DUNNROAMIN' Reading 1-1 Birmingham City

Like a wasp around a picnic, an extra FA Cup tie is an unwanted distraction, a nuisance. Despite his post-match assurances to the contrary, insistant that his squad would cope, the ever downbeat Steve Coppell wasn't fooling anybody when he shrugged off the the demands of a hectic fixture schedule. We now face 6 games in 18 days which is something that could easily have been avoided with a little more care yesterday afternoon as Reading seized the initiative only to take their foot off the pedal against Premiership opposition.

It was a typical no-quarter-asked-or-given cup tie which was decidedly lacking in quality. Reading made 8 changes from their last league outing - Floyd on Football begs the question what was Birmingham's excuse? Albeit a side struggling in the top flight this year, there was enough quality and experience in their starting line-up to fare a little better against, being blunt about it, a Championship second string to all intents and purposes. It was a fairly even start to the game; Izzet pulled a header well over Stack's crossbar and Sidwell almost capitalised on a dangerous Hunt freekick. Reading took the lead in a match lacking in clear-cut openings just after the half hour mark. Oster's run caused panic in the Birmingham rearguard and allowed Harper time and space to pick out the totally unmarked Shane LONG and the youngster finished decisively inside Maik Taylor's nearpost. It was another dramatic contribution from the raw Irishman; with his pace and his upper body strength he looks an excellent prospect, with his ocassionally leaden touch perhaps less so.

This was at times a tempestuous, grumpy sort of game and the turgid nature of the encounter brought out the worst in some of the participants. Hunt and Pennant had a running battle, the Blues uber-Chav jail-bird appearing to kick out at the Reading left winger early on showing exactly why this talented brat of a footballer is playing for Birmingham rather than a top club. Pennant, when he puts his tiny mind to it, is clearly a very capable player and he was involved early in the second half when he curled in a dangerous feekick which was bound for the head of Melchiot before being cleared whilst at the other end Lita made a hash of a first time effort under pressure. Again a Pennant set piece delivery led to Reading debutant Halls hacking clear before the cumbersome Heskey could pounce and Blues boss Steve Bruce had clearly seen enough of the former England flop as he was withdrawn in a pivotal treble substitution for the visitors which saw Forssell, Kilkenny and the dangerous David Dunn thrown into the fray.

Floyd on Football has a degree of sympathy with Coppell's post-match assertion that Dunn would be on the fringe of the England squad were it not for his injury problems. The portly midfielder is clearly a player of the highest quality as proven by his appearance yesterday which swung the final quarter of the game back in Birmingham's favour after the Premiership opposition had looked so mediocre for so long. It was Dunn who became the first Birmingham threat to Stack's goal shortly after he appeared; a full-length diving header being snatched out of the air by the Royals former Arsenal 'keeper. The Blues were level midway through the half as Reading fell basically fell asleep; Melchiot's long throw, Sutton leaped higher than the strangely sluggish Sonko and that man DUNN was on the far post to volley past the helpless Stack. Dunn and co. celebrated in front of the huge travelling support - perhaps the most vocal and definitely the most brain-dead, ill-mannered gaggle of muppets to visit the MadStad this season.

Reading had looked fairly comfortably hitherto this burst of Birmingham pressure and thereafter we were perhaps a tad fortunate to cling on for a replay. That man Pennant swung in another dangerous ball which caused a melee in the Reading area with the ball being diverted away from danger by Stack's face before Forssell was taken down unceremoniously by Sonko, who proved that even Superman can be mortal sometimes - Pennant's free-kick was expertly stopped by Stack who seemed to twist in mid-air to parry the ball to safety. A draw it was in the end and, assuming Coppell picks a similar experimental XI in the replay, the Blues will fancy themselves to get through to the last 16. On the day though, Reading claimed a moral victory yesterday - our much changed team held strong Premiership opposition to a draw.

Reading: Stack, Halls, Makin, Sonko, Gunnarsson, Oster, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Lita, Long (Doyle, 89). Subs not used: Hahnemann, Osano, Ingimarsson, Little.

Floyd's Favourite: Gunnarsson. Proved once again his crucial versatility by filling in at centre-half with aplomb.

