DIRTY NORTHERN Reading 1-1 Leeds United

Your typical Yorkshireman thinks that the white rose county is the centre of the universe, home of everything good in the world. Floyd on Football tends to disagree and offers you the godawful Last of the Summer Wine, Emmerdale Farm, William Hague, Michael Parkinson and, of course, Neil Warnock to the contrary. Add to that Leeds United's rough house tactics, totally unpunished today by the wholly incompetent wally of a referee Phil Joslin.

Unbelievably, this game ended one apiece in both the goalscoring and booking count. Leeds were not the greatest side to visit the Mad Stad this season, but played a hard, physical game which to be fair is suited to the limited if commited Paul Butler and Sean Derry. Leeds will take points off plenty of the top sides this season in the opinion of Floyd of Football and should be certs for a top six place with their goalscoring capability. A draw was perhaps a fair result, for this was not the most flowing Reading performance of the season as in all honesty we played in fits and bursts.

Another 20,000+ gate at the MadStad, albeit for the most part a fairly quiet crowd who watched a game which was rather scrappy and uninspiring at times. In the early years of the 21st century Leeds were reaching the latter stages of both the UEFA Cup and the Champions League whilst Reading were struggling to beat the likes of Oxford United and Colchester in front of sub-7,000 crowds in Division 2. We've come a long way, and Leeds fallen on hard times, since then and nowadays Reading are favourites to win a home fixture against Leeds United who danced with delight when gifted their equaliser this afternoon.

As suggested earlier, there was little to cheer during the first half and the atmosphere which had built up nicely pre-match soon dissipated. Reading didn't quite manage to play to their counter attacking strengths, foiled by poor final ball and Leeds constant niggling negativity. Time was wasted over goalkicks and throw-ins, a strange attitude for them to take considering a draw would leave the visitors 9 points well adrift of us. There were half chances; Glen Little volleyed high and unhandsomely wide from a deep Nicky Shorey centre, the willing but for once unable Doyle failing to connect with Murty's smashing cross, Gunnarsson and central-midfield partner Harper firing tamely wide. At the other end Hulse, such a thorn in our side at Ellan Road last season, nodded over and Robbie Blake, who looked quite sharp when he wasn't busying himself moaning, shot well over after good work. Reading ended an ordinary half on the ascendancy with Convey's long range freekick not unduly testing Sullivan.

Reading had guilt-edged chances in the second half and were denied by a mixture of inaccurate finishing and inspired goalkeeping. Doyle sent an effort wide when well placed following good work by Kitson and Convey, with Convey and Doyle going on to test the experienced Leeds 'keeper with angled efforts. The scoring was finally opened after 63 minutes by the magnificent GUNNARSSON who covered every blade of grass it seemed. Receiving the ball as a result of a corner, he scored with a well placed effort remniscent to the opening goal against Sheffield United in the league game earlier this month. We had chances to make the game safe when Kitson's header was too high and the busy little non-Yorkshire whippet Convey remarkably outjumped his man, but Leeds were gifted an equaliser with 15 minutes left after it seemed a series of sloppy defensive errors by Reading might go unpunised. Ingimarsson, facing his own goal and under pressure, spread a pass out to the left flank where he found only a grateful David HEALY. The Northern Irishman lashed home a fortunate leveller in a not disimilar style to the way he polished off England at Windsor Park recently. A sickener for the otherwise solid Ingimarsson.

Leeds in truth dominated after that, Douglas (who had missed an earlier sitter quite dreadfully) being denied by the firm wrists of Marcus Hahnemann and the rebound being smothered after a dangerous looking melee. Reading did threaten through Sidwell's header kept off the line and another couple of smart saves from Sullivan, but the truth of the matter is that we have not converted enough of the multitude of chances we have created in recent games. 1-0 is never enough because there is always the danger that a rare mistake from a defender of the claibre of Ingimarsson may deny you what you deserve. That said, with none of the top 5 mamaging to win this was not a catastrophic draw by any means - a draw which creates a piece of club history, 18 games unbeaten. 'Appen both clubs were reasonably happy with 1-1.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Little, Gunnarsson (Sidwell, 83), Harper, Convey (Hunt, 86), Doyle, Kitson. Subs not used: Stack, Oster, Obinna.

Floyd's Favourite: Gunnarsson. Everywhere.

