Arsenal v Reading CC 29.11.05

The much awaited mid week Carling Cup game against Arsenal, had Reading Fans scrambling for tickets. This was Arsenal’s last season playing at Highbury, so gave visiting teams and their fans, a last opportunity to play and support their teams at this historic ground.

It would also give Reading’s players a small taste of the type and standard of football they could expect if they were promoted to the Premier League.

Arsenal fielded five stars bound for the World Cup in the summer, and together with the rest of the Arsenal youngsters, proved to pacey to handle. With first half goals from Reyes and Van Persie, and a second half goal from Lupoli, Arsenal were 3-0 winners on the night.

Despite losing, the Royals came away with some useful experience and could still hold their heads high.

This defeat ended Reading's record breaking 23 consecutive match unbeaten run.

a prematch Arsne Wenger

A young looking van Persie celebrating his first hal goal

Ibrahima Sonklo clears the ball

ex Gunner Steve Sidwell in midfield

an impressive Almunia watched by Steve Sidwell

John Oster crosses the ball in front of the North Bank

Cygan sends Kevin Doyle flying

A despondent young Royals Fan

James Harper & Graeme Murty applaud the Reading Fans

Plymouth Argyle v Reading 26.11.05

Now leaders of the Championship, Reading's next game was away to Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.

Within 20 minutes of the start, Glen Little conjured up a magical chip from 25 yards to beat Roman Larrieu in the Plymouth goal. 1-0 to the Royals, which is how it stayed until half time.

In the second half, Kevin Doyle touched in Leroy Lita's deflected shot from close range on 58 minutes, extending Reading's lead. A lead that was never really threatened, and was the final result, Plymouth 0-2 Reading.

Ipswich Town v Reading 22.11.05

A clinical 3-0 win away to Ipswich Town at Portman Road gave the Royals the three points they needed to climb to the top of the table, a position that they did not relinquish for the remainder of the season.

The Royals goal scorers were Steve Sidwell, Leroy Lita and Kevin Doyle.

Reading v Hull City 19.11.05

The Royals met the Tigers at the Madejski stadium for the second time in just over a month. The Royals scored an impressive 3-1 win, although the result for much of the game looked in the balance.
Bobby Convey opened the scoring after just 7 minutes, having been put through by a Kevin Doyle pass. Hull City had several good chances in the first half, but Reading's one goal lead still held at half time.

10 minutes into the second half former England striker Nick Barmby made no mistake with his head to level the score. Any chance of a more sustained challenge from Hull was stopped on 69 and 70 minutes, with two goals in two minutes. Kevin Doyle managed to strike a high volley in off the underside of the crossbar, followed a minute later by Glen Little's goal steer a pass from Bobby Convey pass Boaz Myhill.

Graeme Murty greets Nicky Barmby to toss the coin

Bobby Convey strikes for goal



Nicky Barmby out jumps Kevin Doyle

Leroy Lita jumps to control the ball

Leroy Lita tries for another spectacular overhead

Nicky Shorey challenges for the ball



Kevin Doyle beats the Hull defender to the ball

And sends his volley goalward to score off the underside of the crossbar

QPR v Reading 05.11.05

Beating QPR 2-1 away extended the Royals unbeaten run to 20 consecutive games, and saw them increase the gap over third spot in the league to nine points.

On 10 minutes James Harper opened the scoring with a left foot drive, set up by Dave Kitson. Reading's 1-0 half time lead, however, was short lived as Lee Cook fired a shot just pass Marcus Hahnemann's fingertips and in off the far post.

Reading fought back and when Ivar Ingimarsson rose in the box to head in a John Oster outswinging corner on 66 minutes, their lead was restored, 2-1 to the Royals. At the final whistle, Reading had secured another three points and went into a two week break still comfortable in second place in the league.

Reading v Sheffield Wednesday 01.11.05

Next to visit the Madejski in the Championship was the blue half of Sheffield. With only three wins so far this season, Sheffield Wednesday were looking for some away points to improve their league position.

The opening goal came directly from a save from Marcus Hahnemann, who immeadiately launched a counter attack via Kevin Doyle. Glen Whelan intercepted a cross from Doyle ahead of Dave Kitson, but only managed to slice the ball pass David Lucas in the Sheffield goal. 1-0 to the Royals after 38 minutes.

On 64 minutes Glen Little picked out Dave Kitson in the box who drove the ball low under the Sheffield keeper to make it 2-0. At full time Reading were still second in the Championship on 38 points, 3 points behind Sheffield Utd, but now significantly 9 points ahead of third place Watford.

