News
READING 2
NEWCASTLE UNITED 1
Premier League
Madejski Stadium
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Kick-off 3pm
Craig Hope reports from the Madejski Stadium ...
MATCH REPORT
READING substitute Shane Long snatched victory for Steve Coppell's side as he fired an 84th minute with his first kick of the game.
The midfielder had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds when he latched onto Ibrahima Sonko's headed knockdown inside the area before blasting into the roof of Shay Given's net from close range.
That was after Michael Duberry's 76th minute own goal looked to have spared United's blushes as he turned into his own net from just two yards out after Emre had whipped a right-wing free-kick across goal.
Duberry's own goal cancelled out Dave Kitson's opener on 54 minutes, the Reading striker curler a beautiful left-footer above and beyond Given from just outside the area.
The defeat condemns United to their third straight reverse on the road but the Magpies remain in eigth position in the Premier League.
SECOND HALF ACTION (click refresh for latest)
It's all over at the Madejski with the hosts 2-1 winners thanks to a 84th minute strike from supersub Shane Long.
The fourth official announces four minutes added time.
90min - Claudio Cacapa has the ball in the net from N'Zogbia's cross but he's clearly offside and the goal is chalked off.
87min - Emre rolls a free-kick short to Enrique and the Spaniard decides to have a go from all of 35 yards, his left-footed strike whistling over Hanhemann's crossbar and away for a goal-kick.
84min - READING GOAL (2-1): SHANE LONG scores with his first involvement of the game, the Royals sub latching onto Sonko's headed knock-down from Shorey's long free-kick into the area before blasting into the roof of the net from close range. Liam Rosenior comes on for Graeme Murty before play restarts.
83min - Shane Long replaces Leroy Lita.
81min - N'Zogbia drives United forward and charges at a backpedalling Royals defence, the Toon Army are willing the young French star on and he cracks low at goal, the ball skids up off the surface and Hanhemann can only push clear, Owen is closing in but the loose ball evades his out-stretched leg by inches and Reading clear. The substitutions have really changed the game with the Magpies now pressing for a winner.
76min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (1-1): James Milner replaces Abdoulaye Faye and immediately wins a free-kick right by the corner flag as he is tripped by Hunt. Emre comes over to take and whips towards the near post, Smith tries to help the ball on but it skids across goal where MICHAEL DUBERRY turns into his own net to level the score.
73min - The Royals are looking for a second and Habib Beye fouls Hunt right on the edge of the area. Lita drives the free-kick goalwards but Joey Barton is there to throw himself in the way and United clear.
70min - Faye enters Phil Dowd's book for a two-footed challenge on Leroy Lita 30 yards from goal, the Senegal star clearly took the ball but the official decides to penalise the defender for the nature of the challenge. Harper fools everyone from the set-play with a reverse ball looking for Sonko who has lost his marker, luckily for United his side-footed effort is weak and Given saves.
68min - Geremi and Emre exchange passes midway inside Reading's half and the Toon skipper elects to have a pop, the shot is always wide however and drifts away for a goal-kick.
66min - Doyle, operating on the right wing, darts in from the flank and runs across the edge of the area before firing a left-footed shot which fizzes wide of Given's goal.
63min - United are pressing for an equaliser and Barton sets Geremi free on the right, the skipper whips over looking for Owen at the near post but Sonko gets there first to head clear. The visitors quickly recycle possession and Beye wins a corner off Shorey on the right-wing. Emre takes but Hanhenmann again claims right under his crossbar with no United challenge in sight.
60min - The Magpies have a corner as Hunt forces behind at the near post from Geremi's long throw. The United skipper takes but Hanhenmann fists away with Faye challenging.
59min - Doyle breaks down the right and crosses looking for Hunt as he bursts into the area from deep, the Irish winger gets his head to the ball but his effort clears Given's crossbar and United survive.
58min - Alan Smith and Charles N'Zogbia come on with Nicky Butt and Oba Martins making way.
56min - The Royals are pressing for a second and Shorey delivers a corner from the left, Cacapa is first to it as his header away relieves the pressure for the Magpies.
53min - READING GOAL (1-0): Hahnemann pumps long upfield where Beye looses out to Lita in the air 20 yards from goal, the ball spins to Hunt who finds DAVE KITSON in space lurking on the edge of the area, he controls before curling a delightful left-foot effort above and beyond Given to give the hosts the lead.
52min - Enrique passes forward looking for Martins who receives in the inside left channel, the Nigerian controls before spinning away from Murty, the Reading skipper recovers however and slides to hook behind for a corner. Hanhemann races from his line to claim from Geremi's centre.
48min - Geremi is penalised for a high boot on the Royals left as Lita stooped to head. Shorey sweeps over the free-kick but it's low and Butt clears.
Reading get the second period underway with Newcastle attacking the end where the travelling Geordies are housed.