FLAPPING Crystal Palace 1-1 Reading

If ever a football club suffered from delusions of grandeur it's Crystal Palace. Despite a history which has yielded precisely zero major trophies and despite relegation from the Premiership last season after a mere season, the Eagles still see themselves as part of the high-flying elite as proven by their extortionate admission prices (the most expensive in the Championship), their outspoken and moronic chairman and their vastly overrated manager, the ear-piece wearing Iain Dowie.

It was with great delight that we took a well-deserved point away from Selhurst Park to maintain our 25 point lead over the South London side with ideas above their station; four points for little old Reading from Palace this season and the latest coming at a grotty stadium which always tends be a happy hunting ground for Reading with just the 1 defeat from the past 8 visits to SE25. Dowie stated in his programme notes that he still wasn't giving up on automatic promotion, yet despite six wins on the spin before last night they had made precious little impact on our substantial lead over them and conceding an equaliser just minutes after they took the lead from a generous penalty award must be thoroughly frustrating for them.

Palace certainly had their chances on the night, as Andy Johnson showed the watching England manager Sven Goran Eriksson exactly why he shouldn't be considered for the World Cup. After barely five minutes Harper, who had an otherwise faultless match, played an ill-advised and ill-timed backpass which allowed the slaphead Palace forward through. For the first and certainly not the last ocassion on the night Hahnemann denied Johnson and the resultant corner was headed high and wide. Hall and Macken then gave Hahnemann some handling practice before Reading's first chance; Little and Kitson linked up to allow Harper an effort which was charged away by the home defence. A couple of Convey crosses caused a stir and Little's pass across the box was swiped at and missed by Kitson, but otherwise it was Palace just about on top as Sonko got in before Johnson to hack away a dangerous ball into our box and Hahnemann also denied their top scorer with a fine save. At the other end, Kitson rushed in to almost loop Sonko's header over Kiraly and a fine ball from Shorey would have caused Palace more trrouble if it hadn't been met by the head of Little. Half time came with no goals but no end of half chances.

It was an end-to-end ping-pong of a second half in this table-tennis game of football. Little was denied by Kiraly's wrists despite a firm finish to a flowing move as the travelling support began to find their voices in earnest, outsinging the home fans for the vast majority of the game. Palace threatened from a series of corners which put us under pressure but Harper had two good chances early on in the second 45 - a long ranger which flashed wide and an effort deflected to safety adter good work by Murty. The otherwise quiet Doyle then had an excellent header from an equally brilliant Murty cross which was thrillingly tipped wide by Kiraly. The Hungarian is clearly an excellent goalkeeper although that didn't stop the Reading supporters mocking his choice of Pyjama-esque trousers with chants of #tracksuit from Matalan, tracksiut from Matalan# which were clearly audible for the watching SKY audience.

Another Palace player getting stick from the Reading support was that overrated cheat Johnson, who was denied twice by magnificent Hahnemann either side of the incident which gave the Eagles a barely merited and controversial lead. The Bald Eagle raced through onto a through pass from Reading boy Soares and despite the ball having apparently well gone he was caught by Hahnemann who had come to narrow the angle. Referee Kettle, who gave us very little all evening, couldn't blow up quickly enough for a penalty which JOHNSON dispatched high into the net before coming over to celebrate in front of the Reading fans who had taunted him, receiving a barrage of coins, drinks and a yellow card for his protests. But it wasn't long before the Reading fans were out of their seats again, this time in delirious celebration rather than riotous anger. Barely two minutes after the penalty, HARPER gave a Lita lay-off some violence as the ball flashed past Kiraly, and the familiar strains of #that's why we're top the league# rang out around Selhurst Park.

In those final ten minutes Reading looked the more likely to snatch it despite Hahnemann's astonishing save from Johnson at point blank range. Kettle whistled for the final time to signal yet another game unbeaten for Reading and in the opinion of Floyd on Football a well merited point despite the post-match opinions to the contrary of the increasingly tiresome Dowie. There was a very unsavory incident on the Holmesdale Road after the game when your correspondant was subject to a blow across the face from an ape of a Palace supporter, standing up for Handbags Harris who had been pushed to the ground in an unprovoked attack on the Holmesdale Road. Quite literally bloodied yet unbowed, Floyd on Football wishes Palace rotten luck in the play-offs which they are almost certainly doomed for.


