LIVE - Watford v Reading
Sportsdesk • Published 20 Nov 2010 10:30
0 Comments
Share this
See also:
Watford 1 Reading 1
IT finished honours even between Royals and Watford in today's clash at Vicarage Road.
NOEL HUNT put Reading ahead in the 15th minute when he converted a fine Shane Long cross.
But TROY DEENEY levelled five minutes before the interval following some suspect Royals defending.
Brian McDermott's visitors created by far the better chances after that, but neither Shane Long nor Jem Karacan could take their opportunities.
Long showed too much of the ball to Scott Loach when he had two team-mates ready to tap-in to an empty net.
Then Karacan missed an open goal after Long's effort had been saved.
90 mins. Three minutes of time added on here. Can't see anyone scoring now.
88 mins. Alex Pearce is booked for a cynical shirt-pull. Again, Reading defend their lines well.
87 mins. Reading survive there as Watford throw men forward. But Graham's cross-shot evades everyone.
84 mins. Last throw of the dice for Reading as Michail Antonio replaces Church.
80 mins. Desperate defending from Reading there prevents Danny Graham from connecting with a cross.
75 mins. Reading still pushing here. Looks like they're not going to settle for a point.
But Watford also see this as a chance to pick up a win.
Mills has been booked for Reading.
71 mins. Long takes a clattering from Loach as he punched the ball clear.
McDermott is incensed as he felt it was a penalty. But nothing is given.
67 mins. What a chance for Reading there. Shane Long capitalised on a weak back-pass and was clean through on goal. Loach save his shot but the rebound fell kindly to Karacan in front of an open goal. Sadly, the midfielder couldn't hit the target and fired over the bar, much to the ammusement of Hornets fans. What a wasted opportunity that was.
63 mins. Jimmy Kebe come on for Jay Tabb on his first appearance in a month due to a knee injury.
Royals fans, around 1,000 of them, give him a hero's welcome.
62 mins. Another dangerous Reading counter attack as Hunt slips the ball to Simon Church whose shot is saved by Loach.
60 mins. Tremendous covering header from Mills to take the b all of Martin Taylor's head when the Watford skipper looked certain to score.
Still wide open here. You sense more goals.
55 mins. Royals spurn a glorious chance to take the lead.
Long was sent scampering clear and had two men in support with only one Watford defender back.
But his touch was way too heavy allowing Scott Loach to smother the ball.
McAnuff was screaming for it in the middle as he was completely unmarked rand would have had a simple tap-in.
They mucked that one up good and proper.
Also, Chris Armstrong has replaced Ian Harte at left-back.
50 mins. Mills flicks on a Tabb free-kick but no Reading player is there to win the knock-down.
47 mins. We're underway and Watford create the first chance. Mills dives in too early on Don Cowie who crosses to the back post. Martin Taylor is unmarked but it seems he slipped trying to bury his header and missed the ball completely.
HT: Watford 1 Reading 1
It's all level here at the interval after a lively first half.
NOEL HUNT put Reading in front on 15 minutes with a smart finish from Shane Long's cross.
But TROY DEENEY equalised five minutes before the break after Royals failed to clear their lines.
It's a wide open game now and it's impossible to predict a winner.
Off for a cup of Rosie.
45 mins. McAnuff should have put Readinig in front there. Royals launch a counter-attack, Jay Tabb knocks it on to McAnuff but his shot is comfortably saved by Scott Loach.
45 mins. It's end-to-end at the moment as both side's search for a second goal. Watfored are slowly getting on top.
43 mins. Reading pushing again here as only a vital interception by Martin Taylor prevents McAnuff's cross from reaching Long six yards out.
Watford had equalised through TROY DEENEY who was left free in the box at a corner. The youngster made no mistake with a crisp finish from 10 yards.
That's a big blow to Reading so close to half time.
40 mins. GGGGGGOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL
38 mins. Adam Federici does well to tip Andrew Taylor's long-range effort over the bar.
32 mins. Watford's Andrew Taylor is booked for clipping McAnuff from behind.
Reading still looking good for their lead. Fine display by the Royals this.
24 mins. Royals defence stand firm to clear a dangerous Watford free-kick. Still, Adam Federici has had little to do in the Reading goal and the visitors are comfortable.
NOEL HUNT has put Royals in front here with a lovely finiish. Ian Harte pumped a long ball down the wing for Shane Long who raced clear of his marker.
The Irishman looked up before drilling a low cross to Hunt who tucked it away first-time without breaking stride.
Quality goal that and Hunt did superbly well to hold off Martin Taylor and get the shot in.
Hunt ripped his shorts in the process and had to change them - much to the delight of Royals' female fans.
Watford 0 Reading 1
16 mins. GGGGOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL
13 mins. Watford threaten through Troy Deeney who fires an angled drive from 15 yards, but it's wide.
10 mins. Quiet start all round really. Plenty of endeavour but not too much happening in either goalmouth.
5 mins. Former Hornet Jobi McAnuff is roundly booed when he takes a corner. It comes to nothing.
3.04 pm. Mixed emotions for Royals coach Nigel Gibbs today on his 45th birthday.
Gibb is a Hornets Hall-of-Famer and true legend in these parts.
3pm. We're off and it looks as though Royals keep faith with a three-pronged strikeforce of Noel Hunt, Simon Church and Shane Long.
Reading: Federici - Griffin, Mills (c), Pearce, Harte - McAnuff, Karacan, Tabb - Hunt, Church, Long. Subs: McCarthy, Kebe, Khizanishvili, Antonio, Robson-Kanu, Cummings, Armstrong.
Watford: Loach - Doyley, Mariappa, M.Taylor, Deeney, Cowie, Sordell, Mutch, A.Taylor, Graham, McGinn. Subs: Gilmartin, Hodson, Walker, Buckley, Bryan, Bennett, Whichelow.
2.45pm. Hello there. Bit late I'm afraid due to problems parking the car. But the big news here is boss Brian McDermott makes two changes to the side which started in last week's 3-3 draw against Norwich City.
Alex Pearce comes in for Zurab Khizanishvili while Jay Tabb replaces Brian Howard who is not even on the bench.
Fit-again Jimmy Kebe has to make do with a place amongst the substitutes.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 20 Nov 10
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.
