Saturday August 18, 2012 Day 1 Finished Madejski Stadium

Reading 1 - 1 Stoke City

  • Le Fondre 90’ (pen.)
  • Kightly 34’

23 comments | Write your comment

  1. Reading peg back Stoke

    Reading peg back Stoke

    A late penalty from Adam Le Fondre earned Reading a 1-1 draw with Stoke City in the Premier League at the Madejski Stadium. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Reading
    • Stoke City
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • 95' That's it! Reading hit back to earn a draw thanks to Le Fondre's late penalty. It wasn't a classic but there were some good performances in there from both teams.
    • 94' Reading are pushing for a winner here. It's been all them the last 10 minutes.
    • 92' Harte's free-kick curls inches over the bar. So close to a Reading winner!
    • 91' Shawcross is booked for clattering Guthrie on the edge of the area.
    • 90' Begovic got his hand on it but couldn't keep it out. There will be five minutes of injury time.
    • 89' GOAL! READING 1-1 STOKE. Le Fondre calmly strokes his penalty into the bottom right corner.
    • 88' Penalty to Reading! Whitehead is sent off after bringing down McCleary in the area.
    • 86' Can Reading muster one last effort. It seems unlikely.
    • 84' £8 million man Wilson Palacios replaces Whelan. The Honduran owes Pulis a good season.
    • 83' Reading look to build ahead of one last push but they have not been able to penetrate the formidable Stoke centre-back duo.
    • 81' Hunt's cross is hacked away by Huth who has been peerless today.
    • 80' Rory Delap replaces Etherington in another Stoke change.
    • 79' Walters heads out a McAnuff cross for a corner but it comes to nothing as Shawcross is impeded in the box.
    • 78' Stoke look likely to see this game out, but there are still 12 minutes left.
    • 76' Noel Hunt comes on to replace Pogrebnyak for Reading. A goaless debut for Pog.
    • 75' Crouch heads down Wilson's long ball into the box but Reading clear.
    • 74' Cameron Jerome comes on for Kightly who will be pleased with his debut.
    • 73' McCleary's ball is a little heavy for Le Fondre. The sub has made an impact.
    • 71' Leigertwood gets a yellwo card for a couple of little kicks on Whelan.
    • 70' Pogrebnyak is looking more of a threat and Begovic has to be on his mettle to hold a close-range header.
    • 69' Kightly can't keep in Whitehead's overhit pass. A second for Stoke would kill this game and they look marginally the more likely.
    • 68' Reading finally clear the ball after a goalmouth scramble.
    • 67' Le Fondre can't quite control Pogrebnyak's flick after a good ball in from McCleary.
    • 66' Robson-kanu makes way for Gareth McCleary in Reading's first change. McGleary goes over the right right, with McAnuff on the left.
    • 65' Kightly can't quite keep the ball in on the right. He's had a decent debut.
    • 64' Good ball in from McAnuff who picks out Le Fondre whose header goes over.
    • 63' Pogrebnyak wants a penalty after going down under a challenge from Huth but the ref is having none of it.
    • 62' More superb play from Walters who shows more great skill before picking out Etherington.
    • 60' Harte blasts his free-kick into a wall that didn't look 10 yards away.
    • 59' Whitehead commits a foul on Pogrebnyak and this is Ian Harte territory.
    • 57' Leigertwood gets a tackle in on Kightly. Stoke throw.
    • 56' Etherington's cross goes behind for a goal kick. Some good play from Kightly in that move.
    • 54' Wilkinson forces a corner for Stoke who are on top at the moment.
    • 52' Good defending from Gorkss as Stoke threaten again.
    • 51' Etherington drives into the box but his cross-cum-shot is cleared.
    • 49' Good possession from Reading but Le Fondre's ball drifts out for a goal kick. It's been a lively start to the second-half.
    • 48' Begovic catches a cross from Robson-Kanu. More good build up play but no end product from Reading.
    • 47' Etherington does well on the left but Crouch can't get his shot away. The big man was quiet in the first-half.
    • 46' We are off and underway in the second-half. No changes at the break.
    • 45+3' Le Fondre gets up well to head well wide as the half-time whistle goes. Stoke became more of a threat as that half went on after Reading had bossed the early stages.
    • 45+1' Guthrie swings a free-kick into the box that is comfortably caught by Begovic.
    • 45' There will be three minutes of added time.
    • 44' Walters is fouled by Gorkss who earns a booking for his troubles. Walters went down quite easily.
    • 43' McAnuff wins the ball back for Reading who will look to build before half-time.
    • 42' The game is scrappy at the moment. Too many niggly fouls.
    • 40' Huth is caught a little late by Pogrebnyak and wins a free-kick in his own half.
    • 39' Another good challenge from Huth on McAnuff. The German has played well so far.
    • 37' Le Fondre drags a tame shot across the front of goal.
    • 36' Stoke had looked more dangerous in the last 10 minutes. They have soaked up the Reading pressure and caught the home side cold.
    • 35' A goal on his debut for Kightly but that is a moment Federici will want to forget.
