LIVE - Reading v Portsmouth
Sportsdesk • Published 2 Apr 2011 09:30
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Full time: Reading 2 - 0 Portsmouth
A BRACE from SHANE LONG saw Reading rise into the play-off spots with an eventuful 2-0 win over 10-man Portsmouth at Madejski Stadium.
Former Royal Dave Kitson missed a string of gilt-edged chances in the first-half when the game was still goalless.
But Reading broke the deadlock on 30 minutes when Jamie Ashdown somehow allowed Long's hopeful 20-yard drive to squeeze past him and in.
And things got a lot worse for the visitors four minutes later when Ricardo Rocha was show a straight red for hauling down Long.
Long stepped up and fired past ex-Reading keeper Ashdown for his 22nd goal of the season.
Portsmouth, to their credit, never gave in and went close to pulling a goal back in the second-half.
But Royals, with Alex McCarthy excellent in goal again, kept their noses in front to claim the points and stretch their unbeaten league run to eight matches.
90 mins. Now Church thinks he's scored with a 20-yard strike, but it is also ruled out for a foul in the build up.
90 mins. Portsmouth almost snatch a consolation as McCarthy flaps at a long throw from Halford. The ball ends up at Kitson's feet, 12 yards out. But Long closes down well and blocks it.
85 mins. Final change for Pompey as Danny Webber replaces Nugent.
83 mins. Great feet from Kebe but he drags his shot wide. But the points are well and truly safe now.
78 mins. Portsmouth change as Joel Ward replaced Hreidarsson.
76 mins. Amazing save from McCarthy to stop a thunderous shot from Lawrence from a tight angle. A proper goalmouth scamble follows before the referee blows for a foul against a Reading player.
74 mins. Khizanishvili sends a free header just over the bar. Close that.
Second sub for Reading as Simon Church replaces Howard.
70 mins. Mokoena is booked for a rash challenge on Howard.
69 mins. Howards has another stab, but Ashdown saves easily. Robson-Kanu has injected new life into Reading since coming on.
68 mins. Brian Howard sticks the ball in the net - but it's ruled out for handball earlier in the move.
Howard, a former Saint, looked gutted. He'd love to score against Pompey.
64 mins. Mullins smashed a shot - and this time it hits Kitson in front of goal and deflects wide. Sums up Kitson's day.
63 mins. Kitson heads over the bar from a deep cross. Fair play to Pompey, they're still pushing forward in search of a goal.
61 mins. Reading's first change seens McAnuff make way for Hal Robson-Kanu. That's McAnuff's first hour on the pitch since his injury.
57 mins. The attendance is 21,896 including 4,027 fans form Portsmouth,.
That's Reading's second highest gate this season after the Leeds United game in November.
54 mins. Hearts in mouths for Royals fans as Shane Long stays down after a heavy challenge. But he's back on his feet after a spot of treatment.
50 mins. Royals not content at 2-0 here as they press for what would be a killer third goal.
46 mins. We're off again and Reading are 45 minutes from making it eight unbeaten games in the league.
Word has it there were verbals exchanged between both benches late in the first-half, with Brian McDermott and Cotterill heavily involved.
Reading 2 Portsmouth 0
ROYALS have a comfortable lead now against 10-man Portsmouth thanks to a SHANE LONG brace.
But Pompey have Dave Kitson to blame as the former Reading striker missed three glorious chances to put his side in front.
In the end, Long broke the deadlockl in the 30th minute when his shot somehow squeezed through Jamie Ashdown.
And the Irishman doubled the home side's lead four minutes later from the penalty having been fouled by Ricardo Rocha.
Rocha was the last man and was shown a straight red for his troubles, leaving Pompey down to 10 men.
Ho
45 mins. Portsmouth go close to pulling one back as Jem Karacan misjudges Ashdown's punt putting Liam Lawrence in the clear. Luckily, Zurab Khizanishvili gets a toe on the ball just as Lawrence is about to shoot.
43 mins. Portsmouth make a change and sacrifice the attack-minded Cotterill for the defensive qualities of Aaron Mokoena.
Reading 2 Portsmouth 0.
And SHANE LONG scores his second goal in four minutes - and 22nd of the season - from the penalty spot.