Bobby Convey celebrates Whelan's own goal

Glen Little makes himself heard

Graeme Murty drives forward

David Lucas punches the ball clear

James Harper points Ibrahima Sonka in the right direction

Steve Sidwell challenges for the ball

Dave Kitson drives the ball home on 64 minutes

Reading v Leeds Utd 29.10.05

Despite being the better side for most of this game, the Royals had to settle for a draw and a single point from this top five clash at the Madejski Stadium. The first half finished 0-0, but 3 minutes into the second half Brynjar Gunnarsson opened the scoring, driving a low shot inside Neil Sullivan's right upright. Second half substitute David Healy scored a deflected goal off the legs of Ivar Ingimarsson in the 75 minute to earn a draw for Leeds.

This result set a new Reading club record of 18 consecutive matches without defeat.

The thirteenth man show their support

Bobby Convey strikes a free kick goalwards

Bobby Convey takes on a Leeds player

Ivar Ingimarsson cross for the waiting Kevin Doyle



Brynjar Gunnarsson heads for goal

Reading players mob Brynjar Gunnarsson after scoring on 63 minutes

Reading v Sheffield Utd CC 25.10.05

Not long after the Championship game against top of the table rivals Sheffield Utd, the sides were again playing each other in the Carling Cup at the Madejski. Steve Coppell made seven changes for this game. After a goalless first half Dave Kitson was once again back on the score sheet, sweeping in a half volley on 54 minutes to put the Royals one up. Kitson added a second 21 minutes later to extend Readings lead, a lead they held onto until the final whistle.

Stoke City v Reading 22.10.05

Dave Kitson returned from injury to score the only goal of the game, when reading travelled to Stoke City's Britainia Stadium. After 15 games played in the Championship, reading were in second place with 34 points, 3 points behind leaders Sheffield Utd but 6 points ahead of Luton Town in third place.

Hull City v Reading 18.10.05

The Royals travelled away in their next game, and played newly promoted Hull City at the KC Stadium. The final score was a 1-1 draw with Glen Little scoring the Reading goal after 74 minutes.

Reading v Ipswich Town 16.10.05

Next up were Joe Royle's Ipswich Town, in front of the Sky Sports cameras. From the start Reading played fluent, fast moving and attcking football,  that saw them win 2-0. Reading's scores were Richard Naylor (OG) and Kevin Doyle who headed home a Glen Little cross.

Kingsley plays with a young Royals fan in the sun

Leroy Lita having his shirt "tugged"



Kevin Doyle bursts through closely followed by the defender

Ipswich Manager Joe Royle appeals to the lino

Mr Tanner waves away an appeal from De Vos

Dave Kitson rises well above the Ipswich defence

James Harper turns to celebrate Kevin Doyles 47th miniute goal

Reading v Sheffield Utd 01.10.05

After eleven games of the season, Reading were in second spot six points behind the leaders Sheffield Utd, the next team to visit the Madejski Stadium. In this highly competitive top of the table clash, Reading came away victorious with a 2-1 win, thanks to two goals from Brynjar Gunnarsson. The first only after three minutes from a Glen Little corner, and his second an 88^th minute headed goal.

Brynjar Gunnarsson heads a free kick goalwards from distance 

Paddy Kenny dives desparately to stop the ball...

.......but watches helplessly as the ball goes into the net

The Reading fans applaud and cheer the goal

Gunnarsson is joined by Glen Little & Bobby Convey to celebrate

The Reading players mob Gunnarsson while the Sheffield players are clearly upset

One of many thousands of images I captured during the 2005/6 season, the last one above would go into my top ten. Such a contarst between in the background the joy of scoring and celebrating what was to be such an important goal, and in the foreground the disappointment and annoyance of conceding so late in the game, great stuff.

Southampton v Reading 28.09.05

This rain swept mid-week game saw Reading up against Southampton at the St Marys Stadium. Reading's two central defenders, Ibrahima Sonko and Ivar Ingimarsson both gave exceptional performances, denying the dominant home side on many occasions. Marcus Hahnemann also made some excellent saves that help keep the score at 0-0. This draw extended the Royals unbeaten  league run to 10 games.


Ibrahima Sonko leaps clear to head for goal

James Harper and Denis Wise shake at the full time whistle

Kevin Doyle pushed from behind

Ivar Ingimarsson heads clear

Norwich City v Reading 24.09.05

A resilient Reading side survived a last minute penalty to hang on to the one goal lead given to them by James Harpers second half drive. At the end of the game, Reading had P10 W7 D2 L1, and with 23 points were in second place in the Championship, 4 behind the leaders Sheffield Utd.

Reading v Luton Town CC 20.09.05

With at least 5 changes to the Reading team line up, this second round Carling Cup match had very little goal mouth action. The only goal of the game came after 80 minutes, when John Osters 40 yard free kick evaded both defenders and attackers to drift inside the far post. Reading progressed into round three, 1-0 winners over Luton Town.

Kingsley applauds the Reading Fans high in the stand

Kevin Doyle under pressure from a Luton defender

Leroy Lita congratulates John Oster for scoring from a 40yrd free kick