Published: Saturday, 15th November, 2008 16:45
Super Royals blunt Blades
By Charles Watts
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Sheffield United 0 Reading 2
FIRST half goals from Kalifa Cisse and Kevin Doyle ensured Reading made it two away wins on the trot as they comfortably saw off Sheffield United in this clash between third and fourth.
One thing you can always count on when these two sides meet is a full blooded affair and this afternoon's was no different at a cold, grey Bramall Lane.
Neil Warnock may not be in the Sheffield dugout anymore but the Blades' fans have not forgotten the years he spent here and the ugly clashes he had with Wally Downes and co.
Add that to the fact that fourth placed United sat just one place behind Steve Coppell's men going into the game and it didn't take much to work out that this would be a highly competitive affair.
But for all their fight and passion, Sheffield simply couldn't match Reading for quality as the visitors dominated for large periods with another performance that suggests a return to the top flight isn't far away.
Had they taken their chances during a spirited opening to the second half things may have been different, but once Reading had ridden that 15 minute storm they were always in control.
Steve Coppell's men could have had as good a start as the one given to them here by Kevin Doyle during the early days in the Premiership but the unmarked Andre Bikey volleyed Stephen Hunt's corner over within the first two minutes.
They didn't have to wait long to go in front, however, as the on song Doyle burst into the box from the left hand-side before cutting the ball back perfectly into the path of the onrushing Kalifa Cisse who side-footed superbly past Paddy Kenny for his second goal in three games.
The natives were getting restless as time and time again they saw their side waste possesion cheaply, allowing the Royals to attack dangerously towards the pocket of visiting fans behind Kenny's goal.
Chris Armstrong was looking lively against his former club and one of his wicked balls from the left deserved to be put away while James Harper whistled one long ranger just over as.
At the other end United were struggling to create with a 30 yard free-kick from James Beattie the closest they came during a disappointing first 40 minutes.
But they exploded into life in the closing stages of the first half thanks to the fine set piece delivery of Brian Howard. First his free-kick caused all sorts of problems in the Reading penalty area, with Doyle narrowly avoiding heading into his own net. From the resulting Howard corner Kilgallon seemed set to level things but somehow put his far post header wide.
And the Blades defender's miss was punished almost immediatly as Doyle got on the end of a Stephen Hunt free-kick to glance a header into the net despite Kenny getting a good hand on the ball.
Traling 2-0 at the break Kevin Blackwell had seen enough and threw on Billy Sharp for Matthew Spring and fromer Royal Greg Halford for Stephen Quinn.
The changes almost prompted an immediate response from the hosts as Sharp did well down the right and crossed for Beattie at the near post but the £5 million man saw his effort saved well by Hahnemann.
Beattie then went even closer when he prodded Anthony Stoke's superb cross onto the post as United threw everything at Reading as they looked to get back in the game.
Royals slowly weathered the storm, however, with Bikey and Ingimarsson outstanding at the heart of defence. The duo coped well with the ariel threat of Beattie while the tricky Sharp was kept underwraps. Coppell also replaced Kebe with Byrnjar Gunnarsson as he looked to tighthen things up.
With 15 minutes remaining the visitors were inches away from finishing things off when Noel Hunt's low ball across the six-yard box was excellently cleared by Chris Morgan just in front of the waiting Doyle. That was Noel Hunt's last contribution as he was then replaced by Shane Long.
United continued to press as the clock ticked down with Sharp going close with a header before his point blank effort was somehow kept out by Hahnemann. That was as good as it got for the home side though as Reading held on.
Reading: (4-4-2) Marcus Hahnemann, Chris Armstrong, Ivar Ingimarsson, Andre Bikey, Liam Rosenior, Stephen Hunt, James Harper, Jimmy Kebe, Kevin Doyle, Noel Hunt. Subs: Brynjar Gunarsson, Marek Matejovsky, Shane Long, James Henry Mikkel Anderson.
Sheffield United: Paddy Kenny, Kyle Naughton , Matt Kilgallon, Chris Morgan, Sun Jihai, Matthew Spring, Brian Howard, Gary Speed, James Beattie, Anthony Stokes. Subs: Greg Halford, Gary Naysmith, David Cotterill, Darius Henderson, Billy Sharp.
Referee: M Oliver (Northumberland)
Attendance: 25,065.
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