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

Floyd's Favourite: Sonko. Soared higher than the Eagles.

BOING-BOING Reading 3-2 West Bromwich Albion

Reading bounced the boing-boing Baggies, 5 times FA Cup winners, out of the FA Cup in memorable style last night, recovering from a two goal half time defecit to eliminate their Premiership opponents after extra-time.

West Bromwich Albion are hardly the most proficient of top flight sides but it must be remembered that they have already beaten Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City in the Premiership this season and Reading's achievement in bouncing back to win, despite having made 6 changes to the starting line-up from Saturday's win over Coventry, should not be in any way devalued.

Yet the much changed Royals second string struggled early on doors on a gluepot pitch suffering the effects of the seasonal weather and the trampling nuisance of 30 egg-chasers every fortnight. Welcoming back Leroy Lita, by now fully fit, Coppell chose to pair the £1 million record signing with the fresh-faced and eager Shane Long and the new partnership took time to gel. Reading initially struggled to get wingers Oster and Hunt into the game and our usual free-flowing game stuttered under the sheer weight of team changes. West Brom, fielding a strong side a little over 48 hours after a rare Premiership away win at Wigan, took the lead after less than 9 minutes; Wallwork's clever ball inside the dozing Murty was finished off with some aplomb by CHAPLOW. Reading's attempts to hit back were honest in their endeavour and mediocre in quality; Hunt had a series of mediocre crosses cleared easily at the near post and when we did work a good move to the front two Long snatched at Hunt's knock-down from Oster's long centre. Just after the half hour West Brom's supporters were once again bouncing with delight in their own familiar style as Stack could not deal with Ellington's well struck effort from Carter's cross efficiently enough and CHAPLOW was there to gleefully tap home. The Baggies fans delighted in taunting the home crowd with taunts of "2-0 to the Premier League."

But that two goal lead did not last for very long after the interval. The impish Oster found Lita 10 yards out with a clever pass and the little frontman controlled and rolled the ball low past Chris Kirkland. Game on. From then on it was almost all one-way traffic as Reading dominated their Premiership opposition with the usual tight passing and free-flowing attacking football, stretching the Baggies in every area of the pitch as Ellington and Earnshaw hardly got a look-in at the other end, save some smart near-post work from Stack smothering Chaplow's cross-shot with the opponents front pairing waiting in anticipation. West Brom survived a suspicious-looking pass-back appeal, waved away by the often puzzling referee Taylor, and a typical Sidwell fizzer less than a foot wide of the post before LITA did make one count from distance midway through the half - Long and Harper combined to set him up for a 25-yard lob over Kirkland, a stunning goal which sent the MadStad crowd loopy with delight. "2-0 and you fucked it up!"

Stack had to be on hand to deny Ellington at his near post after a rare WBA raid bypassed Makin, but it was Reading looking the more likely to win it in normal time with Oster inspired and Lita foiled from a freekick. Young Long limped off with cramp and Doyle began to tear into the tiring Albion defence and it took just 3 minutes of extra-time for Reading to move into the inevitable lead; Oster, inevitably, fed Harper to meander into the box and as he was denied by a mass of Baggie bodies LITA lashed in his hatrick goal to complete a stunning turnaround. A mark of Reading's dominance was that Coppell saw fit to introduce young substitutes Cox and Osano as extra-time wore on. We never looked like relinquishing the lead and moved through to generous full time applause to a 4th round home tie against Birmingham City. Bring them on.

Reading: Stack, Murty, Makin, Ingimarsson, Gunnarsson, Oster (Osano, 107), Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Lita (Cox, 101), Long (Doyle, 89). Subs not used: Hahnemann, Little.

Floy'd Favourite: Lita. Stunning hat-trick.

USA Reading 2-0 Coventry City

Forget Vietnam or the Gulf and the fact that the average American represents a "considerably richer than yow" symbol of hatred across much of the world, we at Reading think the Yanks are alright. A string of fine saves by Seattle's finest shot-stopper Marcus Hahnemann either side of a Kitson brace maintained Reading's lead which increased the points gap between the unbeaten in 28 league games leaders and the rest of the pack. And it was Philadelphia flyer Bobby Convey who set the ball rolling for Reading's top scorer with a fine run to split the previously unbreachable Coventry defence.

