The Tilehurst End - Reading 1-0 Ipswich - Complete CoverageReading FC blog run by fans, for fans.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52568/tte_fav.png2014-08-18T12:15:24+01:00http://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/rss/stream/57877222014-08-18T12:15:24+01:002014-08-18T12:15:24+01:00Media Reaction: Ipswich (H)
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<figcaption>Ben Hoskins</figcaption>
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<p>So after mid weeks cup victory, Reading continued their unbeaten run beating Ipswich 1-0. Here, Amoj brings us the good word of the various media.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Reading Official: Taylor earns Royals first win</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Reading site's main focus was the youth behind Saturday's 1-0 victory, mentioning that the team which ended the game had an average age of 23! Adkins took a similar theme with his press conference, while perhaps rightly warning after a nervy second half that: <span>"There will be ups and downs, today is an up so we'll enjoy it, but keep our feet on the ground.</span>" It would be impossible to describe the game without mentioning Ipswich's selection of chances. The word 'relief' was used after Ipswich hit the bar, which aptly summing up my feeling at the end of the game!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ipswich Official:</b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The opposition's site really rams home the fact, they had many chances to get away with a point. This is supported by their description of chance after chance being missed. There are also articles from Jay Tabb and Mick McCarthy, both ruing the Tractor boy's missed opportunities.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>BBC:</b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The BBC have a description of the game which would be unpopular with many fans, describing it as a 'scrappy match', as well as saying that Ipswich dominated proceedings. While dominate is perhaps too far, it is hard to deny that Ipswich were not on top for large periods of the game. As despite Reading restricting Ipswich to mainly chances from set pieces, for long periods of time Reading were pinned back in their own half. Furthermore Reading, bar a few crosses, didn't look like scoring a second. However at the end of the day only the result matters, and in that respect Reading walk away with 3 points!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Who Scored:</b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Ipswich's view of the game is unsurprisingly reinforced by the statistics, with the away side having 15 shots to Readings 6, with 8 of those coming from set plays. More interestingly despite the goal coming from Jake Taylor, the positional report shows 59% of Reading's play came down the right hand side compared to 16% in the middle and 25% on the left. This is a credit to Nick Blackman's physical presence against a big Ipswich side, and Chris Gunter's willingness to get forward and try to link up play. Also I think it shows how much we are missing Guthrie, Williams and Karacan, who offer more of a threat going forward through the middle. Hector was Reading's best rated player with 8.2, putting in a commanding performance in the absence of Cardiff's new signing Morrison.</p>
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https://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/2014/8/18/6026183/media-reaction-ipswich-hAmoj2014-08-17T22:34:14+01:002014-08-17T22:34:14+01:00Reading v Ipswich Highlights<iframe width="1280" height="720" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cCIsIUP81IM?rel=0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Highlights of Reading's 1-0 win over Ipswich, where Jake Taylor earned us all three points.</p></p></div>
https://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/2014/8/17/6028633/reading-v-ipswich-highlightsWimb2014-08-17T09:46:31+01:002014-08-17T09:46:31+01:00Reading 1-0 Ipswich: Player Ratings
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<figcaption>Richard Heathcote</figcaption>
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<p>We look back on how Reading's players performed during the 1-0 win over Ipswich.</p> <h4>
<span>Adam Federici</span>: 7</h4>
<p>Federici had few saves to make but the one he had to do something about, he handled well as the Australian deflected McGoldrick's shot wide. Commanding in the air and good with the ball at his feet, <span>Alex McCarthy</span> has some work to do if he's to win his spot back.</p>
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<span>Chris Gunter</span>: 8</h4>
<p>An excellent performance from the captain who was excellent both in defence and attack, with his cross-field ball for <span>Jake Taylor's</span> goal a particular highlight. As one of the most senior players in the team, he's certainly been leading by example so far this season.</p>
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<span>Alex Pearce</span>: 7</h4>
<p>A quiet yet strong performance from the Republic of Ireland international who did all that was asked of him to keep Ipswich out.</p>
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<span>Michael Hector</span>: 8</h4>
<p>Sean who? Big Hec put in a fantastic display to keep the dangerous McGoldrick quiet and helped ease the fears of fans who worried about our defensive stability following Morrison's sale to Cardiff. While one game doesn't suddenly make him Rio Ferdinand (as brother Anton apparently described him after the game!) it's encouraging to see Hector step into the defence and put in such a brave and skillful performance.</p>
