LIVE - Reading v Watford
Sportsdesk • Published 10 Sep 2011 14:30
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FULL-TIME: Reading 0 - 2 Watford
FULL-TIME. Reading 0 - 2 Watford.
That's it and Reading's poor start to the season continues with a comprehensive 2-0 home defeat by lowly Watford.
90 mins. Four minutes of time added enough. Enough for a Royals miracle? Unlikely.
89 mins. Looks like Reading fans have conceded defeat as streams head for the exit doors. This looks like being five defeats in a row for the Royals including four in the league. Not the start Brian McDermott wanted.
89 mins. Final change for Watford as big Chris Iwelumo comes on for Weimann, who had a very good game.
88 mins. Ridiculous from Reading there. They did the hard work by winning a free-kick 25 yards out. But Mills and Church got in each other's way and in the end Mills blasts the ball into the crowd behind the goal. Very poor.
85 mins. Play interrupted as Weimann receives treatment. It's going to need a late, late show for the Royals again. They did it with two goals in the last four minutes to draw with Millwall on the opening day, can they do it again?
82 mins. More groans from the Royals faithful as another pass goes astray. Looking bleak for Reading now.
80 mins. Both sides make another change. Shaun Cummings is on for Karacan, while Troy Deeney replaces Yeates for Reading.
78 mins. Awful from Reading at the moment. They're giving the ball away too easily.
75 mins. Each side makes a change. Simon Church replaces Manset for Reading and Joe Garner replaces Sordell for Watford.
72 mins. Reading are enjoying more possession, but Watford stand firm and don't look like conceding at the moment.
70 mins. YELLOW CARD. Marvin Sordell for time wasting.
68 mins. Le Fondre sends a heaver over the bar from Karacan's cross.
64 mins. Leigertwood unlucky not to find Kebe with a raking 70 yard pass. Loach comes off line to collect.
62 mins. Today's attendance is 17,128 including 1,338 rather happy Watford fans.
61 mins. Immediate response from Watford as Hogg's stinging first-timer from 25-yards is pushed away by Federici.
60 mins. Chance for Leigertwood there, but he screws his shot wide from outside the box.
58 mins. Reading make their first change as Hal Robson-Kanu comes on for Andy Griffin. Strangely, Karacan shifts to right-back.
55 mins. Watford fans are loving this now as their team edge towards their first league win this season.
For Royals fans, it's been a frustrating afternoon so far. There's plenty of time left, but they need to start putting some passes together.
51 mins. Reading 0 - 2 Watford.
And Royals have a mountain to climb now as Watford's JOHN EUSTACE doubles the visitors' lead.
A free-kick was whipped in from the right but Alex Pearce's tame defensive header went straight to the unmarked Eustace who kept his cool to finish well from 12 yards.
Long way back for Reading now.
51 mins. GGGGGGOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
** The consensus at half-time was that Reading are a bit too predictable. Whenever Jimmy Kebe gets the ball, he cuts inside anc back into trouble instead of going around the Watford full-back and whipping a cross into the box **
48 mins. Le Fondre almost nipped in there, but Martin Taylor comes across to cover.
4.03pm. We're off again. No changes for either side at the break.
HALF TIME: Reading 0 - 1 Watford.
As expected, the boos ring out as the whistle goes after a rather lacklustre first-half from Reading.
They trail to MARK YEATES' brilliant 13th minute free-kick which gave Watford a lead they have rarely looked like losing.
Royals' new signing Adam Le Fondre has struggled to make an impact, but in his defence he has seen little of the ball.
In fact, other than a couple of half-chances, Brian McDermott's side have created almost nothing up front.
I would imagine a few harsh words from McDermott will be heading in the direction of his players at the break.
41 mins. Not long to go until half-time and Watford are still pretty comfortable here. Expect a few jeers from Reading fans at the whistle. Remember, it's four defeats in a row before today's game.
38 mins. Strong run by Manset and his cross-shot is right into the danger zone. Superb clearancre from Carl Dickinson, though. Better from Reading.