It was a glimpse into the past, present and future at the Madejski Stadium yesterday. Former captain Adie Williams got a generous ovation from another sell-out home crowd despite wearing the colours of Coventry these days and we sat and watched another marvellous Reading performance - first half in particular - inspired by the young guns such as Convey and Doyle. Reading's first half performance was thrilling and a tad unfortunate not to reap more reward. Coventry were happy to sit back and the experienced heads of Adie and Richard Shaw at the back just about managed, by hook or by crook, to hold out against a Reading side playing their best stiflingly positive brand of fast attacking football with the flanks as the pulse-beat of the side. Convey was on good form on the left and linked up well with Shorey whilst Little was the usual touch of class on the other side, ably assisted by Murty. Reading scattered the ball all over the park in the opening 45, with Harper at his prodigious best in the middle of the park spraying the passes about with aplomb.

Through a series of cynical fouls and what could be politely termed as gamesmanship from the visitors which was to see both Williams and Shaw booked, Reading failed to make that early breakthrough and were denied only by their own hurried finishing as Doyle blazed wide from an angle early on and Kitson rushed a chance to denied tamely by Fulop. Shorey's freekick was wasteful and Kitson flicked a header over as the Coventry keeper punched away s succession of dangerous crosses. At the other end, Hahnemann provided a taste of what was to come with a fine low save to deny Stern John. The breakthrough did come less than a minute after the break; Convey made light work of the City midfield and defence as he sprinted through to feed KITSON in space. The flame-haired favourite worked himself an opening and finished beautifully.

Floyd on Football surely wouldn't have been alone in thinking that this was cue for the floodgates to open, but Coventry belied their lowly position by taking the game to Reading at last and dominated for long, nerve-wracking periods. Hahnemann was in magnificent form, denying Hutchison with a fine save from a wickedly struck free-kick and another instinctive piece of glovemanship palmed away Scowcroft's header which was looping under the cross bar. When Marcus Hall did find a way past Hahnemann he was denied by the crossbar and James Scowcroft only had himself to blame for prodding wide when a game seemed inevitable. Superman Sonko took the ball off John with skillful timing in the area and Reading had escaped several times over, clinching the points in a style which was almost casual as KITSON side-footed home after substitute Hunt's determination worked an opening with ten minutes left for play. In any outstanding side every squad member must play their part, as Hunt showed with his fine work late on. You also need a good goalkeeper and Hahnemann fits that bill.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Little, Gunnarsson, Harper, Convey (Hunt, 71), Doyle (Lita, 87), Kitson. Subs not used: Stack, Makin, Oster.

Floyd's Favourite: Hahnemann. Fine saves kept us in front before Kitson sealed it.

REF RAGE West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Reading

Referee Matt is not the Messias, he's a very naughty boy. Reading were so very nearly denied the FA Cup replay they so richly deserved by an absolute holocaust of a penalty decision at the Hawthorns yesterday. For a big man, Geoff Horsfield goes down very easily in the box and whilst Floyd on Football would of course never accuse the Baggies front man of being a cheating bastard, the referee was very clearly hood-winked into giving a decision so soft that it was the Mr Whippy of penalties.

Luckily, Reading - even a Reading with 6 changes to the usual league starting line-up - are made of strong stuff these days and hit back moments laster with a penalty of our own that even Mr Messias, West Brom's most influential man on the day, couldn't refuse. We earned a richly deserved draw to bring our Premiership opposition back to the Madejski in 10 days time having dominated the game for long periods despite being far from our most fluent selves on the day. The replay will most likely be a different kettle of fish as West Brom surely cannot be as appaling as they were yesterday, but Reading will have to fancy their chances.

