Match Report


ReadingReading     Birmingham CityBirmingham City
Aleksandar NikolovAleksandar Nikolov Andrew Blight Andrew Blight
Vicente DuarteV. Duarte70
G
1
G
79Stuart GascoigneS. Gascoigne
Ronnie SharpeR. Sharpe67
D
2
D
74Kemal TilerK. Tiler
Phil JackP. Jack68
D
3
D
77Harry MaddisonH. Maddison
Adam VassellA. Vassell76
D
4
D
72Chaabane KermaliC. Kermali
Scott MccannS. Mccann77
M
5
M
70Mick HarrisonM. Harrison
Jorge TeixeiraJ. Teixeira72
M
6
M
79Leon GeorgeL. George
Stephen MendezS. Mendez82
M
7
M
76Ivan HuckerbyI. Huckerby
Steve DefoeS. Defoe78
M
8
M
71James BruneauJ. Bruneau
John BishopJ. Bishop75
A
9captain
A
76Peter PriorP. Prior
Les TilerL. Tiler80
A
10
A
70Tony WallworkT. Wallwork
Duarte MoutinhoD. Moutinho81
A
captain11
A
71Claudio GarciaC. Garcia
 
Rafael LozanoR. Lozano67
D
12
D
72Dominic McallisterD. Mcallister
Ralph MoffatR. Moffat69
M
13
M
66Nicholas GranvilleN. Granville
Steven GerrardS. Gerrard71
A
14
A
66Callum StrachanC. Strachan

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Match Report
There is a slight drizzle in the air here at Madejski Stadium where Reading play host to Birmingham City. A crowd of 20,265 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in good condition.
Both Reading and Birmingham City are lined up in a 3-4-3 formation.
Today's match is refereed by Paolo Sherwood.


0.00
The whistle blows and Reading kick off!
9.49
Leon George makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Mick Harrison. Mick Harrison whips in a cross ball towards Peter Prior. Adam Vassell clumsily knocks into Peter Prior. Penalty not given!!
12.53
Ronnie Sharpe flicks a high pass forward to Les Tiler who brings the ball under control. Les Tiler passes the ball forward but John Bishop is offside!
20.17
Harry Maddison controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Chaabane Kermali. Chaabane Kermali threads a neat ball through to Tony Wallwork. Tony Wallwork shoots from 20 yards but it slams into the crowd!
22.41
Ronnie Sharpe flicks the ball to his team mate, Adam Vassell. Adam Vassell advances with the ball. Adam Vassell rushes past James Bruneau! Adam Vassell makes some space for himself and shoots at goal. The ball comes in low, but Stuart Gascoigne smothers it!
24.39
Harry Maddison hits a long diagonal ball forward. Peter Prior knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
26.38
Mick Harrison hits a low pass to Claudio Garcia. Claudio Garcia whips in a cross ball towards Tony Wallwork. Tony Wallwork connects with a diving header but is denied by Vicente Duarte. Excellent save.
27.12
Leon George hits a low pass to Claudio Garcia. Claudio Garcia knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Vicente Duarte who gathers it comfortably.
28.42
Kemal Tiler kicks a strong pass forward to Tony Wallwork. Tony Wallwork lofts in a cross ball towards Peter Prior. Peter Prior is unmarked! He powers a header at goal. The keeper is more than a match for it. Fabulous save!
30.14
Tony Wallwork knocks the ball forward to Claudio Garcia. Claudio Garcia chips the ball to his team mate, Tony Wallwork. Tony Wallwork shoots from just inside the box. Tony Wallwork scores for Birmingham City!!
33.29
Jorge Teixeira takes it forward alone. Jorge Teixeira whips in a cross ball towards Scott Mccann. Scott Mccann makes a deft header. Stuart Gascoigne comfortably picks it out of the air!
34.02
Adam Vassell deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Ronnie Sharpe. Ronnie Sharpe controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Duarte Moutinho. Duarte Moutinho knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Stuart Gascoigne who gathers it comfortably.
36.06
Adam Vassell runs forward with the ball. Adam Vassell flicks a high pass forward. Les Tiler controls it well on his chest. Les Tiler skips past Harry Maddison! Some clumsy but lucky footwork from Les Tiler provides some space. He scuffs the ball at goal. The ball swerves in the air but Chaabane Kermali blocks the shot and clears the ball up field!
38.48
With great vision, Stephen Mendez plays the ball forward to Les Tiler. Les Tiler advances inside the box! Les Tiler strikes a beautiful left-footed shot at goal. The ball edges inside the post - goal!!
42.57
Mick Harrison catches John Bishop on the ankles. The referee calls over Mick Harrison and shows him a yellow card! John Bishop stretches but gets up unharmed.
45.00
Chaabane Kermali flicks a high ball forward to Leon George who takes it down. Leon George flicks a high pass forward. Tony Wallwork controls it well on his chest. Tony Wallwork shoots from 20 yards. The ball comes in low, but Vicente Duarte effortlessly smothers it!
45.00
The whistle indicates the end of the first half!

Both teams emerge for the second half. Reading have changed their lineup with Rafael Lozano replacing Adam Vassell and Ralph Moffat replacing Jorge Teixeira. Birmingham City appear unchanged since the first half. Both teams look fired up and appear much more hungry than they were previously.

