Reading v Chelsea 14.10.06

Following on from a 1-0 away win at Upton Park against West Ham, next up at the Madejski, in Reading’s inaugural season in the Premiership, was another London club, Chelsea.

If, however, big spending Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea side were expecting an easy game at the Premiership's newest boys, they were in for a bit of a rude awakening. Another capacity crowd at the Madejski settled down at 5.15 to watch the start of the game, what they didn’t know then was that the game would be remembered for two goal mouth incidents, that saw both Chelsea’s goalkeepers stretchered off the field. 

Maybe not surprisingly, I can’t really remember much about the football, other than it was a scrappy bad tempered game.  Within the first minute of the game things got bad after Stephen Hunt and Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech collided as they both went for the ball. Apparently, Hunts knee had accidentally struck Cech’s head and fractured his skull. Cech was eventually stretchered off and straight to hospital where he later had surgery.

The game continued but tensions were increased by the incident. Chelsea managed to find the back of the net on 43 minutes, but only after Frank Lampard’s shot had ricocheted off several legs before hitting Ivar Ingimarssons shine and in for an own goal.

Things only got worse when Chelsea’s substitute goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini was knocked out by Sonko as he threw himself at the ball. Cudicini was eventually stretchered off after a long time being treated on the pitch.  John Terry went in goal.

The game also had two red cards, Bikey and Obi Mikel, both being sent off. In the end Chelsea retained their lead and went home with a 1-0 win.

Reading Fans

Petr Cech would end up in hospital with a fractured skull

Michael Essien warms up before the game

John Terry would end up playing in goal

Petr Cech about to be stretchered off the pitch

Stephen Hunt

Leroy Lita

Sonko sells Drogba a dummy

Undeterred Stephen Hun goes in hard on Michael Essien

Kevin Doyle gets his shot away under pressure

Leroy Lita battles for the ball

Kevin Doyle closely marked

The tackles are still flying in....!!!

How many defenders does it take to clear the ball....!!!!

Steve Sidwell challenges Joe Cole for the ball

Tempers flare, look who's in the thick of it again

Reading v Stoke City 17.04.06

Steve Coppell took the opportunity to rest some of his first team players, giving starts to Stack, Makin, Halls, Gunnarsson, Hunt and Long, in the next home game against Stoke City.

Making his 75th appearance in the Championship, Steve Sidwell opened the scoring by heading in a simple chance from an Ivar Ingimarsson free kick on 25 minutes. At half time the score was 1-0 Reading.

On 56 minutes, Kevin Doyle was pulled back in the box to win a penalty, which he converted to make it 2-0. The Royals did concede on 59 minutes to a Adam Rooney tap in, but with John Halls stroking in a Stephen Hunt cross 3 minutes later, Reading cruised to a comfortable 3-1 win over Stoke City, and breached the 100 point barrier at the same time.



Steve Sidwell scored after 25 minutes

Nicky Shorey passing the ball

Kevin Doyle pulled back for a penalty on 56 minutes

Ibrahima Sonko out jumps everyone to head for goal

Stephen Hunt under pressure from the Stoke City player

John Halls slots it home for 3-1

John Halls congratulated by Reading's Skipper for the day

Leeds Utd v Reading 15.04.06

In this largely unforgettable game, Reading came from behind in the 85th minute, when Stephen Hunt bundled the ball over the Leeds goal line to make it 1-1. Rob Hulse had scored for Leeds two minutes into the second half, but they could not hold on to the lead. The final score was a 1-1 draw and kept alive Reading's hopes of beating Sunderland's points record total of 105.

Cardiff City v Reading 08.04.06

Following the euphoria and excitement of beating Derby County 5-0 to guarantee winning the Championship, you may have forgiven the team for easing up in their next game away to Cardiff City.

With two goals in the first half, James Harpers on 10 minutes, followed by Dave Kitson’s  on 39 minutes, Reading took a comfortable lead into half time. Cardiff’s problems were only added to, when on 52 minutes Dave Kitson pressurised Glen Loovens into a misguided header into his own net, 3-0 Reading.

Cardiff fought back with goals from Loovens and Parry to give them a chance at 3-2, but when three minutes from time, Stephen Hunt’s cross found Kevin Doyle’s head to make it 4-2 Reading, the game was effectively all over. James Harper added a fifth goal on 90 minutes, his second of the game, to complete another comprehensive win for the Royals.

 
With 98 points from 42 games Reading still had a chance to beat Sunderland’s record points total of 105.

Winning the Championship - Directors Box

Now where had I heard those words before? Once a-g-a-i-n, I found myself being pushed through a dressing room door, this time of course, it was the Home dressing room. The room was crowded with players and management team, everyone preoccupied with congratulating each other for winning the game and becoming Champions with still 5 games to go. There was a lot of handshaking, back slapping, all the things that you would imagine goes on under these circumstances.

I didn’t really get much chance to take many pictures, because before long the word went out, everybody up to the Directors Box. And so it was that I was swept along with everyone else, temporarily part of the “team” as we made our way through the internal stairs, out into the corridor, through the Directors Bar and into the Directors Box, to huge cheers from the fans waiting on the pitch below.

Now clearly none of these cheers were for me, but I have to say just how easy it is to get caught up in the euphoria of the moment, to feel that sense of great belonging and affinity with the players and fans alike.