The bleak West Midlands was like a snow bubble at kick off time yesterday, as the white stuff flurried around creating a beautifully wintry scene for the 3rd round day of the greatest cup competition in the world. Perhaps it would be fair to say though that this competiton has lost some of its magic in these financially directed times; as well as Reading's 6 changes, the Baggies made 4 themselves as both sides have priorities at either end of the table and are seperated by a mere 4 league places. The match itself was totally lacking in sparkle as well; it was a drab affair throughout and what quality there was on show came from Reading. Typical of the dearth in quality was an extraordinary early miss from the Baggies Nathan Ellington who proved that Wigan's loss in not necessarily West Brom's gain by firstly deflecting a Gunnarsson clearance against the Reading post with his backside and with Stack beaten tripping over himself with the goal gaping. It was almost embarassing.

West Brom have defeated Arsenal and Tottenham at the Hawthorns already this season and they have a good home record in the Premiership. On this showing you'd have to wonder why; the emphasis in a home FA Cup tie against opposition from a division below would always be on the Premiership side you'd have thought, but Reading dominated possession and territory and were only let down by a poor final ball from 2nd choice wingers Oster and Hunt. Up front, young Shane Long toiled and ran his heart out on his full debut but was pushed and pulled all over the pitch by the experienced Darren Moore and the hopeless Messias failed to notice. For Reading, Kitson went close when put through at an angle by Hunt only to be denied by the leg of Chris Kirkland and Harper had an effort from distance well held by the 'keeper. A good move down the right flank put Makin in with a chance to cross but he went down under pressure from Carter. Messias booked the Reading right back and quite why the referee would have thought that our man would have dived in such a promising position is quite beyond comprehension. West Brom only threatened through Kanu, who poked a ball through for Davies to sidefoot from close range straight at the well-positioned Stack who pulled off his only save of the day.

The game failed to improve in the second half, during which Albion hit several desperate long range efforts over the bar and failed to truly worry the Icelandic centre-half pairing of Ingimarsson and Gunnarsson. Indeed, the best entertainment of the day was provided at half time by the Reading substitutes. As Hahnemann stood between the sticks, he invited his team mates Sonko, Little, Doyle and Lita to try and chip the crossbar from distance. With most of the 2,800 Reading supporters remaining in the stand to avoid the crowded concourse during the break, they were urged on and managed the feat of clipping the woodwork to great applause. Hahnemann himself then took a go and miskicked badly thumping the ball low into the net to be then serenaded with the chant of #that's why you're in the goal!# from the travelling fans. Unfortunatey, the second half didn't see anything as close as an effort against the crossbar, but Sidwell and Hunt tried to test Kirkland and Reading got in plenty of good positions to put a ball across the box but we lacked quality at the crucial time.

With just under ten minutes left, Albion got their unjust gift of a late christmas present of a penalty as Horsfield went to ground under Makin's 'challenege' and the gullible Mr Messias could hardly blow his whistle quick enough. Stack guessed the right way but a rare display of Albion precision and quality from GERA buried the ball low past our 'keeper. With the travelling army stunned by the injustice of it all, the jeers turned to cheers barely two minutes later. Reading's pressing was rewarded as Ingimarsson's header across the box was diverted out of the danger zone by the hand of Albrechtsen and the offence was so embarassingly blatant that even Messias, the Inspector Clouseau of refereeing, couldn't ignore it. DOYLE had been rested from the starting XI and proved a point by dispatching the penalty decisively past Kirkland. Reading looked the mor likely to win the game, but we have a great chance of finishing the job at the Madejski - if only Messias wasn't scheduled to take control of the replay as well.


Reading: Stack, Makin, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Gunnarsson, Oster, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt (Little, 85), Kitson (Doyle, 68), Long (Lita, 57). Subs not used: Hahnemann, Sonko.

Floyd's Favourite: Harper. Reading won the midfield battle and Harper was the inspirational General.

SHEEPISH Reading 5-1 Cardiff City

You could say that Wales is England's attic. It's the part of British Isles used to store things we want to hide and that includes the charmless supporters of Cardiff City FC. Whether it was a case of should auld acquaintance be forgotten is debatable, but the Bluebirds followers were more subdued than usual, almost humble this afternoon as they looked forward to their cup appointment at Highbury next Saturday on the back of this crushing defeat with an ironic chorus of #are you watching Ar-sen-al?#.

