RUSTY Reading 2-1 Burnley

As the unwashed left Reading after the annual Rock Festival, the uninteresting moved in in their place. Floyd on Football sat through 3 hours worth of diabolical goalless football between Reading and the Clarets last season and following on from the plodding performance at Watford, hopes were not high for this one. Burnley, we suspected, would do a Plymouth and come to the MadStad for a point and it is against that kind of neagtive game plan that Reading always tend to struggle.

What we needed was an early goal and remarkably that was exactly what we got. Dave Kitson made a nuisance of himself and Leroy Lita neatly lobbed Coyne in the Burnley goal with a clever flick after 7 minutes. Now Burnley would have to come at us in order to get anything out of the game and we could attack them on the break. Reading's wing duo of Convey and Little were again at their dangerous best but, despite narrowly edging the possession, we failed to create anything and things took a turn for the worse before half time. Firstly, Dave Kitson limped off injured to be replaced by Doyle; Kitson clearly hasn't been totally fit all season and the 12 day lay off we have now due to World Cup qualifiers next weekemd has come at the perfect time.

There was more to worry about shortly before half time as Burnley equalised; Akinbiyi easily turned Ingimarsson following Sonko's misjudgment and fired past Hahnemann. The Clarets had knocked the ball around fairly pleasantly, but hadn't threatened the Reading goal and it was sloppy defending from Ingimarsson and Sonko, who have been a partnership which, despite four consecutive league clean sheets, has looked like an accident waiting to happen at times. Ingimarsson it was who was muscled out again before the break on the right flank, only a hurried finish stopped Burnley from going ahead. A further blow as the teams came out after the break - Shorey injured and replaced by Makin.

The second half belonged to Kevin Doyle, who has impressed in his fleeting appearances so far. Following a left flank corner he put a free header over early in the second half, but he looked much more mobile than Kitson has of late and is showing himself to be a real unknown quantity and a thorn in the side of Championship opposition. Reading had by far the best of the game in the second half, despite a smart close range save from Hahnemann after a rare show of inventive ambition from Burnley, and it was that man Doyle, who had worried the visitors all afternoon with his pace and trickery, who gave us what proved to be the winner with twenty minutes left. Following a short corner, Doyle headed home Convey's cross with ease at the near post having apparently learned a lesson from his earlier miss. Reading continued to dominate into the closing stages and the cause was made easier on 90 minutes when O'Connor was sent off for Burnley for crashing into Convey and despite 5 minutes of added time we held on to consolidate second place in the Championship.

All in all, a satisfactory result and performance by Reading but there are areas of concern still. Not least knocks to Kitson, Shorey and Swidwell, although they will have an extended period of time to recover before the next league action. A real worry was the shoddy goal we gave away and the constant choice by Hahnemann of long ball pumped up to the diddy Doyle/Lita partnertship throughout the second half. The irony was of course that Doyle scored the winner with his head, but you have to wonder sometimes about our tactics. Right now though, we appear to be getting away with moments of slopiness.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey (Makin, 45), Ingimarsson, Sonko, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Convey, Lita, Kitson (Doyle, 39). Subs not used: Stack, Hunt, Oster.

Floyd's Favourite: Doyle. Gives us something different up front and a joy to watch.

HANGOVER Watford 0-0 Reading

The last time Reading led the Championship we held the position for a mere seven days, so not to be outdone we relinquished top spot after a week following a tedious 0-0 at Watford in front of the SKY cameras. This match was the footballing equivalent of having a hangover, ironically a condition that Floyd on Football had struggled with for much of the day.

