1871 - the ultimate Reading FC website

2001/02 Reports

Match facts:

Reading goal: Nathan Tyson (20 minutes)
Assists: Basir Savage
Opposition goals: After 9 and 90 minutes
Half-time: Brentford 1 Reading 1
Gamebreaker: Brentford's second goal
Attendance: About 120
Weather: Dry, chilly
Referee: Trevor Kettle (Maidenhead)
Linesmen: E Smith, P Toyer

Reading line-up: 1 Jamie Ashdown, 2 Matt Robinson, 3 Alex Smith, 5 Declan O'Hara (12 Alex Stanley, 82 minutes), 6 Ricky Allaway, 7 Neil Smith, 4 Andre Boucaud, 8 Scott Williams (14 Steven Laidler, 56 minutes), 11 Nathan Tyson, 9 Basir Savage, 10 Jamie Cureton.
Subs not used: 16 Simon Cox, 15 Simieon Howell
Reading yellow cards: Matt Robinson (foul, 26 minutes), Andre Boucaud (foul, 64 minutes)
Reading red cards: None

Match report:

The referee for this game was Flight Lieutenant Trevor Kettle and the good news is that he is based in Maidenhead, so he will hopefully never be refereeing any of our first team games. He clearly wanted to be the star, which is why I've mentioned him first. Any chance of a decent game of football disappeared as he decided that every single contact between players deserved a free-kick, even when he could easily have played an advantage. He also managed to book three players, which in a reserve game would normally mean a series of 22-man brawls.

Right, now that I've dealt with the 127 stoppages in play, let's talk about what happened in the few remaining minutes of the game.

The Reading formation had Matt Robinson at right-back, and Jamie Cureton playing behind the front two of Basir Savage and Nathan Tyson. Neil Smith in midfield had a chance to push for a place in the first team this Saturday.

We went behind quite early on. Brentford forced a corner, which we cleared only at the expense of another one. The second corner was headed goalwards by an attacker - Jamie Ashdown tried to claw the ball back (it may have even gone over the line before this) but he couldn't hold on to it and it definitely went over the line afterwards.

Cureton had a hard-hit shot well saved by the Brentford keeper after a good run and cross by Tyson, but five minutes after that we got back on terms. A ball was played up the middle, where Savage flicked it over the defence to Tyson who shot. The ball came off the underside of the bar and bounced up but Tyson had continued running and was able to head it home. There was a strong hint that Tyson was offside at the time that Savage headed the ball, even allowing for his pace.

Before half-time both sides had chances to take the lead. Brentford headed horribly wide from only a few yards out, whilst Cureton had a long shot that went just wide of the post.

I thought Robinson had looked more lively than of late, making a couple of surging runs similar to those he used to do down the left wing. However, the experiment (if that is what it was) of Cureton playing in the hole didn't seem to work at all. He gave the ball away too frequently, and wasn't able to get into the more dangerous positions where his talents can really show. There was even one point in the half where he picked the ball up from the back four in almost a sweeper position!

At the start of the second half, Brentford were well on top, with practically all the action taking place in our half. This lasted for 15 or 20 minutes, but did not really lead to any serious chances. We did get back into the game a bit more, leading to both a Savage header and a Cureton shot that went over the bar.

At the other end, Brentford were also having height problems, with two shots over the bar, one of which ended up in the second tier of the stand at that end. Then as the clock reached 90 minutes Brentford snatched a winner with a nicely directed and strong header that went in at the foot of the far post.

There were four minutes of added time but we never looked like getting a second equaliser.

But the last word must be for Trevor Kettle - pillock.

Match notes:

I think that technically this was not Bas Savage's first game as a Reading player, because even if he had signed a contract just before the game he would not have been registered. Therefore I guess he still counts as a trialist.

Alan Pardew had suggested at the Fans Forum that Darius Henderson would play in this game at centre-back if his knee was alright. So that suggests his knee is still giving him at least a slight problem.

Match preview:

The game takes place at Griffin Park. Brentford are one of the few teams that like to play their reserve games in the evening, so it really is a 7pm kick-off.

The expected Reading line-up is:
Jamie Ashdown, Matt Robinson, Alex Smith, Declan O'Hara, Ricky Allaway, Neil Smith, Andre Boucaud, Scott Williams, Nathan Tyson, Basir Savage, Jamie Cureton.
Subs: Simon Cox, Simieon Howell, Steven Laidler

Ticket information:

None.

Home . Reserves Index

News . First Team . Opposition . Academy . Where Are They Now? . Columns . Kingsley . MadStad . Interactive . Links . Site Map