The Royals Review – Heartache right at the death!!!!!
Well it’s the end of the season and after putting everything they had into the final games of the season, Reading still find themselves in the Championship after losing out on penalties against Leeds at Wembley stadium. Hepburn has not been seen since after the defeat and the players and everyone connected with the club are devastated at how things turned out in the end. Here is a run down of how it all unfolded…….
Championship
Millwall v Reading – (A) 8th April 2006
After the defeat at the hands of Palace, Hepburn had to rally the troops ready to continue their push for a play spot. They travelled to the New Den to take on Millwall and what a game it proved to be. Reading started very poorly and found themselves 2-0 down inside fifteen minutes after Leroy Lita had put Reading ahead. Right on half time it was 3-1 to Millwall courtesy of Barry Hayles. Hepburn could only watch as he saw his player’s produce and quite frankly inept first half display of football. Reading came out in the second half with a bit more life about them, with Sonko having a bit too much life about him and was quickly sent off. This seemed to spark Reading to life and Bobby Convey grabbed a goal to give them a bit of hope. It was by now end to end stuff as both teams searched for more goals. Seven minutes from time Dave Kitson scored a dramatic equaliser for Reading. It got even better for him as in the dying seconds he found space at the edge of the box and fired a shot past the Millwall keeper at the near post to win the game for Reading. The fans were going crazy and Hepburn was out of the dug out celebrating as well. It was a great scene!!!! A real fighting performance from Reading here.
Final Score – Millwall 3 v 4 Reading Goals – Millwall – Weston (9), O’Brien (11), Hayles (45) Goals – Reading – Lita (2), Convey (60), Kitson (83,90) Sent Off – Ibrahima Sonko (Reading) Att – 11946 MOM – Dave Kitson (Reading) Championship
Reading v Wolves – (H) 15th April 2006
Next up for Reading was a game at the Madejski against Sandy Pettigrew’s struggling Wolves side who were struggling to stay in the Championship. It was a dominant and confident performance from Reading and Wolves had no answers. All the goals came in the second half through Lita, Kitson and Harper. Reading could have scored a few more goals but in the end settled for three. Wolves never really got a chance to get going although they did miss a penalty in the first half that may have changed the outcome.
Final Score – Reading 3 v 0 Wolves Goals – Reading – Lita (46), Kitson (76), Harper (90) Att – 24097 MOM – James Harper (Reading) Championship
Stoke v Reading – (A) 17th April 2006
Reading got lucky here but they deserved their luck and at the end of the day they were happy to take home three points. Stoke had the chances but could not convert them and it was that man Kitson who popped up yet another important goal to help Reading gain the three points.
Final Score – Stoke 0 v 1 Reading Goals – Reading – Kitson (90) Att – 11200 MOM – Gordon Greer (Reading) Championship
Reading v Southampton – (H) 22nd April 2006
A poor first half was compensated with a good second half in this game for Reading. Southampton dominated the first half and will feel they should have been at least a goal to the good. Reading came out in the second half and dominated things but also passed up a few good opportunities as Niemi denied them. A draw was a fair result in the end.
Final Score – Reading 0 v 0 Southampton Att – 23206 MOM – Ibrahima Sonko (Reading) Championship
Reading v Norwich – (H) 30th April 2006
With Reading and Norwich both secured play off places and awaiting who they will be facing this was a chance to gain a huge psychological advantage going into the play offs if the teams were to meet. Reading put in a great performance, a performance that Norwich had no answers to. Dave Kitson opened the scoring towards the end of the first half and then with only five minutes of the first half to go Norwich were dealt another blow as Glenn Little hit number two. The second half saw lots of Reading possession and chances but no more goals but in the end both teams seemed to be saving themselves for the dreaded play offs!!!!!!