LIBRARY Carling Cup 4th Round draw

The Carling Cup draw, made this afternoon, paired Reading with Arsenal in the final season of the Gunners legendary home ground Highbury Stadium. A great reward for Reading's progress in the cup this season, it gives us a fantastic opportunity to test our phenomenal form on the turf of one of the most famous stadia in the world. It's a great reward for the loyal, vocal and impeccably behaved people who follow RFC around the country. Tie to be played w/c 28 November.

COLIN II: THE GRUDGE Reading 2-0 Sheffield United

Stephen Hunt had said in the Evening Post that he expected "fireworks" at this Carling Cup third round tie between the Championship's top two after the controversial meeting at the start of the month, but if anything this game passed by incident free and lacking in the passion and intensity of that previous meeting.

It was evident from the outset that this would be the case. Reading made 7 changes from the starting line-up which stuffed Stoke, but to be fair to Coppell he still picked a hungry, balanced side capable of giving Sheffield United a game. The opposition, however, were entirely disinterested. Warnock fielded a mixture of youth and reserve players who played as if they'd only just been introduced on the coach prior to the game. Both Reading and Sheffield United are in the middle of another ridiculous run of ficture planning, facing 7 games in 3 weeks, but they still have a duty to play to win and entertain their spectators. Therefore, Warnock's pre-match advice to his own supporters to stay away from this particular game was a fair warning but a typically cynical piece of gamesmanship from an incereasingly unpopular individual. Floyd on Football thinks that, although an increasingly maligned competition, the Carling Cup is a route into european football and deserves to be treated with more respect.

Reading made a bright opening, with Obinna testing Morris into a good save with his legs from an angled drive in a hectic opening ten minutes but it was hard to keep up this pace with such a changed side. The breakthrough didn't come until the second half, but with United so toothless and showing such a distinct lack of interest, that opening goal was effectively game over. KITSON, who had a mixed game, netting with a first time effort from six yards after Hunt's centre. Kitson should have sewn it up when diverting a right-wing cross wide with his feet when a headed chance seemed more opportune, and the slippery Obinna headed narrowly wide as Reading dominated with ease. The game was sewn up with barely 15 minutes to play when that front two partnership of Obinna and kitson combined after Hunt's deep centre, KITSON being left with a simple tap-in. Cue a rash of substitutions for both sides including another opportunity for young Simon Cox for Reading.

This easy victory was another psychological blow, albeit a softer one this time, in the battle of the top two and our sixth vicory in seven outing against Sheffield United and their unpleasant manager.

Reading: Stack, Murty, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Oster (Little, 83), Baradji, Sidwell, Hunt, Obinna, Kitson (Cox, 78). Subs not used: Hahnemann, Gunnarsson, Doyle.

Floyd's Favourite: Obinna. Looked like Rooney playing football with a bar of soap.

THE FIRES Stoke City 0-1 Reading

Reading's victory at Stoke yesterday move us to within 3 points of Sheffield United after their derby draw at Leeds on Friday night. Dave Kitson's 77th minute penalty won the game and there was more good news to come from Kenilworth Road where Luton Town in third place were pegged back to a draw with a last gasp Plymouth equaliser. Reading now face Sheffield United and Leeds United at the Madejski in Carling Cup and Coca-cola Championship fixtures.

Reading: Hahnemann, Makin (Sidwell, 53), Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Little (Oster, 73), Gunnarsson, Harper, Convey (Hunt, 90), Little, Doyle, Kitson. Subs not used: Stack, Obinna.

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT Hull City 1-1 Reading

Tilehurst at gone half past two in the morning. Not the kind of place where much deep thinking is done but as Floyd on Football returned home from covering the trip to Hull, the car rumbled past the site of the dear departed Elm Park. The point earned more than 5 hours ago maintained the long unbeaten run and moved Reading on to 31 points. Another 7 league wins from the remaining 32 league games will surely ensure survival in this division for a further year which would equal the record for five successive seasons at this level set back in the late 20's/early 30's. This current Reading side keeps breaking and making new records of their own, these are heady days.

In fact, so successful are this current crop that Floyd on Football thought nothing of making the 500+ mile round trip for an unglamorous looking midweek fixture. Hope springs eternal that Coppell's troops could be the ones who make possibly the most significant piece of history in RFC's 134 years and although a point from this game may not seem an earth shattering result at first glance, it could well be useful in the final reckoning. The only slight disappointment from an evening where Reading ran the home side ragged at times was that the sides directly above and below us both scored four in winning convincingly. Reading had no such luck in front of goal and were denied by the brilliance of the Hull 'keeper Myhill on more than one ocassion, but despite conceding against the run of the play they showed plenty of character in hauling themselves level.

