarily gone out for corners rather than throw-ins. Reading had two shots in the half - one from Sammy Igoe that wouldn't have gone in had the goal been four times as high and twice as wide, and the other one on target but simple to save. On the other hand, we had made it to half-time without conceding even if it only looked a matter of time before that changed.

At the start of the second half, it did look as though Derby had stepped up a gear. I can imagine Alan Pardew in the dressing-room telling the Reading team to keep things as they were, whilst the Derby manager had pointed out various weaknesses and probably given certain players a roasting. The first serious attack saw Whitehead make a good save, with a late punch to a shot that must have almost crossed the line before the Reading keeper got to it. A few minutes later, Adie Williams was back on the goal-line to head away another goalbound effort.

Our main problem was still keeping the ball. I was sitting there thinking to myself that the only one of our players who was managing to do so was Sammy Igoe. Just as that thought crossed my mind, Pardew took him off! He brought on Jamie Cureton with the aim of a switch to 4-4-2, and I think that was the right decision as something definitely needed to change. However, I think taking off the anonymous James Harper, or even Watson or Andy Hughes would have made more sense. Instead Hughes was now playing wide on the right, where he is not as good as Igoe.

I don't think the substitution had anything to do with it, but inside about four minutes we were two goals down. The first came from a long shot outside the area as our players as usual failed to close the ball down quickly enough. The second was from a well-constructed move where John Mackie failed to deal with one forward, and the other was somehow completely unmarked inside the penalty area. I couldn't see us coming back from one down, so the second certainly sealed things.

I think that Derby eased off a little after that, as we did start to get a bit more of the ball. Our only decent on-target shot of the match came after John Salako made some space for himself by beating one player, and then put in a low right-foot shot aimed at the corner of the goal. However, the Derby keeper was able to make a decent save to keep it out.

Cheat No. 1 was fortunate to stay on the pitch after a deliberate handball in the Reading penalty area. Fortunately for him the referee bottled out of making the correct decision and gave only a free-kick. It wouldn't have made any difference to the result, though.

Derby got a third, thanks to a crazy back-pass from a Reading player near his own goal. I thought it was Murty but everyone else said Hughes. After the culprit had given the ball straight to Cheat No. 1 it was easy for him to pass the ball to his unmarked forward partner in acres of space in the penalty area, and that was 3-0. Phil Whitehead was not pleased with the build-up to the goal, and let the defence know all about it.

Time was just played out, but we did have two shots and with the lack of forward penetration during the game it's worth mentioning them both. Harper put in a decent little run to get into a shooting position on the edge of the area, but unlike our midfield, the Derby players closed down quickly and his shot was deflected well over the bar. Then in the dying moments, Cureton got a sight of goal but shot well wide. Towards the end, Darius Henderson had replaced Butler, and fitted in much better with our gameplan. He also managed to pick up a yellow card for a robust challenge, which seemed unfair given that three Derby players also ended with one yellow card but in their cases it was after a series of bookable offences.

The final whistle was more of a relief than anything else. When we first played this 4-5-1 formation at Kidderminster in July, I wrote that we should give thanks that we would never see it again. Since then, it's been tried on a few occasions and has always been found wanting. It should be junked now. Certainly if there is to be any more usage of it, then we need different personnel on the pitch. The over-riding problem is that when we play this way, it means we are looking for a 0-0 draw and we have shown no signs that we are capable of getting one.

I only mentioned Nicky Shorey once in the report. He had a decent enough game, although the Derby threat down our left was nowhere near as strong as on the other side of the pitch. There was no obvious sign that he would fail to step up the grade in this division, but was less of an attacking threat than in the past. The fact that he doesn't get mentioned really suggests that he was solid enough at left-back.

Match notes:

To follow

Match preview:

It always seems like a long break between the end of one season and the beginning of the next. This summer has seen the longest break since the mid-70s, because of the much earlier than usual end to the League programme last season. And it has seemed even longer because of the expectations of a return to Division 1.

Overall, I expect Reading to finish in the top ten this season but I can see the campaign beginning with glorious failure. Derby County are clearly going to be a strong side in this division, and although some of their flair players are unlikely to excel all season, even they will be motivated for a mid-August opener. In fact, rain dances might be in order in the away end because bad weather is more likely to affect the home team than our players.

The recent introduction of 4-5-1 line-ups in friendly games is to allow for some variations when playing against opponents who (unlike last season) are not necessarily inferior to us. Alan Pardew is certain to adopt the new formation at Derby with Martin Butler playing the lone role up-front. With the absence of Nicky Forster through illness, it's pretty easy to guess what the rest of the team will be. The back four will be Graeme Murty, Adie Williams, John Mackie and Nicky Shorey. Kevin Watson will play just in front of the defence, with James Harper and Andy Hughes taking the central midfield. Wide midfielders will be John Salako and Sammy Igoe.

It's more difficult to guess who will be on the bench. Apart from a goalkeeper (presumably Jamie Ashdown even if the signing of Marcus Hahnemann goes through today), I'm sure that Adi Viveash will be on the bench as he is the only other fit central defender. The most obvious midfielder is Joe Gamble, and forward substitutes are likely to be Anthony Rougier and Jamie Cureton. However, Darius Henderson played so well on Monday that he must be in with a chance. Could Alan Pardew consider not even selecting Cureton on the bench?

Now, it is of course irrelevant but this is not the way I would approach the game at all. I would stick with 4-4-2 because the players are comfortable with it, and it allows the dangerous forward pairing of Butler and Cureton. If we need to shut up shop later in the game, we can switch to 4-5-1 if we think that will help.

The reason I am concerned about the line-up we will play is that I can envisage Derby playing long balls over the top and catching out our defenders with quick attackers. If Martin Butler is the only player we have who is harrying the Derby defence, then they are likely to have time to pick out the runs of Malcolm Christie or Fabrizio Ravanelli. I can see us conceding a goal fairly early in the game, fighting well to get back in to it but not actually managing it. (Of course, the line-up I would select would be guaranteed to come home with three points!)

Reading have spent three previous spells in Division 1 or its equivalent, and in each case the spell started with a defeat and a clean sheet for the opposition. In 1926 it was a heavy 3-0 away defeat, in 1986 a fairly comprehensive home defeat even if only by 1-0, and in 1994 an unlucky 1-0 away loss. So it looks as if we've made some sort of progress over the decades, and returning from Derby with a point or even a goal would continue that general trend.

Ticket information:

Since our last visit to Derby, the home side have moved ground to Pride Park. It is reputedly among the very best of the new stadia and it will be interesting to compare it to Madejski Stadium.

We have been allocated 3,146 tickets, which go on sale to season ticket holders (on a one-per-season-ticket basis) from Wednesday, 24th July, to STAR members from Monday, 29th July, and on general sale from Tuesday, 30th July. The home side have made this a kid for a quid day, so prices are as follows:
Adults - £20
Over-65s - £10
Under-16s - £1

As of 7th August, all tickets for away fans have sold out.

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