FOOTBALL Live

Friday January 9, 2009 Finished

4 - 0

Reading

  • Armstrong 39’
  • Hunt 67’
  • Doyle 68’
  • Lita 88’

Watford

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Reading
    • Watford
    • 90'+2 The late goal has pepped up the home side, who are lively to the end now... but then the whistle goes to put Watford out of their bitter misery. Many thanks for joining us tonight, and we'll see you next time.
    • 89' GOAL FOR READING!! This marking is getting embarassing now, Lita had literally 15 yards space on either side as he picks up a pass from Armstrong. With no defender in sight and only the keeper to beat from 30 yards out, he dribbles to draw Loach before thumping the shot past the Watford keeper.
    • 86' Great shot from Ingimarsson for Reading - very well saved by Loach. That could - maybe should - have been four. And from the corner Leroy Lita had a free header in 10 yards of space... but misses the target!!
    • 84' Another chance for Watford, another dithering defender, another few seconds too many for the defence to clear the danger, another missed opportunity...
    • 80' The game is fizzling out now, notwithstanding Williamson's fizzling shot for Watford which tries to limit the damage to their goal difference.
    • 76 Triple substitution from Steve Coppell, who's saving the legs of his best players. Noel Hunt, Doyle and Cisse all come off for Lita, Long and Gunarsson.
    • 71' Watford might wonder how they've dominated possession without getting anything out of this match so far - but it's simple. They're knocking the ball around among themselves effectively in the middle of the pitch - as you might expect with an extra midfielder - but they have been awful at turning possession into genuine chances.
    • 68' READING SCORE AGAIN!!! Winning the ball from the re-start Noel Hunt runs up the right, delivers a testing cross which is ineptly dealt with by the Watford defence, and Kevin Doyle is on hand to pop in to an open goal from all of three yards. That's it now - three goals, and three points secure.
    • 67' Penalty shout for Watford, but it's clear ball-to-hand - Reading run up the other end for their first clearcut attempt all this half - AND IT'S A GOAL!!! The ball falls to Noel Hunt on the edge of the six-yard box with his back turned to goal, from where he spins on the spot and volleys in an unstoppable finish!
    • 63' Watford come up again - you really feel that they could nick an equaliser here, but it'll need a lapse in concentration from one of they Royals' defenders.
    • 61' Definite half-chance for Watford as a floating free kick in finds centre-back Jay DeMerit on the edge of the six-yard box, but the American's header is off-target.
    • 58' Reading come back on the attack, but there's a slight listlessness to them as Noel Hunt's cracks in a cross that hits the side netting. Don't get me wrong, on the ball they're all full of energy, it's just off the ball that it looks like there's a few January hangovers out there.
    • 55' An injury for Watford's midfield pivot man Jenkins, who doesn't look good and is getting treatment off the pitch.
    • 52' Reading finally make a half-chance which Stephen Hunt hits well - but a good save from Loach!
    • 50' Lots of to-and-fro in the middle of the park with neither side building any decent chances the past few minutes...
    • 47' Early chance for Reading, with lots of pushing and pulling in the box as Kebe just can't reach to nod in a near-certain goal. Penalty? An impossible shout for the ref to make, he'd have needed to be riding one of the players piggy back to make a call on a marginal one like that.
    • 46' Back in action here, and Watford look like they'll be pressing for an equaliser.
    • 45'+1 Half-time sounds after a quiet 45 minutes of football. The home fans will be happy, the visiting fans happy that they didn't have to travel far.
    • 43' It's been a good return for Reading after some disappointing football this half - that finish was great though. Watford have made a few chances but are not in the same league as their hosts when it comes to turning possession into chances.
    • 40' Watford run up the other end from the restart and Jobi McAnuff comes close with another long-range strike. Great save from Federici.
    • 38' GOAL FOR READING!!!! Commentator's blessing there: a goalmouth scramble isn't cleared by Watford, and after 10 or 12 juggles between the teams Stephen Hunt finally puts a lovely pass to Chris Armstong on the left side of the box, who hits a staggeringly lovely volley that clatters in off the near post.
    • 36' Reading keep biting off a bit more than they can chew tonight, with final balls never quite sharp enough to do their work.
    • 32' Good effort from Jobi McAnuff, the Watford winger firing in a shot that catches a neat deflection and could have opened the scoring if it hadn't just gone over.
    • 28' A lull in the action here at the Madjajdjejeskjyi Stadium gives us a chance to congratulate the eponymous stadium owner and club chairman of Reading, who was recently knighted for services to charity. The home fans gave him a generous reception as he took his seat tonight.
    • 24' First decent chance of the match for Watford, who find space on the left - and Smith's headed effort prompts a good diving save from Federici between the Reading sticks.
    • 23' One of the great sliced shots of the ages there from Stephen Hunt, who takes a pot shot from the edge of the box that loops and spins so badly that it actually finishes further back up the park than he was when he hit it - actually it turns out to be a fairly useful pass to his namesake Noel Hunt on the wing, but the move fizzles out.
    • 19' GREAT CHANCE FOR READING! A lovely, jinking run from Doyle ends with a low, hard shot back across the goal that's well-saved by Scott Loach. Best chance of the match so far.
    • 15' Reading finally get into the top third of the pitch and win a throw at the corner flag.
    • 13' Reading get back into the box and Noel Hunt wins a corner as his angled shot is blocked off the pitch. Doyle gets to it first but heads it off for a goal kick.
    • 10' After their early wobbles Watford get back into the game now, and are hanging on to the ball well. Shame it's only in the middle of the pitch...
    • 8' Reading's Stephen Hunt makes himself a bit of space - with some help from Doyle's distracting run - but takes one touch too many before shooting and it's an easy save for Loach in the Watford goal.
    • 5' Classic English politeness there, as Watford offer their hosts a free goal courtesy of Jay DeMerit's complete miss of the ball as he tries to clear... but Noel Hunt is far too polite to take advantage, and almost trips himself up as he shoots.
    • 3' First corner of the match to Reading, and Stephen Hunt whips it in only for Kevin Doyle to head miles over.
    • 1' There's a minute's silence for Roy Tranter, a former Director and Vice President of Reading, and then Andy D'Urso blows the whistle to get things under way.
    • - Welcome to our LIVE coverage of Reading against Watford! Reading are flying in the Championship this season, and the return of striker Kevin Doyle should boost them tonight. Watford, by contrast, are struggling this term and are looking nervously behind them at the drop zone.

