LIVE - Reading v Millwall
Sportsdesk • Published 22 Feb 2011 16:30
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FULL-TIME: Reading 2 - 1 Millwall
FULL-TIME. Reading 2-1 Millwall
READING end a run of six games without a win with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Millwall at Madejski Stadium.
NOEL HUNT gave Royals a dream start after three minutes with his second goal in two games.
But Millwall hit back and levelled just 20 seconds into the second-half when substitute NEIL HARRIS netted with his first touch.
However, it galvanised the hosts who went back in front on 55 minutes when Shane Long converted Hunt's cross for his 16th goal of the campaign.
And Reading bossed the game after that and looked more likely to add to their lead than Millwall did of making it 2-2.
The win moves Reading back above Millwall into ninth in the Championship table ahead of Saturday's visit to Crystal Palace.
90+1. Griffin is booked for time-wasting.
90 mins. Five minutes of time added on. Can Reading survive? It looks like they will at the moment.
88 mins. Chance for Simon Church there but Forde does well to parry.
86 mins. Mkandawire is booked for a cynical foul on Long.
80 mins. Nothing really to trouble Royals this past few minutes.
McDermott makes his first change as Simon Church comes on for Noel Hunt.
76 mins. Bit of aggro between Leigertwood and Harris after the pair collide in the middle. Referee Dean Whitestone is letting a few things go now.
74 mins. Abdou can't carry on after that brilliant tackle. He limps off and is replaced by Darren Purse.
71 mins. Lovely counter attack from Reading and Shane Long looks to be clean through. But Jimmy Abdou makes a crucial last-ditch tackle as the Irishman is about to pull the trigger.
68 mins. Today's attendance is 15,934 including 1,592 Millwall fans.
66 mins. Kebe is booked for time-wasting. Bit early for that to be fair.
63 mins. Second Millwall change as Tony Craig replaces Scott Barron. Reading fans will hope he doesn't have the same impact as Harris.
60 mins. Bit of a lull but Reading won't mind that too much. Can they hang on to what would be a vital three points that could re-ignite their promotion hopes?
55 mins. READING 2 MILLWALL 1
Royals take under 10 minutes to regain their lead thanks to SHANE LONG'S 16th goal of the season.
Cummings and Kebe worked the ball wide to Hunt who drilled in a low cross. Long did not even need a touch, electing to hit it first time instead. He struck it sweetly as the ball sailed past Forde from 10 yards out.
GGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
48 mins. Fantastic block-tackle from Andy Griffin on Steve Morison right in front of goal.
Matt Mills has taken a heavy knock here and looks out for the count.
READING 1 MILLWALL 1
46 mins. A disastrous start for Reading as NEIL HARRIS equalises with his very first touch just 20 seconds into the second half.
The ball was played through to the striker who took aim before dispatching a ferocioius low drive past McCarthy and into the far corner.
GGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
21.05pm. We're underway. Millwall make a change as Neil Harris replaces Hameur Bouazza.
Half time: Reading 1 Millwall 0
And Reading take a 1-0 lead into the interval thanks to NOEL HUNT'S third minute goal.
But it has been far from comfortable for the hosts who have been on the back foot for much of the first-half.
Reading's defence has been under pressure from some superb deliveries from ex-Royal James Henry.
Lions defender Tamika Mkandawire went close with a couple of headers while Steve Morison saw his shot cleared off line by Mikele Leigertwood.
But, having weathered the storm, the hosts should have doubled their lead minites before the break when Shaun Cummings blazed over with the goal at his mercy.
You get the feeling there are more goals in this.
43 mins. Tabb leaves Liam Trotter in a heap on the floor. Full-blooded challenge that. Tabb straight over to oapologise and the Millwall player's back on his feet.
41 mins. What a chance for Shaun Cummings to make his name there.
Superb build-up from Royals, Leigertwood's cross is deflected to McAnuff who disguises a beautiful pass into the path of Cummings. The full-back is unmarked but he snatches at his shot and blazes miles over the bar. Shame.
38 mins. Paul Robinson is booked for Millwall for a nasty lunge Long.
33 mins. At last Reading threaten the Millwall goal as Tabb sends a half-volley over the bar.
