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2003/04 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goals: None
Assists: None
Opposition goals: None
Half-time: Bournemouth 0 Reading 0
Gamebreaker: Break? It never started
Attendance: 2,125
Weather: Showers, windy
Referee: Iain Williamson (Theale)

Reading line-up: 1 Marcus Hahnemann; 2 Graeme Murty, 5 John Mackeie, 6 Adie Williams (17 Peter Castle, 77 minutes), 3 Nicky Shorey; 7 Scott Murray (John Salako, 66 minutes), 4 Kevin Watson (11 Steve Sidwell, 66 minutes), 11 Steve Sidwell (12 Nathan Tyson, 26 minutes), 8 James Harper; Nicky Forster (15 Martin Butler, 77 minutes), Darius Henderson (Bas Savage, 80 minutes)
Sub not used: Jamie Ashdown?
Approximate starting formation:

Reading yellow cards: None
Reading red cards: None

Match report:

For those that missed this game, Bournemouth now play in a three-sided matchbox ground. It's a decent enough environment for a small-time team with no ambition, and they should count themselves lucky that once a year they get the chance to arrange home friendlies against proper football clubs. The ground was improved considerably by the absence of many Bournemouth fans. Of particular amusement were the home manager's programme notes, in which he discussed the forthcoming camapign, but has apparently forgotten which division his club will be playing in!

When money permits, the home side will buy a lawn-mower. Unfortunately the local goat had not done the job properly for this game, leaving grass of an inappropriate length for any civilised sport. Just as well that Sammy Igoe had left the club, really.

Reading started this game with an experimental formation where Kevin Watson sat right in front of the back four and we didn't really have any wide players. The only tactic we used was to hoof the ball forward somewhere near to, but not at, where Darius Henderson was playing up-front. There's nothing wrong with an experiment against limited opposition in a friendly match, but if we ever see that formation again Alan Pardew needs shooting.

Literally, the first notable event of the game came on 26 minutes when Reading made a substitution! Nathan Tyson replaced Steve Sidwell, but more importantly we changed style and now had two wide players. But still the only tactic we used was to hoof the ball forward somewhere near to, but not at, where Darius Henderson was playing up-front.

To be fair, we did make a couple of chances towards the end of the half. The first should have fallen to Kevin Watson after a one-two on the edge of the box, but he failed to read the back-heeled return ball and the defence cleared. The second was from a corner! A Henderson header was comfortably saved by the keeper but does give some hope that we might see a goal from a corner again. One day.

Bournemouth fans were excited by a near-post header, which their own official website has described as being close to an opening goal. It was actually 20 metres wide of the goal, crossing the goal line between the penalty area and the corner flag hash mark. The home side did have some lengthy passing moves, but they didn't lead to anything and normally resulted in a net gain of zero metres between the start and end of the move.

At the start of the second half, Reading kept faith with the same players, whilst Bournemouth started bringing on reserves. If we thought that would allow the game to open up, we were essentially mistaken. Kevin Watson did however have a very good chance when breaking into the area after a nice passing move, but his tame shot was smothered for a corner.

Both sides made a load of substitutions until finally we managed to find two players who wanted to play. Both John Salako and Martin Butler looked lively, and nearly helped to give us a goal. Butler had a shot saved from a tight angle, and then would have had a better chance when he beat the offside trap, were it not for the fact that the linesman got his decision wrong.

To be truthful, though, 0-0 was the correct result and that was what we got. Play like this in the League and we would be in trouble. But we all know that it won't happen like this again - instead, in our next match it's far more likely that our players will be keen to win whilst Southampton's are just strolling around thinking they're too good to bother.

Match notes:

None.

Match preview:

Alan Pardew will play his strongest available team in this friendly, although that's not likely to be the same as we see start the League season at Ipswich Town in a couple of weeks. It's difficult to know whether Nicky Forster will get his first full game and therefore impossible to tell how the rest of the team will line up. However, with Steve Brown out after getting a training ground injury towards the end of the session on Monday morning, it's certain that John Mackie will have a chance to show that he can act as at least back-up to the normal two centre-backs. Unfortunately he will hit his usual problem of playing alongside Adie Williams who will be on the left side of the two and so out of position. After the game, fans will blame only Mackie for any problems.

Andy Hughes also took a training ground knock on Monday, but is apparently fit so we may see the Harper-Hughes-Sidwell midfield that Pardew seems to favour. Jamie Ashdown had a brief spell on loan at Bournemouth, which was cut short by injury, so it's quite likely that we'll see him at some stage and will be interesting to see his reception.

It's worth pointing out that Bournemouth fans really dislike Reading, with even their official website going so far as to gloat about the fact that they had only sold 10 tickets in the away section for tonight (without of course mentioning that tickets are only available in Bournemouth and in any event advance purchase is obviously not necessary). I think it is important to beat them so comfortably that they shut up.

Ticket information:

This match is pay-on-the-day or alternatively tickets can be bought in advance from Bournemouth (but not from Reading's ticket office). Since our last visit the pitch has been turned through 90° and three new stands built. Reading fans are almost certainly in the side stand located roughly where the old away terrace used to be. Prices are as follows:
Adults - £10
Concessions - £5

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