Floyd on Football is of the opinion that this latest outing provided the best Reading performance so far in a quite outstanding season. 5-1 flattered Cardiff as for all but ten minutes after their goal they were comprehensively outpassed, outhought and outplayed by the rampant Royals. The third ocassion on which we have scored 5 at home this season goes some way towards explaining our goal difference of +44. Free flowing, pacy counter attack, solidity in the centre of the park and a back five operating as a well oiled unit - that is the secret to going 27 league games unbeaten in such a competitive division.

For all the euphoria, Reading could have been a goal down before they opened the scoring. Hahnemann had to be alert to charge off his line to deny Lee after Murty tied himself in knots down the right flank. The giant yank saved with his tree-trunk legs and Reading branched out on the counter-break, the 'keepers through finding his compatriot Convey who drove forward and pushed the ball out for Little to swing in a centre which SIDWELL got his ginger nut to, leaving Alexander with absolutely no chance. It had been an even start to the game thus far and the first goal was very much a turning point as Reading went on to dominate the rest of the first half with some excellent football; passing the ball with quality, using the space well and exposing the welsh visitors down the flanks. It was intoxicating stuff at times and you got the feeling that Cardiff would be inevitable lambs to the slaughter, particularly as SONKO added a second goal just after the half hour powering home a header from Shorey's freekick that Alexander could only parry high into the roof of the net.

That Reading failed to add to that tally before half time only a flag happy linesman and the Cardiff goalkeeper could explain. Time and time again Reading sliced the visiting defence open only to be hauled back by a series of dubious looking offside calls which failed to impress the Reading crowd and added to the heat of the atmosphere. When the linesman wasn't seemingly practising his semaphore, Alexander was on hand to first foil Doyle and then unbelievably saving from Kitson at point blank range. Kitson was having a splendid game, coming deep to retrieve the ball, spreading the play and providing an inspirational figurehead in attack. The rangy centre-forward added the third shortly after the break, pouncing at the second attempt from close range after yet more brilliance on the right wing from twinkletoes Little, beating his man and offering an 'eat me' centre for KITSON's 14th goal of the season.

Cardiff rallied briefly and had a goal to take home with them; the lively Cameron JEROME made inroads towards goal and struck from 20 yards via Hahnemann's legs for a soft-looking goal which smacked of a slight air of complacency. To complain too much would be churlish given Reading's continued progress, although Cardiff gave us something to think about for the 10 minutes which seperated their solitary strike and our fourth - Cameron again threatened as the Reading defence seemed to hesitate and Murty ushered the ball to safety after a nervous moment. Floyd on Football breathed a sigh of relief with twenty minutes left as SIDWELL's plunging header from yet another right wing cross, this time a typically measured Shorey freekick, made the game safe and the final stages were played out with Reading attacking at will and playing like a side who could have happily played on for another hour despite this being their 4th game in 8 festive days.

It was five from the spot as handball was given against Cardiff's Purse, KITSON burying the ball past Alexander and there could and perhaps should have been more as the same Cardiff centre-half directed a spectacular header narrowly wide of his own goal and Sidwell was only denied a hatrick by the goalpost after good work by substitute Long. That would have poured the metaphorical mint sauce over the charred carcass of Cardiff City but Reading settled for just the five this time.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Little (Oster, 75), Sidwell, Harper, Convey (Hunt, 71), Doyle, Kitson (Long, 75). Subs not used: Stack, Gunnarsson.

Floyd's Favourite: Kitson. Great movement pulled Cardiff all over the park.

DONKEY Derby County 2-2 Reading

Reading twice fought back from a goal down yesterday evening at Pride Park in the televised game to earn a point. A side unsettled by changes forced and unforced struggled to settle into a decent pattern of play in the first half and fell behind to an opener from Seth JOHNSON just past the half hour. The lead lasted barely a minute before DOYLE levelled with a great header from Little's cross, but Reading fell behind undeservedly after the break when JOHNSON volleyed in impressively before an 88th minute point-saver from substitute Shane LONG rescued the unbeaten run when he scored a close range header after Sidwell knocked Shorey's corner back across the back.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty (Harper, 86), Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko, Little, Sidwell, Gunnarsson, Convey (Long, 70), Doyle, Hunt (Oster, 81). Subs not used: Stack, Makin.

Floyd's Favourite: Doyle.