Coppell made changes to the side which had struggled past Swansea on Tuesday, with Hahnemann, Murty, Convey, Little and Lita all returned to the starting line-up. Watford, with their nippy shit-off-a-shovel wingers McNamee and Young, looked a half-decent outfit much improved on the struggling side of last season and with angular ex-Royal Darius 'He's worth Two Million' Henderson leading their line it wasn't difficult to see why they were second top scorers in the Championship behind our glorious Royals. It was Darius who came closest to scoring in the first half, beating Hahnemann on two ocassions only to see Sonko and later Harper clear from the goal-line. Sonko has his usual up and down match; in the first half he fired a neat volley staright at his own goalkeeper and right on 90 minutes her crashed a free header over the crossbar in a style which is becoming all too typical.

Reading had their spells in the game but rarely tested Foster in the opening 45 minutes and it was an instinctive 25 yard fizzer from Harper tipped over by the Watford 'keeper around the hour mark which was our first effort on target. It was a disappointing show from Reading going forward; Convey and Little looked bright but failed time and time again with the final ball, whilst the lacklustre Lita and Kitson partnership looked for an hour and a half as if they were running through treacle. The defence held firm however, and Sidwell and Harper in the middle of the park were at their best to earn us another clean sheet on our unbeaten travels so far. A totally uninspiring game, the highlight of which being the travelling Reading crowd spotting ex-Royal John Salako covering the game for SKY and singing his name to his great amusement.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Convey, Lita (Doyle, 88), Kitson. Subs not used: Stack, Gunarsson, Hunt, Makin.

Floyd's favourite: Sidwell. Immense. Floyd on Football would choose Sidders as skipper over Murty any day.

INCOMPETENCE Reading 3-1 Swansea (after extra-time)

On a night of Carling Cup shocks elsewhere, Reading narrowly failed to contrive an upset entirely of their own making by dominating and failing to beat League One Swansea inside 90 minutes on Tuesday evening. Despite having the vast majority of the play, Reading failed to add to Kitson’s neat lobbed effort in the 14th minute; Kitson himself going close to a second goal with a header against the crossbar and Sidwell having another header ruled out. The inevitable happened with barely 10 minutes to go, as Akinfenwa headed a soft equaliser after hesitant goalkeeping from the unimpressive Graham Stack following lapse marking from the shaky looking duo of Sonko and Ingimarsson.

Fortunately, Swansea had Ijah Anderson sent off before the end of 90 minutes and Reading went on to cruise through extra-time with a man advantage. Kitson rounded Gueret at the start of the first period to put Reading in to the lead again and substitute Lita buried the third goal at the end of the second period after good work by Harper to finally kill off the Swans. Steve Coppell had decided to freshen things up and made one or two team changes and Floyd on Football was singularly unimpressed by new boys Stack and substitute Gunarsson, who himself was fortunate to stay on the pitch. The other new faces Makin and Hunt looked ring-rusty at best and John Oster lasted a mere ten minutes of his full debut before limping off injured. As usual, Reading made heavy work of beating a clearly inferior, if spirited, lower division side.

Reading: Stack, Makin, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Oster (Little, 10 (Lita, 82)), Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Doyle (Gunarsson, 71), Kitson. Subs not used: Hahnemann, Convey.

Floyd’s Favourite: Sidwell. Stand-in captain stamped his authority over Swansea.

TOP Reading 5-0 Millwall

We're the best team in London
No, the best team of all
Everybody knows us, we're called Millwall
Let 'em come let 'em come let 'em come
Let 'em all come down to the Den
Let 'em all come down to the Den


No-one likes us. No-one likes us. No-one likes us, we don't care. On the contrary, Millwall are always welcome visitors to the Madejski. The reason for that being that no opposing team has been defeated on more ocassions at the MadStad than Millwall; this defeat made it an impressive sixth defeat in seven visits for the loveable cockney rogues.

We are Millwall, super Millwall. Actually, for want of a better phrase, they're a ruddy bloody shambles. That said this was still an entirely satisfying result to put us on top of the Championship table. In fact, Floyd on Football is of the opinion that we didn't even play particularly well against the Lions and the obvious conclusion must be that there is much, much more to come from this Reading side.

