LIVE - Reading v Bristol City

Anthony Smith • Published 13 Mar 2010 13:00 2 Comments

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FULL TIME. Reading 2 Bristol City 0.

Reading make it seven league wins in eight with a convincing victory over Bristol City in a one-sided M4 derby.

Gylfi Sigurdsson scored both goals in the first-half to take his impresive tally to 12 for the season.

The first on 12 minutes was a towering header and the second was a penalty 10 minutes later after the Icelandic youngster had been fouled by City's Paul Hartley.

Royals had numerous chances to extend their lead with Sigurdsson close to a hat-trick several times.

City, however, struggled to create anything all afternoon against Royals' excellent defence.

McDermott remains unbeaten in the Championship at the Mad Stad as Royals move on to 44 points and edge ever closer to safety.

88 mins. A first change for Reading as Simon Church replaces Shane Long who goes off to a tremendous ovation.

The in-form striker may not have scored today but he has run all day for the team's cause.

86 mins. McAnuff fires just over having been set up by Jay Tabb, who has been excellent again.

Looks like Readinig are home and dry now. What another cracking result.

79 mins. Sigurdsson tries his luck from 30 yards but it goes over.

The attendance is 17,900 including 1,993 from Bristol.

City fans leaving in their droves now. They can't see a way back in this one.

78 mins. Kebe forced a decent stop from Gerken then Long heads wide. Chances coming thick and fast now. City look dejected.

74 mins. Is that Sigurdsson's hat-trick chance gone.

Long played the ball to his feet but Sigurdsson fluffed his effot from 10 yards with the goal at his mercy.

Bertrand has also fizzed a great ball across the six yard box and Long is an inch away from a tap-in. Unlucky.

Royals have shifted up a gear again.

72 mins. City make their final sub and send on Jamie McAllister for Liam Fontaine and go three at the back. No sign of a comeback yet though.

70 mins. Sigurdsson tried his luck from 25 yards but there' no power behind his shot.

Howard's not happy because he was free in the box but was ignored by The Sig.

Still, you can't blame him for having a go as he is on a hat-trick.

But the second-half has not been anywhere as exciting for the first with only limited chances.

63 mins. Kebe is one-on-one with the keeper but Gerken makes a fine block to deny the Royals a third.

City skipper Louis Carey is booked for dissent.

58 mins. Gerken makes an excellent save to deny Brian Howard and Shane Long can only hook the rebound over the bar. Close that.

57 mins. Federici comes to Reading's rescue to deny Campbell-Ryce who was one-on-one with the Royals keeper.

56 mins. Kebe's clean through from a lovely Howard ball over the top.

But the all won't sit down and Gerken clears.

54 mins. A lull in play is followed by a Bertrand injury which needs attention. But the left-back's on his feet and is okay to continue.

46 mins, Not surprisingly, Gary Johnson makes two changes at half time for City.

John Akinde is on for Nicky Maynard and Danny Haynes has replaced Iwelumo.

Johnson had to do something. City were second best all over the pitch in the first half.

HALF TIME. Reading 2 Bristol City 0.

Royals deservedly two up here through a GYLFI SIGURDSSON brace.

He put Brian McDermott's side in front with a superb header in the 12th minute.

And the Icelander doubled the lead with a clinical penalty having been fouled by Paul Hartley.

Sigurdsson's had numerous chances to complete his hat-trick and has been a class above anything City have to offer.

The 1,800-or-so visiting fans boo their side off at half-time. They're been poor and at least a yard off the pace.

Royals, however, have been excellent yet again.

45 mins. Matt Mills should have scored Reading's third there with a free-header from Sigurdsson's free-kick. Orr has been booked for City.

42 mins. Sigurdsson so close to his hat-trick again.

Lewin Nyatanga failed to deal with a Ryan Bertrand's cross but Sigurdsson's instinctive effort is blocked by Gerken at his near post.

41 mins. McAnuff fizzes one a foot wide from 20-yards.

39 mins. City offer a rare attack then forces a decent save from Adam Federici to parry a long-range Campbell-Ryce drive.