  • Summary

    • 89' GOAL FOR READING!! This marking is getting embarassing now, Lita had literally 15 yards space on either side as he picks up a pass from Armstrong. With no defender in sight and only the keeper to beat from 30 yards out, he dribbles to draw Loach before thumping the shot past the Watford keeper.
    • 86' Great shot from Ingimarsson for Reading - very well saved by Loach. That could - maybe should - have been four. And from the corner Leroy Lita had a free header in 10 yards of space... but misses the target!!
    • 68' READING SCORE AGAIN!!! Winning the ball from the re-start Noel Hunt runs up the right, delivers a testing cross which is ineptly dealt with by the Watford defence, and Kevin Doyle is on hand to pop in to an open goal from all of three yards. That's it now - three goals, and three points secure.
    • 67' Penalty shout for Watford, but it's clear ball-to-hand - Reading run up the other end for their first clearcut attempt all this half - AND IT'S A GOAL!!! The ball falls to Noel Hunt on the edge of the six-yard box with his back turned to goal, from where he spins on the spot and volleys in an unstoppable finish!
    • 40' Watford run up the other end from the restart and Jobi McAnuff comes close with another long-range strike. Great save from Federici.
    • 38' GOAL FOR READING!!!! Commentator's blessing there: a goalmouth scramble isn't cleared by Watford, and after 10 or 12 juggles between the teams Stephen Hunt finally puts a lovely pass to Chris Armstong on the left side of the box, who hits a staggeringly lovely volley that clatters in off the near post.
    • 32' Good effort from Jobi McAnuff, the Watford winger firing in a shot that catches a neat deflection and could have opened the scoring if it hadn't just gone over.
    • 24' First decent chance of the match for Watford, who find space on the left - and Smith's headed effort prompts a good diving save from Federici between the Reading sticks.
    • 19' GREAT CHANCE FOR READING! A lovely, jinking run from Doyle ends with a low, hard shot back across the goal that's well-saved by Scott Loach. Best chance of the match so far.

Live Team Line-Up

  • Referee: Andy D'Urso

  • Reading

    Manager: Steve Coppell

    Starting line-up

    • A. Federici
    • L. Rosenior
    • M. Duberry
    • I. Ingimarsson
    • C. Armstrong Goal
    • J. Kebe
    • K. Cisse Substitution Out (78′)
    • J. Harper
    • N. Hunt Goal Substitution Out (76′)
    • K. Doyle Goal Substitution Out (76′)
    • S. Hunt

    Subs

    • B. Gunnarsson Substitution In78′
    • L. Lita Substitution In76′ Goal
    • S. Long Substitution In76′
    • M. Matejovsky
    • M. Andersen

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Watford

    Manager: Brendan Rodgers

    Starting line-up

    • S. Loach
    • G. Hoyte
    • A. Mariappa
    • J. Demerit
    • J. Harley
    • R. Jenkins Substitution Out (65′)
    • J. Cork
    • L. Williamson
    • J. McAnuff
    • T. Priskin
    • T. Smith

    Subs

    • L. Bromby
    • G. Rasiak Substitution In65′
    • R. Lee
    • J. O'Toole
    • L. Bridcutt

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None