The Royals Review – Things starting to click at the Madejski!!!!
After an indifferent opening to the season Hepburn’s Reading have gotten progressively better as the season goes on. They lie in 9th position in the Championship table and their overall performances have been a lot better and Hepburn has been a happy man over the last few weeks. Here is a run down of the latest games…..
Championship
Reading v Crewe – (H) 27th August 2005
After the distraction of the Carling Cup it was back to league business where Reading entertained Crewe in what was a one sided contest. A vast improvement from the last couple of games as Reading created chance after chance but poor finishing cost them dearly. Crewe were not given a sniff at goal but Reading still could not find a way past on form goalkeeper Ben Williams. Hepburn was happy at full time mostly with the performance of his team but he would have liked the three points.
Final Score – Reading 0 v 0 Crewe Att – 14144 MOM – Anthony Tonkin (Crewe) Championship
Preston v Reading – (A) 29th August 2005
Another good performance for about seventy five minutes of this match and yet Reading still did not come away with the three points. They dominated this game and quickly found themselves 2-0 up and seemingly cruising to victory. Apart form the two goals from Lita they could have finished the first half three or four ahead such was the domination Reading had over their opponents. In the second half Preston changed things and they started to come into the game more and had the Reading defence under pressure. Hepburn tried changing things but he could not prevent Preston getting back into the game and they found an equaliser with only two minutes to go and Hepburn was not happy with his defence and shook his head in disbelief when the full time whistle went. He knew his team had just thrown away to valuable points.
Final Score – Preston 2 v 2 Reading Goals – Preston – Agyemang (76), Alexander (88) Goals – Reading – Lita (2,5) Att – 14489 MOM – Stephen Pearson (Preston) Championship
Reading v Plymouth – (H) 10th September 2005
This game was a scrappy, horrible game of football to watch with hardly any quality on show from both teams. Kitson fired Reading ahead after eighteen minutes with Reading’s only shot on target all game only for Plymouth to equalise seven minutes from half time through new signing Kenny Miller. Second half was a none event both on the pitch and in the stands as the fans failed to get behind Reading and push them forward for a winner.
Final Score - Reading 1 v 1 Plymouth Goals – Reading – Kitson (18) Goals – Plymouth – Miller (37) Att – 12424 MOM – James Harper (Reading) Championship
Hull v Reading – (A) 13th September 2005
An absolutely shocking performance from Reading in this game as they travelled to face new boys Hull City at the KC Stadium. Hepburn got his tactics all wrong for this one and paid the price for it. They actually started quite brightly, creating a few half chances before their defence crumbled time after time as Hull put a bit of pressure on them. The star performer for Hull was Stephen McPhee who grabbed two goals. Another shocking loss and Hepburn will have to get his team sorted for when they go away from home or their chances of making the play offs will be over before they have even begun.
Final Score – Hull 3 v 0 Reading Goals Hull – McPhee (6,51), Elliot (45) Att – 21874 MOM – Leon Cort (Hull) Championship
Reading v Ipswich – (H) 17th August 2005
The pressure was on Hepburn after the heavy and embarrassing defeat at the hands of Hull. They welcomed Ipswich to the Madejski with a new manager in Tony Hall who was looking to start with a bang. This game was real end to end cup tie stuff as both teams just went for it full throttle with Reading emerging as the victors much to the delight of Hepburn. Ipswich will feel unlucky not have a got anything from this game as they created enough chances to score a few goals but for their woeful finishing. The game could have ended eight all but Reading’s defence held firm and their strikers proved the more clinical. They got off to a great start as new loan signing Christian Kabeya put them one up. After the goal Ipswich came back into the game creating a few chances but could not convert any of them much to the relief of Hepburn. Reading them came back at them towards the end of the first half but could not add to their lead. It was more of the same in the second half as Ipswich had Reading on the back foot without taking their chances and then Reading came right back into the game and took two of the numerous chances they created. Kevin Doyle made it 2-0 for Reading and then the in form James Harper made it 3-0 so after with a tremendous drive from twenty five yards out. Reading were never really troubled after number three went in and could have went on to score a fourth but in the end they had to settle for three. A fantastic game of football and Hepburn was pleased Reading came out on top.
Final Score – Reading 3 v 0 Ipswich Goals – Reading – Kabeya (1), Doyle (63), Harper (74) Att – 17092 MOM – Stephen Hunt (Reading) Carling Cup Round 2
Portsmouth v Reading – (A) 21st September 2005
A tough match for Reading as they travelled to face Portsmouth on the south coast for their Carling Cup round two match. It proved to be a tough match for Reading as Portsmouth showed all their Premiership class as they put Reading to the sword. Reading did have a couple of chances but could not take them and apart from those chances Reading were never really in the game. Pompey could have won by a couple more goals but credit to reading who fought for everything and can go away pleased to have put in such a hard working performance in a match they were not expected to win.