Once again, not for the first time this season, I found myself in a privileged position, taking pictures and generally joining in with the celebrations.

Stevel Coppell shakes hands with Steve Sidwell

Marcus Hahnemann bares all

Hugs and smiles all round

View from the Directors Box

Chairman John Madejski and Players applaud the fans

Marcus Hahnemann is joined by his two sons

Dave Kitson, Bobby Convey and Ivar Ingimarsson happy to be Champions

Shane Long, Glen Little and Stephen Hunt all smiles

Leroy Lita nursing his broken ankle still joins in

A happy Bobby Convey

Ibrahima Sonko being interviewed for radio

A proud and happy Chairman John Madejski

Steve Sidwell shows his delight

Dave Kitson and Ivar Ingimarsson

Captain Graeme Murty being interview

A day that this Young Royals fan won't forget

What do you have to do, to get the Captain's Boots

Show your own "Boots" of course.....!!!!

A great result, a great day, a great season, but with still 5 games to go, could this Reading side set a new points total for winning the Championship. The win against Derby County left Reading on 95points, 10 points behind Sunderland's 105 point record.

Burnley v Reading 04.03.06

It only took 10 minutes for Reading to take the lead at Turf Moor through a thunderous 25 yard drive from Bobby Convey. On 45 minutes, however, Leroy Lita was stretchered off with a broken ankle, to be replaced by Dave Kitson. At half time the score was Burnley 0-1 Reading.

Within 10 minutes of the re-start the Royals doubled their lead, when Ibrahima Sonko leapt to meet an out swinging Glen Little cross. Dave Kitson rounded off the game with a 90th minute goal, side footing in Stephen Hunt's cut back.

Crewe Alexandra v Reading 4.02.06

When top met bottom, who would have predicted such an end to end game with seven goals. That's just what happened when high flying Reading, met bottom of the table Crewe Alexandra.

Despite being the underdogs, Crewe went into the lead on 14 minutes with a simple tap in for Luke Bell after Marcus Hahnemann had turned a swerving shot from Luke Rodgers into his path.

As was becoming quite the norm in this exceptional season, Reading hit back with two goals in two minutes. Nicky Shorey's left footed free kick and a headed goal from Steve Sidwell on 24 and 26 minutes respectively, gave Reading the lead. Leroy Lita added a third just before half time, giving the Royals a seemingly comfortable half time lead 3-1.

Crewe had other ideas though, and on 51 minutes they pulled a goal back through Gareth Taylor, 3-2. Leroy Lita gave Reading a fourth goal only two minutes later, glancing in Bobby Convey's low cross at the near post.

Reading conceded a penalty for Nicky Shorey's hand ball, Crewe scoring from the spot kick to make the score 4-3. Kenny Lunt was sent off for pulling Stephen Hunt back late in the game, and Reading hung on for another away win.

Having played 32 games, one more than second place Sheffield Utd, the Royals were on 79 points, 10 points clear at the top of the league and heading for alomost certain promotion.

Reading v Birmingham City FAC 28.01.06

The fourth round of the FA Cup saw another Premiership side visiting the Madejski Stadium, this time it was Birmingham City's turn to take on Steve Coppell's high-flying royals.

With no fewer than eight changes to the side that took on Crystal Palace, Steve Coppell gave a start to new signing John Halls, resting Graeme Murty.

On 31 minutes, Reading opened the scoring through Shane Long scoring his first goal in front of the home fans, with a well struck low shot that beat Mark Taylor at his right hand post. At half time Reading were 1-0 up.

On 57 minutes David Dunn replaced Emile Heskey in the Birmingham side. Picking up a Chris Sutton flick 10 minutes after coming on, Dunn easily swept in an equalising goal past Stack. The final score ended 1-1, earning Reading a replay at St Andrews.

New boy John Halls is challenged by two Birmingham City players

Brynjar Gunnarsson chasted by Chris Sutton

Stephen Hunt persued by Jermaine Pennant

James Harper gets ready to shoot

Goal scorer Shane Long is tripped by Tebily

Pennant, Harper & Hunt challenge for the ball

Steve Sidwell give the thumbs up

Reading v Coventry 14.01.06

Returning to Championship action, Reading's next opponents at the Madejski were Coventry City. Captained by ex-royal Adie Williams, Coventry were in the lower half of the table, a massive 37 points behind Reading.

At half time the score was 0-0, Williams picking up a yellow card on 42 minutes.

Within one minute of the restart, Dave Kitson broke the deadlock, clipping the ball over the City goal keeper Martin Fulop, having been put through by an accurate pass from Bobby Convey. At the other end of the pitch, Marcus Hahnemann was making some incredible saves to keep the Royals ahead. After the game Steve Coppell praised Hahnemann saying "he was the biggest factor in our victory, making four top-quality saves".

The score remained 1-0, until the 78th minute when Dave Kitson scored his second goal of the game, tapping in after Stephen Hunt's clever footwork set him up with an easy goal. The final score ended up at 2-0, keeping the Royals 9 points ahead od seconded placed Sheffield Utd.

Adie Williams leading out his Coventry City side

Dave Kitson looses his balance

Dave Kitson celebrates his first goal

Dave Kitson is joined by the rest of the team to celebrate his second goal of the game

Dave Kitson brings the ball under control

Stephen Hunt set up Reading's second goal

These young Royals fans celebrate another win and three more points