LIVE - Crystal Palace v Reading

Sportsdesk • Published 17 Feb 2010 17:00 14 Comments

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FULL TIME. Crystal Palace 1 Reading 3

It's all over and Reading claim their fourth Championship victory in a row to climb out of the relegation zone.

It was an excellent all-round display from Brian McDermott's side under captain-for-the-night Matt Mills.

Simon Church gave Reading a first-half lead before Jimmy Kebe added a second soon after the restart.

Palace sub Sean Scannell pulled one back during a spell of pressure but Church netted his second of the night nine minutes from time to secure victory in this massive relegation six-pointer.

The win sees Reading climb four places up to 18th place in the table ahead of Saturday's trip to Blackpool.

90 mins. Royals hit Palace on the break and Speroni makes another smart save to deny Kebe.

Hal Robson-Kanu has replaced match-winner Church.

Five minutes of time added on.

90 mins. Speroni prevents a fourth going in with a decent save from Sigurdsson.

Palace fans show their support for Neil Warnock as doubts are raised about his future.

88 mins. Chants of `Can we play you every week' from the Reading fans towards the Palace supporters.

It's easy to forget Royals lost 4-2 at home to Palace in December.

But this victory will feel particularly sweet for the visitors.

86 mins. Palace are piling forward now but Reading stand firm,

It's the first time Reading have scored three goals in the game since they won 3-1 at Coventry City on October 31.

81 mins. GOAL. Palace 1 Reading 3.

And SIMON CHURCH scored the goal which should wrap up a crucial victory for the Royals.

Claude Davis was lucky to stay on the field for a cynical foul on Sigurdsson that deserved a yellow.

But the free-kick came to Matt Mills who squared to Church who swept home from eight yards for his second of the night and eighth of the season.

That's three in two for Church now. Who needs Shane Long?

77 mins. Reading make their first change with Gylfi Sigurdsson on for Howard.

75 mins. McAnuff fires inches over from distance after Kebe's corner causes havoc.

Kebe's had a fine game tonight.

Federici has made another decent save to deny Johnny Ertl.

72 mins. A comfortable save by Federici to deny N'Diaye from a corner.

68 mins. Fantastic 60-yard run from Kebe, leaving four Palace players in his wake.

The only way they could stop was with a foul near the corner flag which earned Claude Davis a booking.

63 mins. Palace make their third and final change. Alassane N'Diaye is on for Carle.

Danny Butterfield just went close from 25 yards. Palace pressing for an equaliser here.

60 mins. It's end-to-end now. Palace just had a penalty appeal turned down for a debatable foul on Ambrose.

The attendance is 13,259 with 833 fans from Reading.

53 mins. GOAL. Palace 1 Reading 2.

And the home side swiftly get a goal back through sub SEAN SCANNELL.

Reading switched off at a corner and Scannell was able to steal in and head past Federici from no more than three yards ouit.

What a game we have on our hands now.

50 mins. Church hits the post with a first-time effort after bursting between two defenders to meet Griffin's cross.

What a start to the second half.

47 mins. GOAL. Palace 0 Reading 2.

And JIMMY KEBE has doubled Reading's lead with a super strike for his second goal in as many games.

Griffin fed Gunnarsson with a lovely ball down the right and the Icelandic star sent over a pint-point cross which Kebe met on the half volley, drilling the ball low under Speroni. A class finish from a player in form.

Royals really will be kicking themselves is they fail to take three points now.

46 mins. Federici makes an incredible save to keep out a 30-yard piledriver from Ambrose.

46 mins. We've kicked off and Palace have made a second change with Alan Lee replacing Calvin Andrew up front.

HALF TIME. Palace 0 Reading 1.

Reading have a precious but slender lead here.

Simon Church's excellent 23rd minute goal is all that separates the sides in a very tight game.

Palace had all the early play and Royals relied on Adam Federici to bail them out of trouble.

But Brian McDermott's men came back strongly and could have finished the half even further ahead after Church messed up another clear-cut opportunity.

As we stand, Royals are out of the bottom three. But can they hang on?

43 mins. Royals squander a gilt-edged chance to double their lead.

Howard played a love thru-ball for Church who raced clear of the Palace defence.

Kebe was spare and all Church needed to do was draw Speroni and pass to his team-mate and Kebe would have had a tap-in.

But Church's touch was clumsy and the ball ran into the Palace keeper's arms.

What a waste.

Neil Danns has gone of injured for Palace and has been replaced by Sean Scannell.

33 mins. Federici is commanding his box well. That was a good take to catch Clyne's cross.

Plenty of bite in Royals' midfield as well tonight. Everyone's working their socks off.

28 mins. Reading looking comfortable and keeping Palace at arms length.

Gunnarsson just had half a chance but his shot lacked power.

23 mins. GOAL. Palace 0 Reading 1.

And SIMON CHURCH has given Reading a precious lead with a superb finish.

Jimmy Kebe rode a couple of tackles before feeding former Palace winger Jobi McAnuff.

McAnuff sent over a teasing cross and Church composed himself before volleying into the ground, the ball bouncing up and over Speroni into the far corner.

That's the Wales striker's seventh of the season.

18 mins. Reading look threatening at last.

Clint Hill just scythed down Jem Karacan who fell into the box.

But a free-kick was given and Howard smashed into the wall.

Royals appeal for handball against a Palace player but it is turned down.

17 mins. Andrew has headed over from Butterfield's cross.

Reading struggling to get into Palace's box at the moment.

11 mins. Federici makes another good save to deny Neil Danns.

