Match Report


ReadingReading     Coventry CityCoventry City
Computer Player Computer Player Jordan Shapland Jordan Shapland
Simon LofthouseS. Lofthouse52
G
1
G
55Dennis CooperD. Cooper
Edouard AvenetE. Avenet60
D
2
D
50Nicholas VernazzaN. Vernazza
Fredrik RowettF. Rowett56
D
3
D
52Scott DeanS. Dean
Nunzio FiricanoN. Firicano52
D
4
D
56Alfredo NarcisoA. Narciso
Matt ThirlwellM. Thirlwell66
M
captain5
D
52Aniello CastorinaA. Castorina
Eddie PottsE. Potts64
M
6
M
40Jon BenaliJ. Benali
Scott HarleyS. Harley55
M
7
M
51Dennis HeskeyD. Heskey
Carlton SwiftC. Swift48
M
8captain
M
58Jody Wright-PhillipsJ. Wright-Phillips
Alberto YoungA. Young56
A
9
A
48Stuart NichollsS. Nicholls
George BoatengG. Boateng56
A
10
A
51Peter MccannP. Mccann
David KirklandD. Kirkland54
A
11
A
45Cataldo LonghiC. Longhi
 
Bill MurrayB. Murray50
G
12
M
56Dagui MarchandD. Marchand
David MontagueD. Montague49
G
13
D
36Alan MendoncaA. Mendonca
Nick MckayN. Mckay48
A
14
A
58Daniel HuntD. Hunt

1 Rai
today's match is sponsored by 1Rai
Match Report
The air is damp with a fine drizzle here at Madejski Stadium where Reading play host to Coventry City. A crowd of 4,840 fill this 5,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in good condition.
Reading are playing in a 3-4-3 formation while Coventry City appear to be shaped for 4-3-3.
Today's match is refereed by Shaun Froggatt.


0.00
Coventry City start the game by kicking off the first half!
2.49
Matt Thirlwell threads a neat ball through to David Kirkland. David Kirkland lofts in a cross ball towards Alberto Young. Alberto Young fearlessly jumps in, powering the ball goalwards with his head but it curls horrendously wide!
12.51
Dennis Heskey runs straight at the opposition's defence. Dennis Heskey plays a one-two with Stuart Nicholls and rushes in on goal... Dennis Heskey makes some space for himself and shoots at goal. It's a goal!! What a beauty!
15.33
Nunzio Firicano knocks the ball to his team mate, Eddie Potts. Eddie Potts threads a neat ball through to David Kirkland. David Kirkland knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Alfredo Narciso.
18.58
Alfredo Narciso hits a low pass to Jon Benali. Jon Benali laces a weighted ball forward to Peter Mccann. Peter Mccann shoots from outside the area but Simon Lofthouse reads it well. He makes it look easy!
22.08
Dennis Heskey barges into Fredrik Rowett. Dennis Heskey is given a warning by the referee! Fredrik Rowett runs off the knock.
27.49
Eddie Potts makes a simple pass to Alberto Young. Alberto Young shoots from distance but it flies well off target!
28.52
Scott Harley sees space and advances. Scott Harley knocks in a cross ball towards George Boateng. George Boateng connects with a diving header. Dennis Cooper manages to gather it effortlessly.
32.52
Without breaking stride, Dennis Heskey plays the ball forward to Cataldo Longhi. Cataldo Longhi rushes past Nunzio Firicano! Cataldo Longhi rockets a shot on goal but it goes wide for a goal kick.
33.10
Eddie Potts flicks a high pass forward. Alberto Young holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Alberto Young knocks in a cross ball towards George Boateng. George Boateng finds space and glances the ball goalwards with his head. The ball rattles the crossbar bouncing back into play. It's dealt with comprehensively by the defence.
39.47
Eddie Potts controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, David Kirkland. David Kirkland knocks in a cross ball towards Alberto Young. Alberto Young finds space and glances the ball goalwards with his head. The ball clips the outside of the post and goes out!
40.22
Jon Benali kicks a strong pass forward to Peter Mccann. Peter Mccann shoots from outside the area but it flies just wide!
45.00
The whistle blows and the first half comes to an end!