The Irishman showed nerves of steel to send Ashdown the wrong way.
In fairness, Pompey must wonder how they can be 2-0 behind and down to 10 men after the way they started this game.
But credit to Reading for hanging in there and they are massive favourites to win this game now.
37 mins. GGGGGGOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL
36 mins. POMPEY RED CARD. Ricardo Rocha is heading for an early bath.
Brian Howards found Long with a sensational long ball. He's goalside of Rocha with only Ashwodn to beat when the Pompey defender hauls him down from behind.
Referee Kevin Friend has little choice but to send him off and award Reading a penalty.
33 mins. Kiton replies withy a shot from the edge fo the box, but McCarthy is equal to it.
Reading 1 Portsmouth 0
And Reading take the lead, albeit slightly against the run of play.
Jimmy Kebe showed hreat persistence to rob Ritchie De Laet. The ball reached SHANE LONG whose speculative shot from outside the box squeezed under Jamie Ashdown and went in.
Ashdown blamed a deflection, but that has to go down as keeper error.
Long's 21st of the season.
30 mins. GGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
27 mins. Royals hit back and Ian Harte sends a free-kick onto the top of Ashdown's net. Mullins booked in the build up.
25 mins. Reading lucky to survive again. Brynjar Gunnarsson, who is having a poor game, messed up allowing Nugent to set up Jonathan Hogg. However, he dragged his shot from 12 yards.
21 mins. Pompey closse to taking the lead again there. David Nugent's shot was too hot for Alex McArthy to handle. Kitson followed up and looked certain to tuck away the loose ball, but McArthy recovered to block with his legs. Amazing save that from the England U21 stopper.
18 mins. The game has died down a little, but the atmosphere is still great.
15 mins. Ian Harte sends a trademark free-kick smack into the Pompey wall. Reading on the attack now, but Pomey look dangerous.
12 mins. Jem Karacan fizzes a teasing cross across the face of goal. Jamie Ashdown flaps, but Long can't get on the end of it.
8 mins. First booking for Pompey as David Cotterill is carded for a nasty tackle on McAnuff.
5 mins. Horrendous miss form Kitson there. Liam Lawrence's cross landed right on his forehead, seven yards out from goal and completely unmarked.
But he can't connect properly and the ball drifts miles wide. Pompey should be 1-0 up.
2 mins. Lively start from Reading with Jimmy Kebe to the fore. Shane Long wins a corner but Pompey clear.
3pm. And we're off. Reading kicking towards the 3,000-plus Pompey fans in the south stand.
2.55 pm. And a huge cheer goes up from both sets of fans when Dave Kitson's name was announced.
Love him or hate him, his record for Reading was outstanding. And his £6.5 million switch to Stoke City has to be one fo the best deals Reading have ever pulled off, bearing in mind he cost just £150,000 from Cambridge United.
2.50pm: It's a beautiful day here, the sun is out, the stadium is nearly full and Reading return to the Madejski Stadium for the first time in almost a month.
Brian McDermott's side are unbeaten in seven in the league.
But Pompey have won seven of their last nine and will go level on points with the Royals if they win today.
The teams are in and Reading's Jobi McAnuff returns to the starting line-up.
But there is no Mikele Leigertwood, Matt Mills or Noel Hunt who are still injured.
Alex McCarthy keeps his place in goal as Adam Federici is still sidelined.
Dave Kitson starts for in-form Pompey along with fellow ex-Royals, Jamie Ashdown and Greg Halford, though Ibrahima Sonko misses out.
Reading: McCarthy - Gunnarsson, Ingimarsson (c), Khizanishvili, Harte - Kebe, Tabb, Karacan, McAnuff - Howard - Long. Subs: Andersen, Griffin, Antonio, Church, Robson-Kanu, Pearce, Manset.
Portsmouth: Ashdown - Halford, Rocha, De Laet, Hreidarsson, Mullins, Hogg, Cotterill, Lawrence (c), Nugent, Kitson. Subs: Flahavan, Ciftci, Kanuz, Ward, Webber, Dickinson, Mokeona.
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).
Welcome to the Madejski Stadim for live coverage of this afternoon's Championship clash between Reading and Portsmouth.
Kick -off is 3pm.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 02 Apr 11
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