The first goal was not long in coming and followed some early Millwall pressure. A corner was cleared to Convey on the edge of the Reading box and the Yank made good with his legs past a couple of challenges to sprint clear from the half way line. The Convey of last season would have messed this kind of chance up, but this new and improved version rolled the ball calmly past Marshall. After his countryman Hahnemann had made an excellent save to deny May's free header following lapse Reading defending, Convey was soon in action again and denied by the inside of the post from a well placed free-kick. His chance would come again quickly though as very soon afterwards Millwall 'keeper Marshall handled a Lita long-ranger from outside of his area as his shambolic defence played him in to trouble. Under Marshall Law, the Lions number 1 was dismissed and a lack of replacement 'keeper on the bench meant that defender Mark Phillips had to take over in goal and he immediately had to fetch the ball from the net as Convey's freekick slipped under him.

Two up and a man up, Reading began to get into the groove and set about winning the game before half-time. Lita had a couple of chances before Harper did add the third; his headed effort sneaked in past Phillips following a free-kick from that man Convey. The inevitable fourth came on the stroke of half time as ex-Royal little Sammy Igoe amazingly reached highest to handle in the box. Dave Kitson's poor penalty should have been saved by the Millwall 'keeper but it crept past him and you couldn't help wonder whether they'd have been better off putting Captain Mark Phillips in goal. Half time and talk of record scorelines at the Madejski; these are heady early season days.

The goal-fest didn't continue. Adrian Serioux replaced Phillips between the sticks and was just as eccentric as his immediate predecessor, if a little more successful. Millwall played with a going down fighting attitude in the second half and whilst they barely worried Hahnemann they at least strung a pass or two together in front of their travelling handful of supporters who began to berate their sack-happy board. A fifth goal did come with ten minutes left as Sidwell crashed home Little's corner with his head; pleasingly, this means that after four league games each of Reading's 'front six' midfielders and forwards have registered a goal which is terrific bearing in mind the turgid season in front of goal we suffered in 04/05. A good day was rounded off with the news that each of the three teams above us in the table lost away from home. All in all a good day at the office, in fact Millwall's defending was funnier than The Office. Top of the league, we're having a laugh.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Convey (Hunt, 59), Lita (Doyle, 62), Kitson. Subs not used: Stack, Makin, Oster.

Floyd's Favourite: Bobby Convey. Classy.

PIE Preston 0-3 Reading

Oh say can you see
By the dawn's early light
What so proudly we held
In the twilight's last gleaming


Yesterday afternoon at Deepest Dale, Preston, Floyd on Football truly discovered the true meaning of the phrase value for money. No, it's not Jamie Cureton, it is in fact the one pound sixty pence meat and potato pie served up at Preston North End FC. Yes, that's not really too much more than what you'd pay for a rank Ginsters pasty from BP, Three Tuns after getting off the Night Bus from town. Only this tasty morsel is a meaty potato-packed feast, parcelled inside pastry that your nan would approve of and a fine, fine treat it is for the discerning and hungry travelling fan who has made the journey to Lancashire.

Floyd on Football has long suspected that, much like the myth that "folk are friendlier up north" , the oft-quoted missive that northern delicacies put our southern fare to shame is, for want of a better word, bollocks. The worst fish and chips Floyd on Football ever had was at Blackpool, the worst food inside a football ground was at Grimsby. However, we must bow down to the meaty goodness of the Preston Pie; a truly masterful culinary achievement. One must not get carried away with praising these northern oiks though, for after all, like most of the "isn't northerness wonderful?" tripe spouted by our friends from north of the Watford gap, Floyd on Football begs the question.....why do you all choose to live in the fucking south, then?