Entertainment is the buzz word in football at the moment. The media would have you believe that there is a distinct lack of it in the Premiership lately but the Hull supporters, fresh from two successive promotions, told us afterwards that this game had been what they thought the Championship would be about - two teams wanting to attack. It is to Reading's great credit that we play to win every game, as well we might with the talent we have. Talent which those Hull supporters described as the best side to the visit the impressive KC Stadium all season. Floyd on Football has followed RFC through the hard times and the good, but it is a rare compliment indeed to be so openly praised by opposition fans after a game.

This particular game was a good one, and it was Reading who came out of the blocks quickest winning a succession of early corners. That pressure didn't force a goal but it was Reading who had the chance of the half when Doyle's looping header was plamed away by the plunging brilliance of Myhill. Hull are a powerful side who will finish comfortably safe from relegation in this their first season in the Championship. They had pressure of their own, but the Reading defence held fairly firm despite Ellison firing into the side-netting after attempting to round the mostly underworked Hahnnemann. In the middle of the park, Brynjar Gunnarsson was like book-ends; effective in keeping things organised and tidy. Convey and Little once again posed problems but after a scoreless first half it was Hull who finally took the initiative ooening the scoring from BROWN who converted from the resulting centre after an initial header had hit the crossbar.

Perhaps in recent seasons a Reading side, which was playing it's second game in little more than 48 hours and had suffered a nigthmare journey up to the East Riding of Yorkshire, would have buckled but Coppell threw on the big gun of Kitson and the somewhat smaller pistol of Oster and after another lengthy period of domination were level with fifteen to play. Shorey's cross and Glen LITTLE scoring with a powerful far post header. If Glen Little is scoring headed goals for you then you know that you're on to something quite special. The ball pinged around the Hull eighteen yard box for the final quarter of an hour like some sort of Subbuteo pinball, but despite more corners than a Formula 1 race track we couldn't force home what would have been a richly deserved winner. No real matter, a point takes the run to 15 without loss. The Ghosts of Elm Park would have approved.

Reading: Hahnemann, Makin, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Little, Gunnarsson, Harper, Convey (Oster, 70), Little, Doyle, Lita (Kitson, 70). Subs not used: Stack, Sidwell, Hunt.

Floyd's Favourite: Gunnarsson. Midfield general.

COME DANCING Reading 2-0 Ipswich Town

Reading made light work of a shambolic Ipswich Town outfit this afternoon as the gap over third placed Luton Town was increased to a not unsubstantial 6 points. Reading's wingers Convey and Little tore Town apart, dancing down either flank like Angela Rippon on acid. The ever impressive Kevin Doyle was at his impish best and scored a deserved goal whilst at the back the 24 carat Sonko looks better with every game.

The last time Reading played Ipswich Town 10 months ago, the visitors were well clear at the top of the table and with a stoppage time winner at the MadStad they looked to be coasting to promotion. Except that stoppage time goal didn't prove to be the winner - Reading went down the other end and scored even later in time added on. That was the cue for a slump down the table as Ipswich slid down the league quicker than a buttered ferret down a drainpipe in a loss of form which echoed that which we ultimately suffered ourselves. However, whilst Coppell had the opportunity to move in the transfer market in the summer to better our squad which was found lacking, his opposite number and fellow Scouser Joe Royle has had to perform alchemy at Ipswich. The loss of the likes of Bent, Kuqi and Davis was inevitable and sympathy for them is limited as they are still suffering from the profligacy of their most recent Premiership campaign.

Whether Reading can learn from the mistakes of Ipswich last season and go on and secure what is becoming an increasingly secure position remains to be seen, but clearly after 4 successive draws between the sides over the last two seasons, we showed that we're a far better side than them these days. The first goal could and should have perhaps arrived after barely two minutes. Doyle got in behind De Vos with a clear run in on goal but the visiting skipper tugged back the young Irishman. Quite incredibly, referee Tanner did not seem to want to give the decision until he noticed the frantic semaphore of his assistant. Consulting with the linesman having awarded an obvious freekick, Tanner totally bottled the decision and showed an inexplicable yellow. A total disgrace, and with the recent Paddy Kenny fresh in the memory, Floyd on Football is of the opinion that if referees do not have the bottle to make decisions which require a mandatory sending-off they should be removed from the league list, simple as that. The sense of injustice was only compounded by a poor freekick being smashed into the wall.