It's all Palace so far.

7 mins. Palace dangerman Ambrose is close again with a deflected long-range effort.

His polict tonight must be `shoot-on-sight.'

5 mins. We're off and Adam Federici makes an unbelievable one-handed save to keep out a stinging Darren Ambrose volley.

That was a certain goal-saver.

7.55pm. Cheers for pointing out there are two Bertrands in the Reading starting line-up.

My mistake, one of them should be Brian Howard.

Just minutes to go now.....

7.45pm. Royals have finished their warm-up and have headed back to the dressing room.

So, can McDdermott's men make it four league wins in a row?

If they can they will definitely climb out of the relegation zone and up to 18th.

But Palace are a decent side and, as McDermott warned, this administration saga has galvansied the players under Neil Warnock.

Both sides were involved in cracking FA Cup ties at the weekend so let's hope tonight's clash follows suit..........

7.25pm. And confirmation that Royals skipper Ivar Ingimarsson does not play tonight.

But still no news from the press office as to why. Presumably, he must have picked up an injury.

It means Matt Mills will captain the Reading side for the first time, alongside Blackburn loan defender Zurab Khizanishvili.

There is only one other change to the side that started against West Brom on Saturday with lone striker Simon Church replacing the suspended Shane Long.

Reading: Federici, Griffin, Mills, Khizanishvili, Betrand, McAnuff, Karacan, Bertrand, Gunnarsson, Kebe, Church. Subs: Hamer, Cisse, Robson-Kanu, Rasiak, Sigurdsson, Pearce, Thorvaldsson.

Palace: Speroni, Clyne, Ertl, Davis, Butterfield, Hill, Derry, Danns, Carle, Andrew, Ambrose. Subs: Scannell, Hills, Lawrence, Lee, Djilali, N'Diaye, Mann.

The referee is Dean Whitestone from Northampton.

7.15pm Good evening and welcome to Selhurst Park for a massive six-pointer between Royals and Crystal Palace.

It's a cold one tonight and the teams are warming up on the pitch.

I've heard Gylfi Sigurdsson could be in line for a recall after recovering from a knee injury.

Having the top goalscorer back would certainly ease the loss of in-form stiker Shane Long, who starts his four match ban tonight.

And there are whispers that skipper Ivar Ingimarsson will not play with his place taken by Zurab Khizanishvili.

I've asked the Reading press office if is an injury or purely a selection decision, but no-one seems the wiser.

Hope to get you an answer soon.

Team news should be in shortly..................

Brian McDermott's in-form side arrive on the back of three straight Championship wins.

And if they can make it four in a row at the expense of Neil Warnock's cash-strapped Eagles they will climb out of the relegation zone.

But they will have to do it without red-hot striker Shane Long who begins a four-match ban after his red card in Saturday's 2-2 FA Cup fifth round draw with West Brom.

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Hokierama
Unregistered User
Feb 17, 19:41
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Does Bertrand have a twin brother? He's listed twice in the starting 11

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Hokierama
Unregistered User
Feb 17, 19:42
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Does Bertrand have a twin brother? He's listed twice in the starting 11

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
Hokierama
Unregistered User
Feb 17, 19:43
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Does Bertrand have a twin brother? He's listed twice in the starting 11

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
Hokierama
Unregistered User
Feb 17, 19:44
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Does Bertrand have a twin brother? He's listed twice in the starting 11

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
Hokierama
Unregistered User
Feb 17, 19:45
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Does Bertrand have a twin brother? He's listed twice in the starting 11

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Hokierama
Unregistered User
Feb 17, 20:17
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Thanks for the shoutout and sorry for the multiple posts (don't know what the hell happened). C'mon Royals!

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Hokierama
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Feb 17, 20:38
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With us in a 4-5-1, I feel good with us up 1-0 and just sitting back ready to counter them with Simon up top. Put Gunnar above the centerbacks and use the speed out wide and up top to catch them overcommiting.

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Hokierama
Unregistered User
Feb 17, 20:38
Report comment

With us in a 4-5-1, I feel good with us up 1-0 and just sitting back ready to counter them with Simon up top. Put Gunnar above the centerbacks and use the speed out wide and up top to catch them overcommiting.

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
Hokierama
Unregistered User
Feb 17, 20:39
Report comment

With us in a 4-5-1, I feel good with us up 1-0 and just sitting back ready to counter them with Simon up top. Put Gunnar above the centerbacks and use the speed out wide and up top to catch them overcommiting.

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
Hokierama
Unregistered User
Feb 17, 20:40
Report comment

With us in a 4-5-1, I feel good with us up 1-0 and just sitting back ready to counter them with Simon up top. Put Gunnar above the centerbacks and use the speed out wide and up top to catch them overcommiting.

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
Russell Quddus
Unregistered User
Feb 18, 14:26
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Its all about Calvin Andrew, he is the secret weapon the Eagles are looking for, keep playing him and its only a matter of time b4 he becomes a key player

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Russell Quddus
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Feb 18, 14:59
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Its all about Calvin Andrew, he is the secret weapon the Eagles are looking for, keep playing him and its only a matter of time b4 he becomes a key player

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Russell Quddus
Unregistered User
Feb 18, 15:12
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Its all about Calvin Andrew, he is the secret weapon the Eagles are looking for, keep playing him and its only a matter of time b4 he becomes a key player

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0
Russell Quddus
Unregistered User
Feb 18, 15:27
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Its all about Calvin Andrew, he is the secret weapon the Eagles are looking for, keep playing him and its only a matter of time b4 he becomes a key player

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0

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