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.