Royals brush Donny aside to close in on play-offs
Sportsdesk • Published 15 Jan 2011 18:45
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Doncaster Rovers 0 3 Reading
READING moved within two points of the Championship play-offs after an impressive 3-0 win at Doncaster Rovers.
Shane Long, Jimmy Kebe and Jobi McAnuff netted in the victory at Keepmoat Stadium which moved Royals up to seventh in the table.
Boss Brian McDermott said: "I thought it was a comfortable win. Doncaster played their way in the first 15 minutes and they're not easy opponents to play against. Their results suggest that because they had only lost one game at home. So we've got to be delighted to come away with a 3-0 win and a clean sheet."
Royals made two changes to the side which knocked West Brom out of the FA Cup last week and both were in defence.
Andy Griffin replaced Shaun Cummings at right-back while an injury in training prevented stand-in skipper Matt Mills from travelling.
That meant club captain Ivar Ingimarrson returned for his first start since March 20 last year and the Icelandic ace put on an ice-cool display alongside centre-half partner Alex Pearce.
"Matt Mill has been great as our skipper but Ivar came back and I thought he was excellent," added McDermott.
"We were all delighted in the dressing room afterwards because he came in, we kept a clean sheet and we won."
Reading stiffled Doncaster's attack and goalkeeper Adam Federic was rarely tested in the swirling wind.
After a turgid start, the Aussia stopper easily dealt with a long-ranger from ex-Royal John Oster then McAnuff fired wide from Jem Karacan's excellent pass as Reading hit back.
It was a scrappy opening as both sides struggled to create much up front. But when the opportunity came for Long to break the deadlock in the 28th minute, he delivered.
Kebe forced Donny onto the back foot before clipping a perfect pass into Long's path. The red-hot Irishman showed terrific composure, took a couple of touches before sliding the ball past Neil Sullivan for his 12th of the season, and eighth in seven matches.
Reading continued to dominate with Jem Karacan and Long firing over. Donny, who had been forced into a change when Mills' brother, Jack, hobbled off, replied when James Hatyter headed wide when he could have done better.
Yet Royals were so comfortable it was a shock when Donny could have won a penalty on 57 minutes when a cross appeared to strike Ingimarsson's hand. But referee Eddie Ilderton turned down the appeal.
Donny spirits were raised and O'Driscoll used up his two remaining substitutions with half-and-hour to go. However, his plans were blown to bits when Kebe punished a Sullivan error to double Royals' lead in the 68th minute.
The outstanding Mikele Leigertwood played a delightful one-two with Kebe. Sullivan sped off his line but the Mali winger won the race comfortably before lobbing the stranded keeper from outside the box.
It was a bad error of judgment from the ex-Wimbledon keeper, famous for being beaten by David Beckham from the half-way line.
And Sullivan's day got even worse five minutes later when McAnuff diverted the ball past him after blocking a laboured Matt Kilgallon clearance.
There was no way back for Donny as they slumped to only their second home defeat of the season. For Reading it was a highly impressive away win against one of the most stylist sides in the division who are still play-off contenders.
McDermott's men have now won five of their last seven games in all competitions and have lost just one in 12.
They are back in Championship action next Saturday when they entertain Hull City (3pm), who beat Barnsley 2-0 at home.
Doncaster: Sullivan
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 15 Jan 11
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