Another let off for Ipswich followed shortly afterwards after good work by that man Doyle. His pull back after skipping the right fanastic was turned wide by Lita who should be finishing chances like that. The reprieve didn't last too long as before twenty minutes had been played Reading took a thoroughly deserved lead. Doyle again, linked up quite beautifully with Makin and pulled the ball across for Ipswich defender NAYLOR to slide desperately into his own net under pressure from Lita. Reading continued to press but it was ex-Royal Nicky Forster who was the next Ipswich player to put the ball into the net, this time at the right end. Sadly for the visitors it followed a clear handball and apart from the familar raise of the linesman's flag, this was the last we saw of Forster all afternoon and he was withdrawn well before the end to polite and appreciative applause for his six years of service.

Despite this scare, Reading had dominated territory and chances and the game was made safe two minutes after a break which Ipswich would have been grateful for, such was the chasing they endured in the first half. Brynjar Gunnarsson, the snappy little Boris Becker impersonator, won the ball for the umpteenth time in the centre of the park and pinged the ball out to Luis Figo impersonator Glenn Little. A Glenn Little cross is normally a good one and DOYLE was the grateful recipitent as he buried a header past the busy Lewis Price. Reading easily won the midfield battle which put pressure on the dogged Ipswich defence, the presence of two luxury-type players like Magilton and Currie in the Town midfield was the difference as they barely had a kick with the industrious Gunnarsson and busy Harper dominating proceedings, winning tackles, keeping ball and feeding the wingers.

To be honest, the only moan must be that we didn't increase our already impressive goal difference to the tune of at least two or three more goals. After Parkin, showing all he had learned at Swindon Town, wasted Ipswich's best chance with a headed opportunity which was the footballing equivalent of passing GO! and collecting 200 pounds. At the other end, Reading contrived to crack the woodwork twice within two seconds as firstly Lita belted against the post, the ball falling kindly to Doyle who sent a rocket from close range which spanked the underside of the crossbar as if it was a naughty child. Convey and Kitson, making a welcome substitutes return from injury, fired over. Lita had a shot bravely saved by Price, who also pushed a Shorey drive over the top. Hunt also tested Price with what was a tame effort in comparison with Kitson's thunderbolt which was a whisker away and must have caused some serious damage to the advertising hoardings. These are just edited hughlights as Reading won the shot count 19 to 3, although it would be remiss of Floyd on Football not to mention Proudlock's instinctive piledriver following Hahnemann's clumsily dropped cross under pressure - Sonko to the rescue with his chest which must be made of iron, he flung himself at the ball.

This was too easy for Reading. The crowd enjoyed asking various officials and subsitutes to give us a wave and took great satisfaction in taunting that arch-villain Jim Magilton who to his credit responded to the chants of WANKER, WANKER WHAT'S THE SCORE? with a two fingered salute. Two fingers maybe, but it was Ipswich who Foxtrot-oscar'd off with no points as the mammoth unbeaten run never looked under any threat.

Reading: Hahnemann, Makin, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Little (Oster, 72), Gunnarsson, Harper, Convey (Hunt, 81), Lita, Doyle (Kitson, 64). Subs not used: Stack, Baradji.

Floyd's Favourite: Doyle. Class in a Guiness pint glass.

COLIN Reading 2-1 Sheffield United

There are characters in football. Quirky people who are real eccentrics, those who can make you grin just by uttering a little soundbite or coming up with a piece of nonsensical hyperbole. There was something endearing about Brian Clough, and these days we have unique people in football management such as Martin 'Mad Dog' Allen and Ian Holloway. Win lose or draw, those two are always ready with a quip and a smile even in the most contentious of circumstances.

Neil Warnock most likely sees himself as a character as well, but the man has little charm and no class. Given his side's recent form of 10 successive wins in all competitions we have been spared his rabid rantings recently, presumably the refereeing whenever Sheffield United win is completely spot on. When everything doesn't go his way, Warnock has no grace in defeat. He can be found mouthing off during and after games, running onto the pitch waving his fists like a caveman as he did at full time yesterday. Sheffield United were denied a clear penalty second half by referee Hegley, that much is fair to say. But given that even one-eyed Warnock himself agreed afterwards that his goalkeeper should have been sent off in the first half then surely he hasn't got an awful lot to complain about?