30 mins. Brave challenge from Matt Mills there just when Morison was about to connect with a header six yards out. Pats on the back from his team-mates show how important that was. Still, Royals under a bit of pressure.
28 mins. Morison heads wide form a left-wing cross. Millwall having most of the chances now.
25 mins. Millwall inches away from equalising there. Bouazza whipped in a glorious free-kick but a glancing header from Mkandawire floats just wide of the post with McCarthy rooted to the spot.
23 mins. Play is held up for a moment as Jay Tabb receives treatment. But he's back on his feet now.
Another corner to Millwall, this time defended well.
21 mins. And another superb corner from Henry reached Steve Morison who is unmarked. The big striker chested the ball down and hammered a shot towards goal. Luckily, it strick Mikeke Leigertwood's chest a yard off the line.
19 mins. Royals live dangerously as a brilliant Henry free-kick is nodded back across goal. Somehow the home side scramble it clear.
18 mins. Last-ditch clearance from Ingimarsson there to cut out Henry's cross. The corner falls to Tamika Mkandawire, who heads over. Chance that.
16 mins. Another Reading corner, this time it reaches Long at the back post. But his header lacks power and Forde saves easily.
12 mins. The East Stand gives rookie keeper Alex McCarthy a boost by singing his name.
Reading just won a corner, but Millwall dealt with it.
8 mins. Royals looking comfortable since that early goal. But Millwall are having just a smidgin more possession now.
3 mins. READING 1 MILLWALL 0.
And NOEL HUNT gives Royals the dream start with his second goal in two games.
It came from Shane long's strong run down the left. The Irishman's cross was poorly dealt with by Jimmy Abdou, but there was nothing wrong with Hunt's expertise from there.
The striker killed the ball with a lovely first touch before smashing a low volley past Forde and into the far corner from around 15 yards. Great finish.
3 mins. GGGGGGGOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
2 mins. Decent start for the Royals as they force a corner, David Forde punches clear.
At a guess, about 1,500 Millwall fans in tonight.
8.02pm. Couple of minutes late but we're off. Looks like Andy Griffin is playing left-back with Cummings at right-back. Royals kicking towards the north stand this half.
8pm. Nice gesture from Reading fans who applaud James Henry's name. Many feel he deserved a better chance with the Royals, but it wasn't to be.
7.55pm. A fairly mild night but the Mad Stad pitch looks a bit worse for wear from up here in the press box. There's plenty of grass, but most of it is around the edges leaving bare patches all down the middle.
7.45pm. Hello there. And straight to the team news as Royals make three changes to their starting line-up.
Alex McCarthy makes his full debut in goal as Adam Federici has been ruled out with a knee injury picked up in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Watford.
Shaun Cummings makes a return at left-back in place of Ian Harte, who is nursing a knock.
And Jay Tabb is a straight swap for Brian Howard who drops to the bench.
Recent non-league signing Brett Williams is also among the subs.
Millwall, meanwhile, name ex-Royals winger James Henry in their starting XI.
Reading: (4-4-2): McCarthy - Cummings, Mills (c), Ingimarsson, Griffin - Kebe, Leigertwood, Tabb, McAnuff - Hunt, Long. Subs: Andersen, Khizanishvili, Antonio, Church, Robson-Kanu, Howard, Williams.
Millwall: Forde - Dunne, Robinson (c), Mkandawire, Barron - Henry, Abdou, Trotter, Hackett - Bouazza, Morison. Subs: Eastmond, Harris, Craig, Ward, Lisbie, Mildenhall, Purse.
Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northampton).
Welcome to the Madejski Stadium for live coverage of tonight's crucial Championship clash between Reading and Millwall.
Royals hope to end a run of six games without a win, but face a stern test against a Millwall side set to contain ex-Reading youngster James Henry.
In fact, Brian McDermott's men are searching for their first league win since their 3-0 victory at Doncaster Rovers on January 15.
They start the day nine points adrift of the play-off positions in 12th place, though a win tonight would take them above ninth-placed Millwall.
However, they have been dealt an early blow following news that goalkeeper Adam Federici will miss tonight's clash with a knee injury, with Alex McCarthy set to make his full Royals debut.
In addition, Jem Karacan serves the third of a three match ban while Mathieu Manset and Alex Pearce are doubtful.
Kick off is 8pm............
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 22 Feb 11
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