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<span>Shaun Cummings</span>: 7</h4>
<p>The painful performances he put in at left-back last year seem a long way in the past and while I still don't think that Cummings is the answer in the position, he's put in some decent showings so far this season.</p>
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<span>Hope Akpan</span>: 6</h4>
<p>This is a mark that might divide a few folk but for my money Akpan had an OK but unconvincing performance as the holding midfielder. He certainly did the ugly parts of the game well but at times his touch was lacking and some of his passes were woeful, with one 10 yard ping to Chris Gunter nearly setting up an Ipswich chance. Not the worst performance in the world but the former Crawley man will have to up his performances if he's to keep the likes of Guthrie, Karacan and Williams out of the side.</p>
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<span>Jordan Obita</span>: 7</h4>
<p>Some promising moments from the 2014 player of the season, who looked comfortable occupying a position in the middle of the park. One burst in the first half was particularly pleasing but like Akpan I don't think he's quite yet at the level where he'd be selected in that position over the likes of Karacan etc.</p>
<h4>Jake Taylor: 7</h4>
<p>A player who's growing in confidence by the game and his finish for the goal capped a great 10 minutes from the midfielder who helped put Reading on the offensive after a period under pressure. As the game wore on he struggled to make much of an impact on the ball but he continued to work hard and press the Ipswich midfield.</p>
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<span>Nick Blackman</span>: 6</h4>
<p>Like Akpan, Blackman had a pretty decent game but just lacked the final product to back up some hard work and endeavour. Still, this was a much better performance than we'd seen for most of last season and he's showing glimpses of why Reading paid Sheffield United a seven figure sum for the forward.</p>
<h4>Simon Cox: 6</h4>
<p>Cox fizzled out after a bright opening as he found time on the ball harder and harder to come by. At the risk of sounding repetitive, the forward gave his all for the team but could perhaps have done better with the ball in attacking areas and earned himself a silly yellow card shortly before he made way for Edwards. Cox is a player who's going to be key going forward and a performance like this is more than acceptable for a man who's only spent just over a week training with the squad.</p>
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<span>Pavel Pogrebnyak</span>: 7</h4>
<p>Listeners to the Podcast and who read my reports from last season know of my soft spot for the big Russian and today was a perfect example of why he's entered my heart. The Russian worked his socks off for the side and his hold up play was a key reason that Reading were able to soak up a fair amount of pressure. Ipswich legend Mick Mills called him the difference maker on local radio and the striker did his very best to protect the lead on a day when chances were very thin on the ground.</p>
<h4><u><b>SUBSTITUTES</b></u></h4>
<h4>Ryan Edwards: 6</h4>
<p>Put in a very <span>Jay Tabb</span> performance on the same pitch where the original Tabby was strutting his stuff for Ipswich. Edwards isn't going to offer much of a physical threat but like another former Royal on the Ipswich books in Stephen Hunt, he's a dynamo that's perfectly happy to run through brick walls. Hard to judge his ability on the ball on this brief cameo but he doesn't look out of place as part of the squad.</p>
<h4>Jake Cooper: NA</h4>
<p>The man's a giant, I can say that much! Beyond that it was hard to read to much into our latest Academy Graduate who came on late as an extra defender to help shore things up.</p>
<h4>Jack Stacey: NA</h4>
<p>Like Cooper you can't read anything into just a few minutes on the pitch but anytime you see an Academy product on the pitch is a good thing.</p>
https://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/player-ratings/2014/8/17/6023797/reading-v-ipswich-player-ratingsWimb2014-08-16T19:02:42+01:002014-08-16T19:02:42+01:00Reading 1-0 Ipswich: Taylor Powers First Win
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<p>Jake Taylor's first goal for the club wrapped up all three points for an inexperienced Reading side against a dogged Ipswich at the Madejski Stadium. While the quality was sometimes missing, there was no lack of effort from a determined Royals side who maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign. </p> <p><i><b>Reading</b>: Federici; Cummings, Pearce, Hector, Gunter; Akpan, Obita; Taylor (Stacey), Cox (Edwards), Blackman (Cooper); Pogrebnyak</i></p>
<p>Team wise, Nigel Adkins made two chances to the side that had started the 2-2 draw up at Wigan, with <span>Hope Akpan</span> in for the departed <span>Sean Morrison</span> and Ryan Edwards dropped to the bench in favour of Simon Cox. While with injuries still ravaging the Reading squad Adkins was forced to name a bench that aside from goalkeeper <span>Alex McCarthy</span> had a combined total of 1 Championship appearance between them, with that game being Edwards' up at the DW Stadium a week earlier.</p>
<p>Despite their inexperience, Reading started well with Cox in his first league start at the Madejski carving out a good chance down the right that saw his cross-shot blocked at the near post. Cox certainly showed some classy touches on his league return to his home ground but didn't see much of the ball as Reading often resorted to long balls forward from Adam Federici to Nick Blackman or Pavel Pogrebnyak to start their attacking moves.</p>