Final Score – Reading 2 v 0 Norwich Goals – Reading – Kitson (33), Little (40) Att – 22041 MOM – Gordon Greer (Reading) Play Off Semi Final Leg 1
Reading v Norwich – (H) 6th May 2006
It was play off time and things got mighty serious for all those involved as there was a place in the Premiership at stake and what a prize that was. As fate would have it Reading were drawn with Norwich and the first leg was at the Madejski and with the same outcome – a comprehensive win for Reading yet again. They started well and Harper put them ahead after only six minutes with a brilliant free kick. Green was in terrific form for Norwich otherwise it could have been four or five by half time. In the second half Reading finally increased their lead through Dave Kitson but almost immediately Leon McKenzie handed Norwich a lifeline by pulling a goal back for Norwich. The Madejski fell silent and the fans were starting to get nervous. The players were not and immediately went back onto the attack to try and restore their two goal advantage. That advantage was restored by Leroy Lita and suddenly the Madejski was rocking again. Hunt missed a glorious opportunity to make it four as he put the ball wide from a yard out much to his embarrassment. The final whistle went and it was onto Carrow road for the return to see who would take their place in the final at Wembley.
Final Score – Reading 3 v 1 Norwich Goals – Reading - Harper (6), Kitson (55), Lita (68) Goals – Norwich – McKenzie (59) Att – 24082 MOM – Brynar Gunnarsson (Reading) Play Off Semi Final Leg 2
Norwich v Reading – (A) 9th May 2006
Norwich threw everything at Reading bar the kitchen sink as they went for broke and in the end were punished for being too attacking. They swamped the Reading goal at times and it was shot after shot but Graham Stack and the Reading defence stood firm through most of it. It was topsy turvy stuff in the first half as first Norwich went ahead only to be pulled back immediately by Reading only for Norwich to score again to make it 2-1 at half time. In the second half it was more of the same as Lita scored his second to equalise for Reading. Glenn Little then put Reading ahead for the first time in the match and it proved to be the winning goal although Reading were already two goals ahead on aggregate. It was entertaining stuff and the right team went through in the end.
Final Score – Norwich 2 v 3 Reading Goals – Norwich – Hughes (27), Jarvis (42) Goals – Reading – Lita (34,68), Little (76) Att – 26004 MOM – Darren Huckerby (Norwich) Play Off Final
Reading v Leeds – (N) 21st May 2006
Reading now faced the biggest game in their club’s history and everyone connected with Reading was at Wembley to see if history could be made. There was also the prize of £30 million awaiting the winner as a result of getting to the Premiership so everyone knew this was huge. There was only one team who wanted to win this game and that was Reading. The nerves left them early they relaxed and played some decent football but they found Leeds keeper Neill Sullivan in the form of his life to keep them out. Leeds offered nothing in attack as they just stuck ten men behind the ball and hoped. Reading found it hard to break them down and create clear chances throughout the match and Hepburn’s team got more and more attacking as the game went on. It was 0-0 after ninety minutes and in extra time Leeds still offered nothing but a rock solid defence, all ten of them!!! So it was onto the dreaded penalty shoot out and Hepburn could not watch anymore and he sat with his head in his hands in the dug out. He didn’t miss much as Reading missed three vital kicks, one from the prolific Dave Kitson that surprised everyone but it didn’t matter as Kevin Doyle and Nicky Shorey also missed from the spot and Reading will now have to spend another season fighting it out in the Championship. Hepburn and his men were absolutely devastated at how the game went but the players will be back for more next season.
Final Score – Reading 0 v 0 Leeds (Leeds won 3-2 on penalties) Att – 89967 MOM – Gordon Greer (Reading)
It has been a rollercoaster of a season for Hepburn and his Reading team. They looked like relegation candidates at one point as they struggled to win a game but credit to Hepburn and his team as they turned it around and they came so so close to making it to the Premiership and to only lose out on penalties is some achievement. No doubt they will be back next season better than ever before and determined to make it to the Premiership after coming so close this season.
End Of Season Awards Top Goalscorer – Dave Kitson (36) – Fantastic season for Kitson who scored some important goals.
Most assists – Leroy Lita (19) Man Of the match – Dave Kitson (7) Average rating – James Harper (7.44) – Super season for Harper and he is now off to join Charlton the barsteward!!!!!
Now you know the pain of disappointment in th eplayoffs, another 2 or 3 experiences like that and you will understand how I feel about playoffs! 
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