3:25pm, Sunday 12th November 2006



Reading (Shorey 38, Sidwell 45, Doyle 79)
Tottenham (Keane 24 (p))

Reading (4-4-2): Hahnemann; Murty (c), Shorey, Sonko, Ingimarsson; Harper, Sidwell, Little (Gunnarsson 85), Hunt (Oster 80); Doyle, Seol (Lita 75)
Subs: Federici, Bikey
Booked: Seol

Tottenham (4-4-2): Robinson, Pyo-Lee (Defoe 68), Assou-Ekotto, Dawson, King (c); Zokora (Huddlestone 68), Jenas, Lennon, Ghaly; Berbatov, Keane
Subs: Cerny, Ziegler, Murphy
Booked: Jenas

Ref: R Styles

Attendance: 24,110

Reading showed great character to come from a goal behind and earn a hard-fought victory over Tottenham this afternoon.

Robbie Keane's penalty gave Spurs the lead, but Nicky Shorey's 25-yarder and a goal from Steve Sidwell put Reading 2-1 up at the interval.

The second half was a cagey affair, and sub Jermain Defoe missed an excellent chance to equalise as he shot wide on the turn.

From the resulting goal kick Spurs were made to pay, as it went long to Kevin Doyle, who turned home well for 3-1.

Both teams then hit the post in the closing stages, and Reading were good value for the win, although Spurs will point to that missed chance for Defoe.




Full report
Reading made a good start to the game, pressing high up the pitch and keeping a good tempo. Steve Sidwell looped over from 20 yards, and then his persistence gave Kevin Doyle a chance, but he shot wide from a tightening angle.

Spurs began to come back into it, and a good ball down the line saw Robbie Keane in space. He cut back dangerously, but Graeme Murty made an excellent block to snuff out the danger.

On 23 minutes Spurs took the lead when Keane laid a neat pass into the feet of Hossam Ghaly. The Egyptian nicked the ball past Ibrahima Sonko, and there were no complaints from Reading as a penalty was given for the defender's challenge.

Keane stepped up to take the spot kick, and despatched it into Marcus Hahnemann's right hand corner for 1-0.

Hahnemann was soon called into action again, and he could only parry a long range shot, but Dimitar Berbatov was given offside as he followed in on the rebound.

Reading were soon pressing for a goal though, and had a shout for a penalty when the ball struck Ledley King's arm from close range but nothing was given.

Finally the goal came on 37 minutes. Glen Little, who had been a constant thorn in Spurs' side, picked a good pass to Nicky Shorey, who had got forward well from left back. He took a touch, shot from fully 25 yards and found the bottom corner with an excellent strike.

Inside injury time Reading were in front as they ended the half strongly. Doyle won a corner, and Little's delivery evaded a static Spurs defence to allow Sidwell to turn home from a yard and make it 2-1.

The second half was a cagey affair to begin with, and Reading were relatively comfortable. Little went on a good break into Spurs territory, but it came to nothing.

It took 18 minutes of the half for either side to get a true attempt on goal, and Berbatov headed straight at Hahnemann.

Spurs made a bold double substitution midway through the half, going to three at the back as Jermain Defore joined the frontline.

Reading almost immediately exploited the gaps in the away defence, with the very impressive Graeme Murty prompting a move that gave Doyle a sight of goal, but he shot straight at Robinson. Moments later the Irishman mishit a cross with Harper crying for possession in the middle.

Spurs were beginning to get more of the ball, and had two good sights of goal in quick succession. First Ghaly shot wildly wide on the volley, then Defoe had a very good chance indeed but shot wide on the turn.

Martin Jol's men were made to pay for that profligacy, as Reading scored immediately from the goal kick. It was flicked on expertly by sub Leroy Lita, and Doyle finished very well past Paul Robinson for 3-1.

It was nearly 4-1 moments later, when Lita won another header to release Doyle, who in turn laid back to Shorey. The left back's cross found Lita in the area, and he was unlucky to see his header smack the post.

Harper nearly added another as Lita broke expertly, but the cross was just behind the onrushing midfielder.

Little came off to a standing ovation on with five minutes left, and he fully deserved the plaudits after an incisive and hugely impressive performance.

Spurs were then gifted another chance as sub John Oster gave possession away on the edge of his own box. It was played in for Defoe, who cracked an effort off the post. Play kept going, and eventually it came to Berbatov, who miscued badly.

There were no more chances of note, and Reading took three points thanks to a good display full of both determination and quality. Spurs looked dangerous at times, but missed too many chances to expect anything from the game.




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