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2003/04 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goals: Shaun Goater (3 minutes), Scott Murray (30 minutes), Scott Murray (36 minutes)
Assists: Nicky Forster (2), Steve Sidwell
Opposition goals: After 6 and 81 minutes
Half-time: Derby County 1 Reading 3
Gamebreaker: Reading's third goal
Attendance: 18,970
Weather: Warm, sunny
Referee: Colin Webster (Shotley Bridge)

Reading line-up: 1 Marcus Hahnemann; 2 Graeme Murty, 8 Adie Williams, 5 Steve Brown (6 John Mackie, half-time), 25 Ricky Newman; 7 Scott Murray, 14 Steve Sidwell, 4 Kevin Watson (15 James Harper, 46 minutes, in first-half injury-time), 11 Andy Hughes; 9 Shaun Goater (16 Martin Butler, 79 minutes), 10 Nicky Forster
Subs not used: 21 Jamie Ashdown, 22 Nathan Tyson
Starting formation:

Reading yellow cards: Ricky Newman (foul, 6 minutes), Marcus Hahnemann (time-wasting, 86 minutes)
Reading red cards:

Match report:

Against a very poor side, Reading just about managed to come away with three points. Things started exceptionally well, with an early Shaun Goater goal just about finding the back of the net after a pass from Nicky Forster. However, Derby equalised shortly afterwards when Ricky Newman brought down their right winger in the penalty area. Newman had wanted Marcus Hahnemann to come to collect a long ball played over the top, but the keeper stayed on his line. The penalty-taker sent Hahnemann the wrong way.

Fortunately this spurred us on to dominate the game in what proved to be the crucial period of the match, although not until after the home side had hit the post. We took the lead again with a Scott Murray goal from a corner. Murray took the corner himself, played it to Forster who back-heeled it for Murray to run along the by-line. He then shot and scored from a narrow angle. I had the impression that it was an improvised move after the original corner-kick routine had broken down, but maybe they fooled me as well as the Derby defence!

Shortly afterwards, Murray made the game safe with a powerful drive into the roof of the net from the edge of the area after good work from Forster and a final short pass from Steve Sidwell.

Just before half-time both, Kevin Watson and Steve Brown were injured. Watson left the field before the break, whilst Brown did not return from the second half. We had the unusual sight of Reading manager Alan Pardew giving John Mackie heading practice on the pitch during the interval. Presumably Kevin Dillon was doing the half-time talk.

We actually tried to kill the game in the second half instead of going for the jugular. This is something I have complained long and often about, but the message has yet to get through. In this case, it seems that it wasn't Pardew's fault as he was signalling the players to get forward more. After Derby had made a substitution they got back into the game and eventually pulled one goal back. This was the first goal we'd conceded from open play this season, and a second would have followed shortly afterwards had Hahnemann not made a good smothering save when Derby broke through our back line.

The home side's last chance was a header that sailed over the bar, and we therefore hung on to get all three points.

Match notes:

Compared to the Nottingham Forest game, Ricky Newman replaced the suspended Nicky Shorey and Kevin Watson came in for John Salako with Andy Hughes moving to a wide left position. James Harper and Nathan Tyson came onto the bench. Omar Daley travelled with the squad for the first time.

Derby's first goal was from a penalty, and was the third such goal we had conceded in four games. Their second goal was the first one this season that we conceded from open play.

Match preview:

None.

Ticket information:

Reading fans will get part of one of the end stands at Pride Park, with a capacity of up to about 3,300. Tickets go on sale to season ticket holders (two per ticket) from Monday, 11th August, to STAR members (one per member) from Thursday, 14th August, and on general sale from Friday, 15th August. Prices are as follows:
Adults - £20
Concessions - £10

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