<p>Like Reading, Ipswich had also been in the play-off hunt for most of last season and they showed their experience by gradually earning more and more of the ball in attacking positions, with only a goal line scramble after a corner denying Mick McCarthy's side the opening goal after a quarter of an hour.</p>
<p>Ipswich continued to probe Reading with crosses and set pieces but the Royals fought back with <span>Jake Taylor</span> twice getting a sight of goal and while the first was deflected narrowly wide, the second beautifully nestled in the bottom corner. The goal came from a fantastic cross-field ball from captain <span>Chris Gunter</span>, who found Taylor inside the left hand side of the box, with the Reading Academy graduate deftly poking the ball past Ipswich keeper Dean Gerken for his first goal for the club.</p>
<p>Into the second period and Reading were forced onto the back foot with a <span>Jay Tabb</span> free-kick finding Daryl Murphy who couldn't steer his shot into the net despite <span>Federici</span> being well beaten, while seconds later David McGoldrick was sent rushing through on goal only for some good pressure from <span>Michael Hector</span> and a fine save from Federici to keep the scoreline at 1-0.</p>
<p>Chances were hard to come by for Reading and it became an increasingly back to wall effort as Ipswich searched for an equaliser. As the half wore on the energetic Edwards came on to replace Cox, while there were debuts in the closing stages for defender Jake Cooper and winger Jack Stacey as Nigel Adkins sought to shut up shop.</p>
<p>However more than an hour of good work from the home side came within inches of being undone in the dying moments as a corner from Paul Anderson found Tyrone Mings, only for the full-back's goal-bound header to be nodded onto his own cross-bar by Shaun Cummings as Reading held on to secure a first league win of the season.</p>
<p>Performance wise this wasn't exactly a masterpiece but when you're talking about a team ravaged by injuries and entering a game with what was described by many as a 'creche' rather than a subs bench, you'll take three points however you get them. Reading showed plenty of heart and guts in this one and while the midweek headlines revolved around the departure of Sean Morrison to Cardiff, it's Michael Hector that was the name on the lips of the home fans after he put in a fantastic performance in the heart of the defence alongside <span>Alex Pearce</span>.</p>
<p>Chris Gunter too deserves plenty of praise, as Reading's captain on the day led by example with a fine performance down the right hand side, and while I'll go on to give more detailed thoughts on individual performances in the player ratings, to be honest it's hard to pick out a Reading player that had anything worse than an average day.</p>
<p>Being totally objective, this certainly isn't a team you'd back long-term to hang around the top six but fortunately it's a team that's set to be continually reinforced over the next few weeks and days like this will only go to both motivate those returning and more importantly to give these younger players the belief that they can play at this level.</p>
<p>The fact a team fielding some 12 Academy graduates was able to earn a win in the Championship is a fantastic achievment and once again goes to show what a fantastic job the likes of Eamon Dolan and Martin Kuhl have done with the younger sides.</p>
<p>A week ago if you'd offered me four points and progression in the League Cup I'd have bitten your hand off and regardless of how strong or weak you consider the performances, you can't argue with the results earned so far.</p>
<p>As one texter perfectly put it on BBC Radio Berkshire, now is the time for cautious optimism, with a pontless Huddersfield our next challenge on Tuesday night at the Madejski.</p>
https://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/2014-15-match-reports/2014/8/16/6022479/readingfc-1-0-ipswich-championship-match-reportWimb2014-08-15T14:00:03+01:002014-08-15T14:00:03+01:00Reading v Ipswich Town: Match Preview
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<figcaption>Ben Hoskins</figcaption>
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<p>Phil Owtram previews the Royals first home game of the season against Ipswich Town.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;">Reading v Ipswich Town</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;">League Championship</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;">Madejski Stadium</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;">Saturday 15<sup>th</sup> August, KO 3pm</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal;"><b>Referee: Simon Hooper</b></p>
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<p>After an unbeaten start to the season, Reading now turn their attention to their first home league game of the season. Ipswich Town have the honour, as they visit the Madejski Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Tractor Boys come into this one on the back of a good 2-1 win over a Fulham side looking to return to the Premier League at the first attempt. This was then followed by a disappointing 1-0 defeat away to league one Crawley in extra-time in the Capital One cup first round. As for The Royals, they will look to build on their draw away to Wigan, and 3-1 League Cup triumph over Newport County, with a positive performance and result in front of a home crowd.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Home and away statistics</u></b></p>