FIRST HALF ACTION
45+1min - Enrique plays a loose ball infield and Hunt seizes, Barton and Butt try to dispossess the winger but can only foul in the process and Reading have a free-kick in a very dangerous position. Shorey comes across to take and sees a whipped left-footed strike skim just inches over Given's crossbar as Phil Dowd blows for half-time.
44min - Doyle breaks down the left and chips into the are looking for Hunt, the Irish winger cushions into the path of Lita and the goal opens up for the striker, fortunately for United his first touch is poor and his second even worse as he lashes into the stands with Given racing from his line to narrow the angle.
42min - Magpies hearts are in mouths as a mis-understanding between Cacapa and Given sees the Brazilian's back pass roll towards an unguarded United net - the Irish stopper races back and manages to hook away just in time.
41min - Murty again launches a long-throw into the area and Faye is forced to head behind. It's the same United player who powers away from Shorey's resulting flag-kick.
40min - Owen is fouled 30 yards out as Gunnarsson barges through the back of the United striker. Skipper Geremi lines-up the free-kick and takes aim for the Royals far corner but his curling effort evades the post by a good couple of feet.
38min - Lita manages to roll Cacapa from Murty's throw and works an angle for a shot from just inside the area, it's a difficult angle however and his left-foot strike is easily gathered by Given at the near post.
34min - The Magpies have a corner on the right which Emre whips to the near post, Dave Kitson is back on defensive duty and heads behind for another flag-kick. This time Emre tries to find Joey Barton lurking on the edge of the area but Stephen Hunt has read the situation and races out to head away with Barton poised to strike at goal.
27min - Murty crosses from the midway inside United's half and it's Doyle who climbs highest amid a crowd of bodies on the penalty spot, his glancing header lacks direction and skids away for a goal-kick.
22min - It's a promising passage of attacking play and United build down the left as Emre feeds the overlapping Enrique, he curls over into the area first-time and Geremi is unlucky not to get his header on target at the far post having ghosted in from deep.
19min - Doyle looks for the run of Lita on the blind side of Cacapa with a slipped throughball, Faye reads the situation and gets across to hack clear from just inside the area.
15min - Habib Beye skips by Doyle on the right and sweeps over a cracking ball for Owen who has peeled away from Duberry, the Toon No.10 controls first-time as he tries to get his shot away is tumbled by the on-rushing Hahnemann - it looks like a certain spot-kick but Phil Dowd instead awards a corner much to Owen's displeasure. Geremi takes and Reading are able to clear at the near post.
12min - It's a real let off for United - Leroy Lita somehow mis-hitting from just eight yards out with only Given to beat after Doyle had squared across goal from the right having capitalised upon a loose ball on the edge of the Magpies penalty area.
8min - Kitson receives from Murty's throw-in on the right and does well to win a corner off the shins of Enrique. Shorey takes towards the far post where Beye wins in the air from Duberry and Emre carries clear for the visitors.
6min - At the other end the Magpies have a corner as Duberry pokes behind from Martins. Emre takes from the right and there is a clash of heads between Faye and Duberry as they challenge for the ball on the penalty spot. The Reading centre-back receives treatment but looks as though he'll be ok.
4min - Habib Beye spots a run of Michael Owen in the inside right channel and sends a ball forward looking for the striker, however there is too much on the pass and it skids through to Hahnemann. He immediately launches a ball upfield and Lita has done well to spring the United offside trap, he darts in from the left and chooses to delay his shot which gives a sliding Cacapa the opportunity to block.
1min - Hahnemann pumps one upfield and Faye and Kitson rise to challenge, the ginger-haired Reading striker flicks on for Lita to chase but Cacapa gets round to cover and puts the ball into touch. Shorey lifts the ball towards the back post where Doyle tries to nod down for Gunnarsson but Cacapa again arrives on the scene to shepherd the ball behind for a goal-kick.
The Magpies get the game underway defending the end where the Toon Army are housed.
TEAM NEWS
JOEY Barton is handed his full Newcastle United debut for Saturday's trip to the Madejski as the Magpies look to make it three wins on the bounce in the Premier League.
The 25-year-old midfielder made his Toon bow during Monday's 3-1 success over Spurs at St.James' Park having been sidelined since breaking a metatarsal in pre-season.
The former Man City ace is the only change to that side which beat the North Londoners, Charles N'Zogbia dropping down to the substitutes bench.
While Alan Smith returns from suspension to take his place among the subs.
TEAMS
NUFC: Shay Given, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Abdoulaye Faye (James Milner, 74m) Claudio Cacapa, Emre, Geremi, Nicky Butt (Charles N'Zogbia, 58m) Joey Barton, Oba Martins (Alan Smith, 58m) Michael Owen
Subs not used: Steve Harper, David Rozehnal
RFC: Marcus Hahnemann, Graeme Murty (Liam Rosenior, 86m) Nicky Shorey, Brynjar Gunnarsson, Leroy Lita (Shane Long, 83m) Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt, Dave Kitson, James Harper, Michael Duberry
Subs not used: Ivar Ingimarsson, Bobby Convey, Adam Federici
Referee: Phil Dowd
Attendance: 24, 119