37 mins. Lovely link up between Le Fondre and Kebe there. Sadly, Kebe had Manset unmarked on the outside, but cut inside and into trouble, losing the ball. Manset looks well cheesed off.
36 mins. Nice skill from Watford's Yeates there and a lovely, curling shot from 20 yards which Federici does well to hold.
34 mins. Crunching tackle from Gorkss on Watford's Weimann there. Crowd loved that. But Reading are struggling to find any rhythm here.
31 mins. Lovely feet from Karacan there to wriggle into the box. He lays it off to Manset, whose shot is defelcted wide for a corner.
But what a miss from there as Mikele Leigertwood comes steaming in, only to miss his header completely from inside the six yard box. Chance went begging there.
30 mins. Another excellent long-range free-kick from Watford's Yeates there. This time, Federici holds on to it, just about.
26 mins. Watford come back and Royals are forced to defend a couple of corner, which they manage to do quite comfortably.
So far, Le Fondre has had little impact on the game, nor has strike partner Manset.
** Reading pressing a bit more now. They need to or this crowd will get restless **
23 mins. Reading close to equalising there. From the free-kick, Mills' effort is defelected an inch wide of the post, with Scott Loach beaten.
Sadly, Reading muck up the corner.
23 mins. Watford's Craig Forsyth is booked for fouling Jem Karacan 25 yards out, centre of the goal.
21 mins. Bit of a lull, but Reading not really threatening at the moment. Watford are well organised and are closing the ball down quickly.
18 mins. Fantastic cross from Jobi McAnuff, but great defending from his old club to clear the danger.
17 mins. Great defending from Mills there to nick the ball off Weimann. But Reading struggling at the moment.
16 mins. Another chance for Watford, but Federici comfortably holds Hogg's grass-cutter.
13 mins. Reading 0 - 1 Watford.
Nightmare start for the Royals now as Watford go in front thanks to a superb MARK YEATES free-kick.
It came from the foul Pearce just got booked for, ex-Spurs man Yeates curling the free-kick up and over the wall, beating Adam Federici's dispairing dive.
13 mins. GGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
11 mins. YELLOW CARD for Pearce for bringing Weismann down 25 yards out. Clumsy challenge.
9 mins. Watford appeal for a penalty as Alex Pearce collides with John Eustace as a free-kick comes in. Referee not interested.
7 mins. Sun's peeping through the clouds now. Nothing between the sides yet which is hardly surprising given the number of draws between the teams in recent years.
6 mins. Andy Weimann drags one wide from 20 yards. Chance for Watford there.
3 mins.. Bright start from the Royals. Pitch looks green and lush.
3pm. We're off, and Reading desperately need three points today to kick-start the season.
They're 20th in the table, but face a struggling Watford side two places beneath them.
2.58pm. The teams:
Reading (4-4-2): Federici - Griffin. Pearce, Gorkss, Mills - Kebe, Leigertwood, Karacan, McAnuff (c) - Manset, Le Fondre. Subs: McCarthy, Gunnarsson, Church, Robson-Kanu, Cummings.
Watford: Loach - Dickinson, Eustace (c), Taylor, Mariappa, Yeates, Forsyth, Doyley, Weimann, Sordell, Hogg. Subs: Deeney, Iwelumo, Gilmartin, Mirfin, Garner.
Referee: James Linington (Isle of Wight).
2.55pm. Big news today is that Reading's summer signings Adam Le Fondre and Joseph Mills both make their full debuts today.
And there's also another start for Kaspars Gorkss at centre-back.
Le Fondre comes in for the injured Noel Hunt while McDermott plumps for the extra pace of Mills in place of Ian Harte.
Has to be worth mentioning that Gorkss is a cracking signing for the Royals.
And today will give us a first glimpse of goal machine 'Alfie' Le Fondre. Can he step up to Championship level?
2.50pm. Firstly, apoologies if you've been clicking on the 'live' icon on the home page.
There seems to be a problem which we hope to rectify.
In the meantime, please keep using this for live updates.
Teams to follow.........
Welcome to the Madejski Stadium for live coverage of today's Championship clash between Royals and Watford.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 10 Sep 11
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