Published: Monday, 3rd November, 2008 12:00
Doyle's double delight
By Anthony Smith
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King Kev: Kevin Doyle's brace helped sink Bristol City.
ROYALS striker Kevin Doyle is turning his attention to Saturday’s crunch home game with Derby County at the Madejski Stadium (3pm ko) after finally ending his goal drought away from home.
Doyle scored his first goals on the road this season with two superb strikes in last weekend’s sensational 4-1 victory over M4 rivals Bristol City.
Strike partner Noel Hunt also opened his account away from the Mad Stad while Kalifa Cisse capped an excellent Reading display with a 25-yard screamer.
Doyle’s Ashton Gate brace took his tally to 11 for the season and left him joint top of the Championship goalscoring charts alongside Cardiff’s Ross McCormack.
And the Republic of Ireland striker admitted his struggles away from home were beginning to get him down.
“It was on my mind a bit,” said Doyle, 24. “If we had been winning it probably wouldn’t have been, but we haven’t been doing tremendously well away from home so it was important for me to get a goal.
“I don’t mind where I score but I’m sure the gaffer had realised. He would have probably mentioned it sooner rather than later that it was time to score a few away from home.
“Once you get one in football they keep going in. That’s what happened at Bristol and we’ve been threatening to do that all season.
“We performed very well but we need to move on because we have another big game at home coming up against Derby.”
Doyle had cracked nine goals before last weekend’s game, all of them in the comfort of the Madejski Stadium, including hat-tricks against Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday.
But he was denied a shot at another treble when manager Steve Coppell hauled him off at Ashton Gate.
“When I was taken off I did mention that there was another 20 minutes left for me to get my hat-trick,” he joked.
“It would have been nice to have tried to get another but it was also important for Shane Long to get some time on the pitch and I was happy with the two goals.”
Doyle’s goalscoring record this season is certain to attract bids from Premier League clubs in the January transfer window.
It is thought Aston Villa are putting together an £8 million package which includes Marlon Harewood as part of the deal, while Sunderland and Tottenham have also been linked with the ex-Cork City man.
There is also growing interest in brothers Noel and Stephen Hunt but Coppell shrugged off the speculation, insisting: “It’s November. Nobody can buy them now and I couldn’t give a damn about January.
“If you’re a good player you have to put in performances every week and in every situation. That’s one thing we can ask ourselves this season because we’ve had a bit of a soft underbelly on occasions.”
And, alluding to Doyle’s struggles on the road, Coppell also quipped: “Good players don’t just perform in one situation. They have to have that mindset to prove you can do it in any circumstances.
“He (Doyle) hasn’t spoken about it but I imagine it would have affected me if I hadn’t opened my account away from home. It was important he got his two goals.”
Doyle put Reading in front on 14 minutes before Noel Hunt added the second less than 60 seconds later.
Doyle grabbed his second on 47 minutes then Cisse smashed home the fourth seven minutes later before Stern John netted an injury-time consolation for the woeful Robins.
It was only the second time Reading have won away in the Championship this season and a relieved Coppell admitted: “We’ve had highs and lows in terms of results away from home. We beat Wolves and now Bristol City – two great results.
“But I feel we should have had another four points at least away from home. In midweek against Burnley we were by far the better team and came away with nothing. That was a real kick in the balls.
“It was the same at Preston. We had the better chances but we didn’t take them whereas this time we were clinical.”
He added: “We can be satisfied but reality will hit home again this week and we have to prepare for Derby at home this Saturday.
“We’re grateful for the three points but it’s time to put it to bed and look forward to the next one.”
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