Final Score – Portsmouth 1 v 0 Reading Goals – Portsmouth – Vilakazi (13) Att – 6130 MOM – Brian Priske (Portsmouth) Championship
Reading v Burnley – (H) 24th September 2005
Reading seemed buoyed by their hard working performance against Pompey in the cup and kept up the level of performance to sweep aside Burnley. It was their best performance of the season so far as Burnley could not match Reading’s workrate or desire to win. It was top scorer Leroy Lita who put Reading ahead after only twelve minutes with a superb header. Against the run of play Burnley equalised through Wade Elliot but James Harper put Reading ahead again right on half time. The second half reading created numerous chances but failed to take any of them until Dave Kitson grabbed a third goal and the three points were secure. A much better performance from Reading and a great result sent Hepburn and the fans home happy.
Final Score – Reading 3 v 1 Burnley Goals – Reading – Lita (12), Harper (45), Kitson (72) Goals – Burnley – Elliot (36) Att – 17124 MOM – James Harper (Reading) Championship
Derby v Reading – (A) 27th September 2005
It was back on the road for Reading after such a good performance at home to Burnley and Hepburn was hoping this could kick start their away form that has been poor to say the least so far this season. They faced Derby who were languishing in the relegation zone and looking for three points. Derby were much the better side for most of the game although Reading did go ahead in the first half through Dave Kitson but failed to build on the lead and let Derby back into the game with Seth Johnson scoring the equaliser right on half time. Derby dominated the second half but failed to find a winner. On loan signing Ross McCormack even missed a penalty right on full time for Derby much to the delight of Hepburn. It was again not the most convincing performance from Reading away from home but Hepburn happily accepted a point.
Final Score – Derby 1 v 1 Reading Goals – Derby – Johnson (45) Goals – Reading – Kitson (17) Att – 25093 MOM – Marcus Hahemann (Reading) Championship
Luton v Reading – (A) 1st October 2005
It was another away game for Hepburn’s Reading, hoping to get their first win away from the Madejski Stadium. They faced new boys Luton and by full time Hepburn knew his team had thrown away two points. They were the better side throughout apart from a three minute spell in the first half where they conceded to identical goals, with crosses from the right and Howard heading home for Luton on both occasions. Left winger Stephen Hunt had Reading one up with a tap in after a goal mouth scramble then came the two Luton goals but Reading came right back at Luton and for better finishing could have and should have won this game by three or four goals. In the end they only managed an equaliser through Dave Kitson but a much better performance away from home for Reading has given Hepburn some hope for the future.
Final Score – Luton 2 v 2 Reading Goals – Luton – Howard (35,38) Goals – Reading – Hunt (26), Kitson (79) Att – 10724 MOM – Stephen Hunt (Reading) Championship
Reading v Coventry – (H) 15th October 2005
It was back to the Madejski as Reading faced Coventry. It was a barnstorming performance from Reading who had to play with ten men for most of the game as Sonko was sent off for two bookable offences. Reading started off superbly well and had the Coventry defence defending for their lives as Reading swept forward time after time. It was Sonko who put reading ahead with a header from a corner before turning the villain by being sent off. The game then became about one man, and his name was Dave Kitson who scored a superb hat trick and a man of the match performance for his efforts. He got two before half time to put reading in a commanding position and just as it looked as if Coventry might snatch a draw he popped up with a his third, Reading’s fourth to cap a brilliant performance from ten man Reading.
Final Score – Reading 4 v 2 Coventry Goals – Reading – Sonko (19), Kitson (31,41,90) Goals – Coventry – Adebola (43, 47) Att – 20607 MOM – Dave Kitson (Reading) Sent Off – Sonko (Reading) 
So Reading are finally getting into their stride under Hepburn but he still has to convince the media and fans alike of his worth as Reading manager. One press report suggested the jury was still out on him after a pretty ordinary start to life as Reading manager. Hepburn however claimed he was not bothered what the media thought of him and said they would love him at times and criticise him at times and he took anything they said about him with a pinch of salt.
Next up for Reading is a trip to Bramall Lane to face Championship leaders Sheffield Utd managed by Rob Perry. It will be a huge task for Reading to get anything from the game as Perry has got them playing some incredible football but anything can happen in ninety minutes of football.
:p
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