Unfortunately, for I would suspect the overwhelming majority of the Preston fans who sat alongside us in the Bill Shankly Stand at Deepdale yesterday, seperated only by some netting, empty seats and fat stewards, living in the south will most likely forever remain a pipe-dream. For starters, we couldn't understand a ruddy bloody word of the tedious bile which they chanted at us all afternoon. Learning to speak proper must be off the curriculum at Lancashire schools these days, as clearly is Geography - the PNE fans referring to us as cockneys were about as accurate as if we were to refer to them as Mancunian. Ignorant fuckers. They were very anti-southern and uncomplimentary to our way of life all afternoon, showing a high level of intolerance and rabid fundamentalism; a sort of Al Pie-ida if you will. Their mood was not helped, of course, by us gobbling up three greedy points.

Reading's win in Lancashire was made in Philadelphia, USA. Bobby Convey last season was the biggest flop since Posh Spice's solo career, but after a good pre-season in which he remained in England rather than flying across the Atlantic to play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup he has started to look up to the job. Last season he played second fiddle for the most part to the utterly wretched and dearly departed Paul Brooker. Yesterday he carved open a Preston side which hadn't lost on their own patch since last November. After much Preston possession in the opening half hour which resulted in next to nothing, Reading took their first chance. That man Convey was neatly presented with the ball by a generous North Ender on the edge of their own penalty area if you please, he waited for Lita to move into space before putting an inch perfect through ball onto the million pound man's right foot. The assembled BRA (Berkshire Republican Army) could audibly hear the net down the far end of the ground rip before they erupted into raptures.

Many were still tucking into those marvellous pies when the second followed seconds after the interval. Convey's long pass was just right for Lita, whose diagonal finish across Carlo Nash in the PNE goal nestled rather nicely in the back of the net. Before the hour mark it was three and easy; Glenn Little meeting Shorey's cross with his nut following more Convey trickery. Two goals in a week for Glenn after a season-long drought last term; they're like buses (Little goals that is, not northern women). Glenn enjoyed the moment and celebrated in a vaguely provocative manner in front of the locals who had berated him for his Burnley past. Preston had their chances - Cresswell miskicked wretchedly in front of goal after Lita's opener and Dichio tested Hahnemann - but overall the outcome was as comfortable as befits a 3-0 win. Reading take a slice of fourth place in the fledgling Championship table; Preston meanwhile, having suffered their first home defeat to Reading in over 14 years, were left only with humble pie.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Little (Oster, 88), Sidwell, Harper, Convey (Hunt, 85), Kitson, Lita. Subs not used: Stack, Makin, Doyle.

Floyd's Favourite: Bobby Convey. Last season slowly becoming a very distant memory.

WITHDEAN & I Brighton 0-2 Reading

Pride Park, St Marys, The KC Stadium, The Ricoh Arena, The Britannia Stadium, The Withdean - all will host RFC at some time this season and each is an example of fine new football stadia. All, that is, except one. The odd one out being the Withdean, Brighton's 'temporary' home. The capacity of this athletics stadium with its uncovered seating is less than 7,000. Such a reduced capacity might go someway to explaing why Brighton & Hove Albion FC feel justified in charging visiting supporters £22.50 a throw to sit on what basically amounts to scaffolding, open to the elements.

Floyd on Football has made two previous visits to the Withdean and, naturally, on both ocassions the weather was damper than Leslie Grantham on a web-cam. It was with a degree of relief that this season's visit to Sussex was scheduled for August and a mild, rain free evening was enjoyed by several hundred Reading supporters who braved the frankly shocking view from the 'climbing frame' behind the corner flag. It's unfortunate for Brighton that due to the malpractice of a previous regime, they are left without a proper football stadium of their own and a shame for visiting supporters who, through the scarcity of available tickets, miss out on a lovely trip to what the locals refer to as good old Sussex by the sea. Floyd on Football was determined that a nice sunny day wouldn't be ruined by poor facilities and even poorer football in the evening, and decided that a pre-match stroll along the prom-prom-prom was in order, although it was a tad disappointing that there was no brass band to serenade us with "tiddly-om-pom-pom f*ck off Mark McGhee".

