The Tilehurst End - Reading FC Review - April 11-18, 2011
It has been another fantastic week for Reading football club following two more wins. The Royals have now won eight matches in a row despite suffering from a host of injuries in the past weeks.
Here we'll recap some of the big stories around the club over the past seven days, and also give a quick guide to some of the bits and bobs on the website that have gone up over the last week.
Match Action
Last Tuesday Reading beat relegation threatened 2-0 Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park. Reading saw captain Matt Mills return following his injury and took the lead through Shane Long mid-way through the second half. The ever hard-working Long then got through on goal before getting chopped down and winning a penalty which Ian Harte brilliantly converted.
The win kept the pressure on the teams above and it just goes to show how far Reading have come since that defeat on February 12th away to Norwich City, which left us in 12th and 10 points off the play-offs.
It goes to emphasise just what a mesmerising run Reading have found themselves on. And that run continued on Saturday when an impressive Leicester City were beaten 3-1 at the Madejski Stadium. The game was end-to-end and the Foxes were very impressive, passing the ball around and keeping possession. Reading played a patient game, sitting behind the ball and leaving no gaps. Nearly every shot was superbly blocked and the opposition were left frustrated. Reading took the lead with their first chance, Long doing brilliantly do get away from Sol Bamba before squaring it for Jimmy Kebe to tap home. The electric Kebe then created a bit of magic before laying off Jobi McAnuff you did very well to steer the ball home. The second half started with Leicester pressurizing again but Kebe was too hot to handle and after missing two glorious chances he decided to drive down the right at astonishing speed before playing the ball into the box. Miguel Vitor got a toe to it but Noel Hunt pounced to make it 3-0. A late consolation from, Maidenhead born, Andy King made it 3-1.
That win pushed Reading above Swansea and into 4th.
The win against Scunthorpe was Reading’s first in 33 years, Unbelievable really. For all those Loyal Royals that have not seen the Shane Long Ballad it is a must see on Youtube. In further club news Reading have announced their pre season trip, which will again be in Slovenia. Matches are yet to be confirmed but the dates of the games are- Wednesday 13th of July, Saturday 16th and Tuesday 19th of July. The squad will fly out on the 11th and return home on the 20th.
News Highlights
Chris Armstrong will be attending the home match against Sheffield United on Monday, Armstrong who sadly retired last month due to MS will watch us take on his former employers as they fight relegation.
On Sunday the 5th of June there will be a benefits match between Reading and Tottenham in aid of Paul Turner who has a life changing illness. The head physiotherapist may never work again after suffering from a viral infection that affected his brain. Despite vastly improving in health, Paul is still very ill and the match will involve former players from both sides.
Congratulations is in order to Ian Harte. Our goalscoring left back has been named in the Npower Championships Team of the season.
Tilehurst End Highlights
SamRFC breaks down how the Royals out on loan got on over the weekend, including action for Marcus Williams, Ben Hamer and Julian Kelly.
Wimb looks at our centre backs, and looks at who makes the best combination, with a look at the stats and the fans opinion on each player to help come up with an answer.
Reading In the Second Tier - A Historical Review Part II
Nigel 'Strap' Meek continues his review of our time spent in the second tier, including looking at who would be part of a 'Dream Team' if you didn't include 2005/2006.
Twitter Review - Leicester City
Relive Saturday's action as it happened with Hoops' twitter review.
The Week Ahead
The Royals are up against Leeds United on Friday and the game is live on Sky Sports, then it's Sheffield United at the Madejski Stadium on Monday. So here’s to another 6 points! We'll bring you a full match previews as well as 'View from the Town End', and regular features - bookie watch, loan watch and news bites. So stay tuned to The Tilehurst End over the next week!