<p>This week’s opposition won 6 of their 23 away games last season with 50% of those wins coming in their last 6 away matches. Ipswich had a far better record at home than away, winning 12 of their 23 home games, giving them a home and away win percentage of 52% and 26% respectively.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As for Reading, 8 wins in 23 home league games (35%)- which included an opening day defeat of Ipswich- was a disappointing return. This record would usually mean mid-table mediocrity however 11 wins in 23 games away from home (48%) ensured The Royals were in the running for a play-off place come the end of the season. Nigel Adkins will want to see his team control games this season, especially in a Madejski Stadium that has witnessed only 3 wins in 2014.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Head to Head</u></b></p>
<p>Reading and Ipswich have met 53 times before with Saturday’s away side edging the head to head record with 24 wins to Reading’s 19, in addition to 9 draws. In more recent times, since the inception of the Championship at the beginning of the 2004/05 season this fixture has been played 14 times, there have been 7 (4 home) wins for Reading compared to 4 (1 away) for Ipswich with 3 draws. Last season saw each team win at their respective home grounds when Reading opened the season at home with a 2-1 win over their East Anglian counterparts, only for the tractor boys to gain revenge in January with a 2-0 success against the Royals.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Team news</u></b></p>
<p>Reading are still without Garath McCleary and Danny Williams as they recover from operations. Hal Robson-Kanu and Stephen Kelly will also sit out Saturday’s game and new club captain Jem Karacan continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury. Sean Morrison’s departure to Cardiff means Nigel Adkins must reshuffle his team, and may see Michael Hector partner Alex Pearce at centre-back as new signing Anton Ferdinand lacks match fitness. Fellow new signing Jamie Mackie is still sidelined with a hamstring strain but Simon Cox could be handed his full league debut. Danny Guthrie could return to the side after playing half an hour against Wigan, but is unlikely to start.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As for Ipswich; Mick McCarthy is looking to welcome back seven members of his squad that sat out Tuesday’s defeat to Crawley with minor knocks. Last season's top scorer, and key man, David McGoldrick played just over half of Saturday’s game against Fulham. Returning from six months out with a knee injury, he could start. New signing Jonathan Parr, who missed the first two games of the season, could also line up against the Royals. Jay Tabb, meanwhile, looks set to face his former club after being rested in Tuesday’s game.</p>
https://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/2014/8/15/6005267/reading-v-ipswich-town-match-previewPhil902014-08-15T13:52:15+01:002014-08-15T13:52:15+01:00Ref-Watch: Ipswich (H)
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<figcaption>Robin Parker</figcaption>
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<p>Reading fans will no doubt be cock-a-hoop to discover that SIMON HOOPER is the man in the middle for Saturday's Stad du Mad homecoming. Well, I certainly am.</p> <p>Remember that London skyscraper which melted cars on Fenchurch Street last year, by reflecting sunlight at them? Referee <b>SIMON HOOPER</b>'s shiny head possesses an eerily similar mystical quality.</p>
<p>Of course, we know all about the combustible dangers of SHM (no, not the Swedish House Mafia, that's Shiny Head Melting), having been managed by Brian McDermott for four years. I won't bring Marcus Hahnemann into this.</p>
<p>Seven fans evaporated in the East Stand in 2011 alone. No, really. All that remained were a selection of singed blue-and-white wigs, and rumblestix.</p>
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<p>Fortunately, the sun rarely shines in Berkshire. It certainly didn't shine the last time that Hooper visited the Hoops - Simon was the fourth official on the last day of the 2013/2014 season, for our ill-fated game against Burnley.</p>
<p>By day, the Wiltshire resident carves out a living as an IT service manager.</p>
<p>Last week, Hooper was on the receiving end of a push from Norwich defender Martin Olsson. In return, Olsson is now on the receiving end of a lengthy disciplinary ban from the FA. When push comes to shove, it's all just karma.</p>
<p>Whilst on the subject of discipline, peering further back into the melting mists of time, last season Simon dished out a healthy 62 yellow cards across 17 Championship fixtures: an approximate average of 3.6 yellows per game. In addition, Hooper sent-off a scant 3 players (NONE via a straight-red card), and awarded seven penalties. This season, after just one game in charge, he's already racked up 4 yellows and a dismissal to his name.</p>
<p>More numbers than all of Carol Vorderman's most perverse fantasies combined.</p>
<p>Something that may be of more interest to the Reading Massive: Hooper is an ex-Swindon man. He was cut loose by the Robins when he was just 16, after spending seven years in their youth system. Simon later had a semi-professional stint playing for Swindon Supermarine. So if he gives Ipswich five penalties at the weekend, and sends-off five Reading men, you'll know why.</p>
<p>Unlike another ex-Swindon man *cough, Sean Morrison, wheeze*, hopefully Hooper will actually turn up to our game on Saturday.</p>
https://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/2014/8/15/5998357/ref-watch-ipswich-hJacobSouthKlein