Talking of McGhee, the ego has well and truly crash-landed. At christmas 1994 he disappeared down Leicester City's chimney citing ambition or more precisely John Madejski's lack of it. A little over ten years later, via Wolverhampton and South Bermondsey, he has ended up as numero 1 at this ramshackle excuse of a stadium the Withdean, whilst his former employer built RFC a magnificent new 24,000-seated home. The grass isn't always greener on the other side and in Mr McGhee's case his new lawn is weed-ridden and the planning permission on the new conservatory is proving problematic. Whereas in times past he was public enemy number one, now he has fallen with a bump to very humble surroundings Reading supporters just enjoy abusing him for the very fact that the man has an over-exagerrated sense of his own self worth and never fails to bite when we taunt him. At the Withdean last night, the travelling support teased him about his wide girth and he merely glanced back at us disdainfully rather than, say pat his stomach - he'd probably be applauded and respected a bit more if he did ever show himself to be humble with a sense of humour. His post-match rantings after each defeat by Reading only serve to become more and more embittered ["I still get a lot of abuse from Reading fans, which I think is totally unwarranted"] and give us the satisfaction that we have got to him which we clearly succeed in doing time after time after time.

You'd think McGhee would have more to worry about than the Reading supporters anyway. His team is a poor one in Championship terms and mere survaival, given their current means, would be no mean feet. Reading won this at a canter, scoring at important times, soaking up Brighton pressure with ease and registering our first win of the season to leave us handily placed in 8th place ahead of a trip north to Preston on Saturday. Glenn Little it was who opened the scoring with him first goal in 15 months after 15 minutes play. His freekick, following a foul on Kitson, was a mediocre ball into the box which nestled beyond Brighton's keeper Henderson into the bottom corner. The excellent Kitson powered in a trademark header after around 15 minutes in the second half from a Shorey cross and it was an easy sprint for Reading at this athletics ground from then on. Lita missed a chance or two and at the other end Hahnemann dealt comfortbaly with a long range fizzer or two but overall, after out 5th win in our last 6 visits to Brighton, we certainly do like to be beside the seaside.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Little (Oster, 61), Sidwell, Harper, Convey (Hunt, 75), Kitson, Lita (Doyle, 82). Subs not used: Stack, Makin.

Floyd's favourite: Dave Kitson, fully fit and yet again the difference between Reading and mediocre opposition. As hungry for victory as McGhee is for a Ginster's pasty.

ARMADA Reading 1-2 Plymouth

Reading created a piece of club history today, managing an impressive third defeat in seven days to a Plymouth side for whom the word mediocre was designed. Our opening day loss is the first ocassion on which we have failed to win the season league opener at the Madejski and after it took until the fourteenth home league game to lose our unbeaten home record last season, Nick Chadwick's added time goal ridded us of that kind of albatross as early as possible this time around.

Legend has it that in 1588 Sir Francis Drake insisted on completing his game of bowls in Plymouth before tackling the Spanish Armada. A game of bowls would have been better entertainment than last season's 0-0 draw at the MadStad between these teams, but this enciunter was a whole lot more interesting. Plymouth, roared on by 4,000-odd people bedecked in green shirts decorated in livery for the utterly awful tasting Ginster's Pastys, were on the back foot from the off as debutants Lita and Doyle looked lively without Reading really working any chances. Doyle was booked after only ten minutes which set the pattern for referee Mr Taylor's day; a truly eccentric performance which was so clueless at times you almost felt embarassed for him. Nicky Shorey had Reading's first effort on goal with a freekick but Argyle took the lead somewhat against the run of play after 21 minutes.

Argyle worked the ball out wide and Rufus Brevett's cross from the left was turned in at the near post by Mickey "hasn't he retired by now?" EVANS for a goal so soft to be almost marshmallow-like in consistency. EAS-AY chanted the visiting supporters; too right it was, but they have no idea how ridiculous they all loooked doing that banal seal-clap thingy which seems to greet any goal scored by any team these days. All very unoriginal, although Reading supporters responded in kind when we equalised - Floyd on Football only joining in for satirical purposes, you understand. Reading were back on the offensive soon after with Doyle the main threat, particularly with a header he nodded over from close range when well placed to do much better. Half time, 1 down, harsh on Reading.

