Published: Saturday, 13th September, 2008 12:00
Away-day blues continue for Royals
By Anthony Smith
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Ipswich Town 2 Reading 0
READING are still searching for their first Championship win away from home following a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Ipswich Town.
A spectacular goal from on-loan striker Jon Stead and a late header from Jon Walters was enough to secure a comfortable victory for the Tractor Boys at Portman Road.
But Royals boss Steve Coppell must be growing increasingly concerned with his side's poor form on the road with just two wins to show from their last 23 league games away from home.
Coppell knows that if Reading are to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt then a drastic improvement is needed - and fast.
The visitors had their chances but Ipswich also hit the woodwork three times as they roared to their first home win in the league this season.
Coppell resisted temptation to freshen up his squad after two weeks of international fixtures by naming exactly the same squad that defeated Crystal Palace 4-2 in their last outing.
That meant Republic of Ireland duo Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt both started despite playing two games for their country.
And Coppell kept faith with youngsters Alex Pearce and Jem Karacan once again following their excellent displays against Palace.
Coppell has been `relatively pleased' with his side's start as they re-adjust to life back in the Championship. But the fact is Reading's away record was becoming a concern.
At the same time, Ipswich were desperately seeking their first win at Portman Road after a sluggish start to the campaign.
So boss Jim Magilton rang the changes and the hosts nearly went in front on five minutes when a neat move ended with Pablo Counago volleying over the bar.
But three minutes later Royals wasted an even better opportunity when Jimmy Kebe burst through the middle from Shane Long's clever pass.
The Mali international only had Richard Wright to beat but the ex-Arsenal and Everton keeper got a touch with his legs and the ball bounced agonisingly wide.
However, Ipswich steadily grew in confidence and began dominating posession. Luckily for Reading, their finishing could not match their build-up play.
Jon Stead got free down the right on 21 minutes and whipped in a pin-point cross but Counago's header crashed off the underside of the bar and into the greatful hands of Marcus Hahnemann.
Despite the loss of skipper Gareth McAuley through injury, Ipswich mintained their grip on the game - even though events continued to conspire against them.
Walters had a goal scrubbed out for offside then the winger's fierce shot forced Hahnemann to concede a corner from which Richard Naylor headed narrowly over.
Even so, Kebe's pace offered a dangerous outlet for Royals and Wright was again called into action to block Liam Rosenior's effort at the near post before James Harper smashed the rebound well over.
But Town hit back with Stead going close then just before the interval they were denied by the crossbar a second time when Counago's hooked shot rattled the woodwork.
Yet Reading were not ready to lie down and Pearce nearly silenced the home fans in injury time when the former Norwich loan defender shot wide from Stephen Hunt's corner.
Ipswich will have been disappointed not to have been ahead at the break but Reading, too, had looked a threat. Unfortuately, their finishing in the final third had been poor.
The same, though, could be said of the hosts who threatened to go in front on 55 minutes. Alan Quinn played a lovely one-two with Counago but Pearce did just enough to put him off and his shot trickled wide.
And moments later Quinn nearly did it again with a ferocious 25-yard angled shot that was brilliantly tipped away by Hahnemann.
But Coppell's men failed to heed the warning and on 63 minutes Stead finally put the home side in front with a brilliant individual goal.
The Sheffield United loan striker controlled the ball on his thigh, turned in a flash then hammered a ferocious 20-yard shot into the far corner from the angle of the box.
Royals desperately needed a reponse and it nearly came on 72 minutes when substitute Noel Hunt saw his header cleared off the line from big brother Stephen's corner.
With time running out, Coppell threw on Bobby Convey and went three at the back in a bid to find an equaliser.
But if anything it was Ipswich who looked like extending their lead with Quinn hitting the woodwork for a third time with a shot that smashed against the post in the 80th minute.
Nevertheless, the game was over six minutes later when Walter's scored with a back-post header and, though Noel Hunt headed against the bar at the death, it was too little, too late.
Ipswich (4-4-2): Wright - Volz, Naylor, McAuley (Balkestein 26), Wright - Walters, Miller, Garvan, Quinn - Counago (Campo 87), Stead (Lisbie 75). Subs not used: Supple, Hayes.
Reading (4-4-2): Hahnemann - Rosenior, Pearce, Ingimarsson, Armstrong (Convey 74) - Kebe, Karacan (Bikey 80), Harper, S.Hunt - Long (N.Hunt 61), Doyle. Subs not used: Federici, Kelly. Booked: Karacan 77.
Referee: Keith Hill.
Attendance: 21,366.
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