45.00
Birmingham City kick off and get the second half underway!
48.02
Harry Maddison makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Mick Harrison. Mick Harrison kicks a strong pass forward to Ivan Huckerby. Ivan Huckerby shoots from outside the area. It's there!! Vicente Duarte has to pick the ball from the back of the net!
51.53
Ivan Huckerby kicks a strong pass forward to Peter Prior. Peter Prior flicks a high pass forward. Ivan Huckerby controls it well on his chest. Ivan Huckerby plays a scrappy one-two with Claudio Garcia and advances towards the goal... Ivan Huckerby shows great control and tries a shot on goal. The ball swerves in the air but the keeper is a match for it. Superb keeping!
55.07
Kemal Tiler brings the ball forward. Kemal Tiler knocks the ball to his team mate, Ivan Huckerby. Ivan Huckerby edges inside the box! Some clumsy but lucky footwork from Ivan Huckerby provides some space. He scuffs the ball at goal but it is tipped over by Vicente Duarte.
56.56
Corner kick to Birmingham City. Ivan Huckerby plays it out to the edge of the box. Ronnie Sharpe gets to the ball and clears it up field.
59.59
Ivan Huckerby flicks a high pass forward. Tony Wallwork controls it well on his chest. Tony Wallwork knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Ronnie Sharpe.
60.49
Reading have made a substitution with Steven Gerrard replacing John Bishop .Birmingham City have made 2 substitutions with Nicholas Granville replacing Leon George and Callum Strachan replacing Peter Prior .
63.30
Harry Maddison knocks the ball forward to Callum Strachan. Callum Strachan knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Ronnie Sharpe.
65.26
Ralph Moffat threads a neat ball through to Steven Gerrard. Steven Gerrard shoots from distance. It smacks hard against the advertising boards behind the goal. Just wide!
69.26
Steve Defoe flicks a high pass forward. Steven Gerrard controls it well on his chest. Steven Gerrard threads the ball through to Ralph Moffat but he's offside!
72.49
Steve Defoe knocks the ball forward to Les Tiler. Les Tiler lofts in a cross ball towards Steven Gerrard. Steven Gerrard makes a looping header on goal his aim is horrendously poor!
73.26
Ralph Moffat threads the ball through to Ronnie Sharpe. Ronnie Sharpe kicks a strong pass forward to Stephen Mendez. Stephen Mendez shoots from 20 yards but it whistles just wide of the post!
75.47
Ralph Moffat flicks a high pass forward. Steven Gerrard holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Steven Gerrard shoots from outside the area but it is miles over!
77.27
Birmingham City have made a substitution with Dominic Mcallister replacing Harry Maddison .
79.34
Mick Harrison knocks the ball to his team mate, Tony Wallwork. Tony Wallwork shoots from 20 yards but it curls horrendously wide!
81.26
Ronnie Sharpe knocks the ball forward to Stephen Mendez. Stephen Mendez makes a probing pass to Steven Gerrard. Steven Gerrard controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal. Good keeping from Stuart Gascoigne as he gets his fingers to the ball and pushes it wide.
85.33
Ivan Huckerby clumsily knocks into Scott Mccann. The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Scott Mccann hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
89.12
Ivan Huckerby hits a low pass to Mick Harrison. Mick Harrison lofts in a cross ball towards Claudio Garcia. Claudio Garcia whips the ball goalwards with his head but it's drastically wayward!
90.00
The whistle blows full-time!

Match Statistics
 

Reading

Birmingham City
Goals
1
2
Shots on Target
5
7
Shots off Target
4
3
Offsides
2
0
Fouls
0
2
Yellow Cards
0
2
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
50.7%
49.3%
Play Area
30.1%
42.5%
27.4%

Scorers
Les Tiler 38
Tony Wallwork 30
Ivan Huckerby 48

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Ivan Huckerby of Birmingham City

Match Ratings
1.Vicente Duarte (GK)
8
2.Ronnie Sharpe (DEF)
7
3.Phil Jack (DEF)
6
4.Adam Vassell (DEF)
7
5.Scott Mccann (MID)
6
6.Jorge Teixeira (MID)
6
7.Stephen Mendez (MID)
7
8.Steve Defoe (MID)
6
9.John Bishop (ATT)
6
10.Les Tiler (ATT)goal scored
9
11.Duarte Moutinho (ATT)
6
 
12.Rafael Lozano (DEF)
6
13.Ralph Moffat (MID)
6
14.Steven Gerrard (ATT)
6

1.Stuart Gascoigne (GK)
7
2.Kemal Tiler (DEF)
6
3.Harry Maddison (DEF)
6
4.Chaabane Kermali (DEF)
6
5.Mick Harrison (MID)yellow card
7
6.Leon George (MID)
6
7.Ivan Huckerby (MID)goal scoredyellow card
9
8.James Bruneau (MID)
6
9.Peter Prior (ATT)
6
10.Tony Wallwork (ATT)goal scored
9
11.Claudio Garcia (ATT)
7
 
12.Dominic Mcallister (DEF)
6
13.Nicholas Granville (MID)
6
14.Callum Strachan (ATT)
6