Derby County v Reading 31.12.05

The third of four games over the busy Christmas period 2005/6 season was away to Derby County at Pride Park.

Reading conceded the first goal on 32 minutes as Seth Johnson fired home from close range. Within two minutes of the restart, however, Kevin Doyle popped up at the near-post to head home a Glen Little chipped cross. At half time the score was 1-1.

Johnson scored his second goal of the game when he took advantage of a poor clearance to make it 2-1 to Derby. With time running out, Derby looked the more likely to add to their score. Shane Long replaced Bobby Convey  on 70 minutes, and within seconds was brought down by Andrew Davies who received his second yellow card of the game and was sent off. Reading now began to press and take advantage of the extra man. On 88 minutes Shane Long jumped high to nod home Steve Sidwell's cross to earn an away draw, 2-2 and one point.

The Royals remained in first place, still 7 points clear of Sheffield Utd in second place, and significantly 18 points ahead of third place Leeds Utd.