Federici flaps at the corner but Reading clear.

38 mins. Sigurdsson so close to completing his hat-trick there.

He scuffed his shot when a corner came out to him but the ball bounced up and over Dean Gerken only for Paul Hartley to head it off the line.

34 mins. Shouts for another penalty for Reading three as Jimmy Kebe goes to ground after colliding with Orr. But referee Paul Taylor shakes his head.

30 mins. Gunnarsson is booked for a professional foul on Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

Royals weather a bit of pressure and are attacking again.

27 mins. Half a cance for Shane Long there but his touch let him down this time.

The Irishman hasn't had much of a chance in front of goal yet.

21 mins. GOOOOAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! Reading 2 Bristol City 0.

And it's that man GYLFI SIGURDSSON again, this time from the penalty.

It was the softest penalty you will ever see as Paul Hartley nudged Sigurdsson from behind just inside the box with his back to goal.

Remember the needless pen Jay Tabb conceded in the 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate. This was worse.

Anyway, following Long's penalty miss on Tuesday, Sigurdsson showed how it should be done by drilling it past Dean Gerken who guessed the right way.

12 goals for `The Sig' now.

16 mins. Sigurdsson goes close again from 20 yards. Still all Reading at the moment.

12 mins. GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!! Reading 1 Bristol City 0.

Royals go in front through GYLFI SIGURDSSON.

Ryan Bertrand started off a great move with a surging 50-yard run across field.

He laid the ball off to Jobi McAnuff who whipped in an excellent cross which Sigurdsson finished brilliantly with a well-directed header into the corner.

Great start from Reading and that's 11 for the season for the young Icelander now.

10 mins. Gylfi Sigurdsson goes close with a 25-yard free-kick.

It came after Lee Johnson was booked for a cynical hack at Brian Howard.

7 mins. Bit of a quiet start. Royal having the better of the play, though.

3 mins. First real chance to City as Bradley Orr scuffs one wide.

3pm. And we're off. Royals go with one up front today, that's Shane Long who has seven goals in his last six games.

Looks life Gylfi Sigurdsson is just behind him with McAnuff on the right and Kebe on the left.

City have Chris Iwelumo up front on his own with Nicky Maynard and Jamal Cambell-Ryce in support.

2.50pm. We've just had a minute's silence for Corporal Richard Green from Tilehurst who lost his life recently in Afghanistan.

It's an emotional day at the Mad Stad as today's game is also Reading's designated `Help for Heroes' match.

Eight soldiers fom 42 Engineers Regiment based in Hermitage have been collecting for charity and are out on the pitch.

Reading: Federici - Gunnarsson, Ingimarsson, Mills, Bertrand - Kebe, Tabb, Sigurdsson, McAnuff - Howard - Long. Subs: Matejovsky, Henry, Church, Robson-Kanu, Rasiak, Khizanishvili, Hamer.

Bristol City: Gerken - Orr, Fontaine, Carey, Nyatanga - Johnson, Hartley, Skuse - Campbell-Ryce, Maynard, Iwewlumo. Subs: McAllister, Elliott, Clarkson, Akinde, Sproule, Henderson, Haynes.

Referee: Paul Taylor (Middlesex).

Some early teams news and Andy Griffin has failed a fitness test so Brynjar Gunnarsson starts at right back.

It also looks like Jobi McAnuff will return from a three game ban.

That means Grzegorz Rasiak will drop to the bench.

More to follow.......

Welcome to the Mad Stad for live coverage of today's Championship clash.

Can Brian McDermott's Royals make it seven wins in eight league games tp pull further away from the drop zone?

Or will the Robins throw a spanner in the works (again) and inflict a first league defeat at the Mad Stad for McDermott?

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Carl Whistler
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Mar 13, 14:30
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So only one striker up-front ? I thought that given our recent run, particularly at home that we would have Church & Long up front ?

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Carl Whistler
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Mar 14, 09:07
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Clearly the Manager knows best..... Another fantastic performance and result.

Urz

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