Second half started with Reading showing a bit more penetration at last and it only seemed a matter of time until clear cut chances would be created and therefore goals. A goal for Reading did come, but only after Hahnemann had saved heroically - like some balding, glove wearing Francis Drake - from Buzsaky who was clean through on goal. Doyle fired a retaliatory slavo at the other end before the merited equaliser came shortly afterwards; Convey's quick free kick set Murty away and his cross was buried by Leroy LITA who glanced the ball past Larrieu with his head. EAS-AY when you know how. Lita was running on a full tank by now and had a chance midway through the second half which was well worked by Little; Leroy's shot from an angle was deflected and cleared relatively comfortably by the Pymouth defence. He had the ball in the net shortly awfterwards, larroping the ball home from an angle with such ferocity it was fortunate that the net (and indeed, the North Stand) was in the way otherwise it could have seriously damaged some medium density fibreboard in the back yard of B&Q in the retail park. Offside.

Shortly before the impressive Convey was replaced by Hunt, Coppell brought Kitson on for Little and moved Doyle out wide on the right. Kitson looked sluggish and unfit and by isolating the lively Doyle out wide the manager appeared to have made a right hash of things. Despite that, Reading had a chance in the final ten minutes to take three points we would narrowly have deserved. It was miss, so guilt-edgedby Sonko, as to require a full written apology; the big centre-half crashing a header wide, unchallenged in the six-yard box when he had time to set the timer on his video recorder and still nut home the easy chance. Plymouth took full advantage of this in the first minute of injury time. Referee Taylor gave another soft freekick decision, the ball was worked out wide and a soft cross was converted by CHADWICK with an even softer finish. It was an Andrex goal. It was a freekick decision, goal and, ultimately, result so criminal it deserved to have an ASBO slapped on it. The result leaves Reading deep in relegation trouble, 21st in the Championship as we approach the nervous run-in of the final 45 games.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Convey (Kitson, 74), Lita (Hunt, 76), Doyle. Subs not used: Stack, Makin, Oster.

Floyd's Favourite: Bobby Convey. If only because he is finally beginning to look the part for us now.

Pilgrims sail in for start of 05/06

You’ve got to have a dream, if you don’t have a dream, how you going to have a dream come true? So sang Captain Sensible. Then again, can you really take them seriously, after all they did write the theme music for Big Break.

According to the good old Reading Evening Post, the Premiership dream is still alive. Floyd on Football begs to differ. Top four at Christmas last season, we came down with the decorations and were frankly fortunate to eventually finish seventh. Whilst generally the summer signings have been encouraging, some are inexperienced at this level and with a revolving door transfer policy which has seen 8 players in and another 8 leave the club there will be a period of transition. Floyd on Football predicts a top half finish for the Royals but is hesitant to expect too much too soon.

Quite frankly the first team squad is still too small, especially when you think that the club will be operating under the transfer window for the first time ever this season. We can field a decent squad of 16 and then beyond that, as injuries and suspensions take their toll, the back-up is youthful and Floyd on Football hasn’t seen too much to get excited about with many of the young players coming through at RFC – the exceptions being the impressive looking Jonathan Hayes, Johnny Mullins who spent time on loan at Kidderminster last season and Darren Campbell, who is returning from long term injury. In that decent-looking squad of 16 we have the likes of Leroy Lita and Kevin Doyle; however highly rated and impressive they have looked so far they are entirely untested in the Championship. It will be exciting to see how they fare.

Floyd on Football expects Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers to clinch the automatic Championship promotion places with play-off slots going to Ipswich, Leeds, Norwich & Sheffield United; Brighton, Crewe, Millwall, Stoke & Watford will take up the bottom five places.