Both teams emerge for the second half. Reading appear unchanged since the first half. Coventry City also appear unchanged since the first half. The Reading players look more determined than they did at the start of the game.

45.00
The whistle blows and Reading kick off!
49.48
Carlton Swift flicks a high pass forward. David Kirkland holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. David Kirkland whips in a cross ball towards George Boateng. George Boateng is unmarked! He powers a header at goal but it is miles over!
55.31
Scott Harley kicks a strong pass forward to George Boateng. George Boateng knocks in a cross ball towards Alberto Young. Alberto Young makes a convincing header but it goes wide for a goal kick.
59.34
Carlton Swift flicks a high pass forward. Alberto Young holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Alberto Young knocks the ball beyond the defensive line but David Kirkland is offside!
60.13
Eddie Potts flicks a high pass forward. George Boateng holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. George Boateng controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal. The ball swerves in the air but the keeper is more than a match for it. Great keeping!
65.57
Eddie Potts makes a beautiful pass to the feet of George Boateng. George Boateng knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Dennis Cooper who gathers it comfortably.
67.17
David Kirkland barges into Aniello Castorina. The referee calls over David Kirkland and shows him a yellow card! Aniello Castorina hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
69.02
Scott Harley makes a probing pass to Alberto Young. Alberto Young edges inside the box! Alberto Young side-steps and rifles a shot at goal but it goes wide for a goal kick.
71.29
Jody Wright-Phillips changes direction and makes an attacking run forward. Jody Wright-Phillips finds some space and shoots from distance but is denied by Simon Lofthouse. Excellent save.
73.36
Carlton Swift passes the ball forward to George Boateng. George Boateng knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
77.52
Fredrik Rowett barges into Peter Mccann. The referee calls over Fredrik Rowett and shows him a yellow card! Peter Mccann hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
84.30
Jody Wright-Phillips catches Matt Thirlwell on the ankles. Jody Wright-Phillips is given a warning by the referee! Matt Thirlwell hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
85.43
Dennis Heskey knocks the ball to his team mate, Cataldo Longhi. Cataldo Longhi lofts in a cross ball towards Peter Mccann. With a superhuman jump, Peter Mccann connects with the ball and heads it goalwards but he skews it badly. The ball flies well over the bar!
87.45
Dennis Heskey flicks a high ball forward to Peter Mccann who takes it down. Peter Mccann knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Edouard Avenet.
90.00
Full-time is reached with the referee blowing his whistle!

Match Statistics
 

Reading

Coventry City
Goals
0
1
Shots on Target
2
3
Shots off Target
7
3
Offsides
2
1
Fouls
2
2
Yellow Cards
2
0
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
51.7%
48.3%
Play Area
24.1%
46%
29.9%

Scorers
Dennis Heskey 13

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Dennis Heskey of Coventry City

Match Ratings
1.Simon Lofthouse (GK)
7
2.Edouard Avenet (DEF)
6
3.Fredrik Rowett (DEF)yellow card
7
4.Nunzio Firicano (DEF)
6
5.Matt Thirlwell (MID)
6
6.Eddie Potts (MID)
7
7.Scott Harley (MID)
7
8.Carlton Swift (MID)
6
9.Alberto Young (ATT)
6
10.George Boateng (ATT)
6
11.David Kirkland (ATT)yellow card
6
 
12.Bill Murray (GK)
0
13.David Montague (GK)
0
14.Nick Mckay (ATT)
0

1.Dennis Cooper (GK)
7
2.Nicholas Vernazza (DEF)
6
3.Scott Dean (DEF)
6
4.Alfredo Narciso (DEF)
6
5.Aniello Castorina (DEF)
6
6.Jon Benali (MID)
7
7.Dennis Heskey (MID)goal scored
9
8.Jody Wright-Phillips (MID)
6
9.Stuart Nicholls (ATT)
7
10.Peter Mccann (ATT)
6
11.Cataldo Longhi (ATT)
7
 
12.Dagui Marchand (MID)
0
13.Alan Mendonca (DEF)
0
14.Daniel Hunt (ATT)
0