West Ham 1 (Solano 42)
Reading 1 (Kitson 60)

Ten-man Reading took a very welcome point at West Ham today.

Steve Coppell's men started brightly, but Brynjar Gunnarsson was sent off just before the half hour, and it swung the pendulum in United's favour at that point.

The Icelander went in two-footed, and althought he did not catch Hayden Mullins, he could have no complaints about the decision.

The red card gave United a lift, and they got themselves in front just before half time with a nice goal from Nolberto Solano.

But our ten men showed character to draw themselves level on the hour. Nicky Shorey did brilliantly to find Dave Kitson, and the frontman tucked home a very nice finish.

United twice hit the post in search of a winner, and we had plenty of defending to do late on, with Marcus Hahnemann in very good form.

Our ten men deserved something for their efforts, and it was a valiant showing, with good performances all over.

Reading: Hahnemann; Murty (c), Shorey, Ingimarsson, Sonko; Gunnarsson, Harper, Hunt, Convey (Cisse 65); Doyle (Bikey 90), Kitson (Long 84)
Subs: Federici, Lita
Booked: Hunt (dissent 44), Shorey (foul 66)
Sent off: Gunnarsson (foul 28)

West Ham: Green; Neill (c), McCartney, Spector, Upson; Mullins, Parker, Solano (Noble 77), Ljungberg; Ashton, Cole (Camara 72)
Subs: Wright, Pantsil, Ferdinand
Booked: Green (dissent 44), Cole (foul 64)

Attendance: 34,277

Referee: Peter Walton

First half
Reading started brightly, and Kevin Doyle dragged a yard wide in the first minute.

Then Nolberto Solano was just off target with a 20-yard free kick as the game started brightly.

We were playing some nice stuff, and one lovely move culminated in a headed chance for Kevin Doyle. Anywhere either side of Robert Green and it was a goal, but luckily for the Hammers it was right at him.

James Harper had a tame shot from the edge of the box, and down the other end Ibrahima Sonko did well to clear after a George McCartney run.

Reading were the better team in that opening period, and another excellent passing move created a chance in front of goal. This time it fell to Bobby Convey, but Robert Green was out sharply to close him down.

The Royals had been on top, but went down to 10 men on 28 minutes. Brynjar Gunnarsson went in two-footed toward Hayden Mullins, and although he did not touch the West Ham man, our Icelander could have few complaints as the red card was shown.

Immediately United were given a boost, and from the resulting free kick Marcus Hahnemann couldn't gather, and Graeme Murty put in a prodigious block to deny Freddie Ljungberg.

Dean Ashton then tried his luck, and his mishit volley went just over.

Three minutes before the break, and United did have an opener. Carlton Cole's touch let him down as he received the ball with his back to goal. It created a scramble, and none of the three Reading defenders around him could get it away.

Solano was quickest to react, and nipped in nicely before producing a classy finish over Hahnemann.

It was nearly 2-0 before the break when Hahnemann only half-parried a cross, but Mullins shot well off target.

The scoreline was a little harsh on Reading at half time, but the red card had completely changed the game, and that was all of our own doing.

Second half
Reading's defence had a couple of close calls just after the break, with Scott Parker denied by Hahnemann at the near post, then Sonko not too far from putting through his own net with a badly miscued volley.

Just before the hour mark, Steve Coppell's men drew themselves level.

Harper took a corner on the left wing, and it was cleared to Nicky Shorey on the edge of the box. The left back did brilliantly, and found Kitson in space in the box. The frontman produced an excellent finish, stretching with his left foot for a well-taken goal.

United were close to going back in front quickly though, and Jonathan Spector's glancing header came back off the outside of the post.

Then Hahnemann made another good save, this time to deny Ljungberg.

The longer the game went on, the more nervous West Ham seemed to become, and the crowd were on their backs somewhat.

Alan Curbishley's men took until injury time to really come close again, and sub Mark Noble tested Hahnemann at his near post, but the American saved well.

Finally, Ashton hit the post with a header in the 93rd minute. Reading looked as if they could break from that set piece, but sub Andre Bikey wisely ran it into the corner to see out time, and it was a very welcome and deserved point at the final whistle.