As for Saturday’s opener with Plymouth, well what a start against a team we had two hard fought draws with last time round. Floyd on Football would hope we’d finish above Plymouth this season, but they have signed a string of foreign players this summer to boost their squad, most notably the Nigerian former Internazionale defender Taribo West. Plymouth were far from the most impressive of sides seen at the Madejski last season but it must be a concern to us for Saturday that they have signed several players who will be an unknown quantity. For Reading, the lingering ligament strain suffered by Dave Kitson is an ongoing worry, but Nicky Shorey, Chris Makin and Graham Stack are all expected to be fit. Given the unfamiliarity of the Plymouth squad, Floyd on Football hesitantly predicts a 1-1 draw on Saturday with a goal from Steve Sidwell.

Royals have uncomfortable stay at Dorchester

A Reading reserve side made up chiefly of youth players & trialists suffered a final minute 2-1 loss at Dorchester Town in the last pre-season friendly of the summer. Floyd on Football thinks this result probably says it all about the calibre of youth players and trialists we get at this club, but at least Chris Makin and Nicky Shorey came through unscathed with some much needed match practice under their belts.

www.readingfc.co.uk reports that Dave Kitson is unlikely to be fit for Saturday's opening league fixture with Plymouth. Much better news is that Makin, Shorey and Stack are likely to be ready if required.

Oster eggs on Chris into Makin his mind up

Reading today clinched the signings of John Oster and Chris Makin on one year deals. Oster can play left or right flank which is very useful indeed given the inconsistency of our wingers. He arrives following spells last season at Leeds and Burnley. Floyd on Football has seen Oster rip Reading to pieces in his Sunderland days and thinks this is a very good signing. Chris Makin is an experienced defender who will provide very useful cover; the one time Marseille player knows this division very well after recent spells with Ipswich, Leicester and Derby.

Makin plays in a reserve friendly tonight at Dorchester, alongside trialists Rodrigue Boisfer, Obinna Chukwynyely (ex-Stuggart), Bradley Drake from AFC Wimbledon & Brentford's Luke Muldowney.

Reading 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Reading had plenty of the play and several chances but were out of luck against Premiership opposition in our penultimate pre-season friendly on Saturday. Depleted by injuries, Reading fielded as strong a first XI as possible with the bench made up by a mixture of youth players and a trialist Rodrigue Boisfer; worryingly, with the opening league game against Plymouth a matter of days away, the substitutes had a total of 1 football league appearance between them.

Hahnemann took over in goal from Stack, who has cracked a thumb in training, and his first touch was retrieving the ball from the back of his net after 5 minutes. Glenn Little had given away possession and a simple move involving Routledge and the tempestuous Defoe gave Mido an easy chance. This was hard on Reading, who had threatened twice already through the lively Lita, and we continued to press with Doyle, Convey and Sidwell all having half-chances before our number 4 cracked the post following a Reading corner. We fell two behind right on half time as Defoe's pot-shot looped wickedly into the net off the luckless Hunt, who was given a hard time by the impressive Routledge. Defoe has an excellent scoring record at the Madejski for Bournemouth, West Ham, England U21 and now Spurs so it was no surprise to see him score but in a manner indicative of our bad luck on the afternoon it was a little sickening.

Reading continued to threaten at the start of the second half; Sonko should have scored with a header when well placed from a corner, Sidwell had a goal disallowed and Doyle should have netted with a chance he created for himself. The Tottenham goal was against saved by the post after the impressive Convey cracked a freekick against the woodwork, but at the other end Hahnemann did well to thwart Defoe on a couple of ocassions. Tottenham, fielding a strong side throughout, just about deserved their win in a game they edged with their superior passing, but Reading most definitely should have scored. Let us hope that we are saving our goals for Plymouth at the Madejski this coming Saturday.


Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Hunt (Osano 81 mins), Ingimarsson, Sonko, Harper, Sidwell, Little, Convey (Hayes 84 mins), Lita, Doyle. Subs not used: Howell, Mullins, Castle, Cox, Boisfer, Hamer.