There is no doubt that referee Hegley had a major say in this 2nd vs 1st place clash with drew a 22,000+ crowd to the MadStad as well as major national media interest. It was a chance for Reading to put on a show and prove that we are a force to be reckoned with outside the over-hyped Premiership. We started well, in fact not so much like a house on fire but an entire avenue ablaze. Glenn Little, the Luis Figo of the Championship, had am angled drive deflected round the post and our gangly winger took the flag kick himself. The ball came out to Brynjar GUNNARSSON whose sidefooted effort took a slight deflection to wrong-foot Paddy Kenny and roll into the corner of the net. 1-0 with less than two minutes played and the home crowd naively chanted that EA-SAY chant which Floyd on Football finds utterly moronic.

The game had come alive early on and typically rough-house Sheffield tactics whipped the crowd up into a frenzy; Convey was mown down on the touchline early on prompted hysterical invisble baton-waving from Warnock and the first booking came barely ten minutes in as the clumsy Alan Quinn left stud marks in Makin's chest. These bumps and bruises may have unsettled Reading a little and the league leaders levelled after a quarter of an hour. Ifill got the better of stand in left back Steve Hunt for once, bamboozling our man before sending ina deep cross which landed the other side of the penalty area. The dirty bastard Quinn hooked the ball back for Steve KABBA to score with a diving header.

Lita threatened at one end and Kabba was almost hailed again at the other but this frantic game was beginning to settle down a little when all hell break loose after just over half an hour was played. Montgomery, under pressue from Convey, panicked and header past his own 'keeper who had advanced outside his box. As the home crowd screamed for handball there was a slight pause as referee Hegley didn't see to want to give the clear decision but the linesman flagged and Hegley then called Kenny over. It would be a red card, and with no goalkeeper on the bench for the Blades it would be a clear advantage to Reading with around an hour still to play. Except it wasn't a red; inexplicably Hegley, who didn't even consult the linseman who had apparently seen more than him, booked the United 'keeper and as the resulting freekick was charged down the follow up cross into the box was comfortably taken to the sound of angry booing by the man who should have been sent off. Floyd on Football is of the opinion that this kind of injustice could only happen to Reading in such an important game.

There would be more controversy to follow in the second half, but not before Kabba rightly had a penalty appeal waved away, Doyle looked menacing for Reading with a shot from distance and Alan Quinn headed over in reply. Sheffield United gradually got a stranglehold on the game and pinned Reading back for long periods without overly threatening Hahnemann. Despite the visitors territorial dominance, it was Reading with the better chances particularly Oster's rasping first time effort after fellow substitute Baradji's neat lay off. It was with less than ten minutes to go that referee Hegley made his second telling contribution to this big game; he waved away United's vocal penalty appeal as Gillespie crashed to the floor after Harper's challenge on the edge of the box after the Blades winger had seemed to knock the ball far too far ahead of himself. Cue another touchline paddy from Warnock, but his mood would be worse by full time.

With the home crowd urging them on, Reading enjoyed a concerted spell of pressure after that penalty (non)decision. Oster looked lively on the right as Reading won a series of throw-ins and free-kicks. It was from a free-kick that the crucial winner came. Quinn handballed, Baradji whipped in a gorgeous dead ball with pace and accuracy which GUNNARSSON met with a glanced back-header for a goal remniscent of Lawrie Sanchez for Wimbledon in the '88 cup final. As it came in the 89th minute of such an important game and with the sense of injustice about the first half decision not to send off Kenny, the goal sent the home supporters into fits of spasticity. With the triumphant noise level loud enough to frighten the M4 traffic, Reading got through the injury time without ever looking remotely threatened and there was another almighty roar at full time. And an almighty kerfuffle on the pitch.

Warnock and his assistant and several Sheffield players surrounded the referee, gesticulating wildly like the northern monkeys they are. Warnock is likely to be charged for his behaviour, which is absolutely right. For however angry he was about the Harper and Gillespie clash inside the penalty area, Reading were equally aggrieved with the decision not to dismiss Kenny. Two wrongs don't make a right of course, but they do cancel each other out. Controversial incidents one apiece, legitimate goals for Reading 2, for Sheffield United 1. Three points to Reading, Sheffield United's lead at the top cut to three points. Satisfaction immeasurable.


Reading: Hahnemann, Makin, Hunt, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Little (Oster, 46) , Gunnarsson, Harper, Convey (Baradji, 68), Lita (Obinna, 77), Doyle. Subs not used: Federici, Osano.

Floyd's Favourite: Hunt. Tough job to fill in at left back in his first league start and having to face Paul Ifill. Won that battle on points against the Blades winger.