    • 34' GOAL! READING 0-1 STOKE. A real mess at the back for Reading as Kightly pounces on a loose ball in the box. His shot deflects off Gorkss and Federici fails to make a simple catch as the ball squeezes into the bottom corner!
    • 32' Walters takes the ball confidently on his chest and volleys straight at Federici. The Stoke frontman is looking a threat.
    • 31' Walters gets a glancing header on an inswinging Kightly free-kick and the ball bounces inches wide of the far post!
    • 30' Kightly runs and Gorkss who shows good strength and puts the ball out of play.
    • 29' Poor ball forward from Kightly. Walters is nowhere near getting on the end of it and Reading get the goal kick.
    • 28' Crouch heads the free-kick from Harte out of danger. They have defended well today.
    • 28' Andy Wilkinson commits another foul on the Reading left and Harte will again be given the chance to swing the ball in with that wicked left foot.
    • 27' That was the closest we have come to a goal.
    • 26' Kaspars Gorkss gets a free-header on an excellent Danny Guthrie corner and heads just over the bar!
    • 25' Good play from McAnuff whose cross into the box is headed out for a corner.
    • 24' Matthew Etherington has had a quiet game so far. He tries to take on Le Fondre who wins the goal kick for his side.
    • 22' Another dangerous delivery from Harte but Stoke manage to clear.
    • 21' Begovic is ok to continue and Federici will get play restarted with a goalkick.
    • 20' Begovic is getting some treatment after picking up a knock. Thomas Sorensen warms up on the touchline.
    • 19' Lovely turn from Walters on the edge of the box before firing a curling effort up and over the bar.
    • 18' Huth has been equal to whatever Reading have been able to put into the box so far.
    • 17' Whitehead is booked for bringing down Guthrie.
    • 16' STAT: Stoke have failed to win in their last 12 league visits to Reading, since a 1-0 victory on Boxing Day 1992.
    • 15' Marc Wilson is penalised for blocking McAnuff on the touchline. Begovic fails to catch the resulting free-kick into the box but gathers at the second attempt.
    • 13' Alex Pearce heads the ball out for a throw to Stoke. There is no Rory Delap in the Stoke side today, so Reading will not be terrorised by that long throw.
    • 12' Reading enjoying plenty of possession but without the final ball to match.
    • 11' Rather surprisingly this is Jobi McAnuff's Premier League debut.
    • 10' STAT: Reading are unbeaten in their last five league matches against Stoke, winning the last four, since a 3-0 away defeat in September 2003.
    • 9' Robert Huth shanks a long ball from Chris Gunter out of play for a Reading throw.
    • 8' Reading have started the stronger here but no real goalscoring opporunities have presented themselves so far.
    • 6' Good play from Kightly on the right but Harte takes the ball off his toes.
    • 5' Ian Harte's free-kick eludes the pack and goes out for a throw. Not a bad delivery though.
    • 5' Dean Whitehead commits a foul on Adam le Fondre and Reading have a free-kick that they can swing into the danger zone.
    • 4' Jonathan Walters tries to lay the ball off to Michael Kightly but the ball goes out for another throw.
    • 3' Adam Federici takes a free-kick in his own half and pumps the ball long into the Stoke half. Hal Robson-Kanu can't control and Stoke have a throw.
    • 2' Disappointingly there are a few empty seats at the Madejski Stadium in Reading’s first game back in the Premier League.
    • 1' We are off and under way. Premier League football is back!
    • 14:55 If you want to discuss the game on Twitter, I'll try and be as active as I can. @StewartCoggin
    • 14:50 The clubs will meet in the top-flight for the first time today. The last time they met, Stoke beat Reading 4-3 on penalties in a League Cup third round tie after a 2-2 draw in 2008.
    • 14:45 Stoke boss Tony Pulis on the club’s chances of signing Michael Owen: “It's still a possibility. There's still stuff happening and going on. Whether we can do a deal or not is another matter."
    • 14:40 Reading have had a sluggish pre-season but manager Brian McDermott says he is not concerned: “Difficult? After last pre-season? It's been a breeze, when you consider what happened last season, losing players, losing the play-off final. We've had the opportunity to add six senior players to the squad and two younger players. So, we're really happy with that."
    • 14:35 There are few surprises in the Reading line-up with Chris Gunter, Danny Guthrie and Pavel Pogrebnyak all handed debuts. Stoke manager Tony Pulis gives Michael Kightly his debut while Robert Huth also starts after he recovered from viral meningitis. Both sides will line up in a 4-4-2 formation.
    • 14:30 READING: Federici; Gunter, Harte, Gorkss, Pearce; Guthrie, Leigertwood, McAnuff, Robson-Kanu; Le Fondre, Pogrebnyak. Subs: McCarthy, Cummings, Mariappa, Tabb, McCleary, Church, Hunt. /// STOKE CITY: Begovic; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson; Kightly, Whelan, Whitehead, Etherington; Walters, Crouch. Subs: Sorensen, Jones, Ness, Delap, Shotton, Jerome, Palacios.
    • 14:25 In many ways Stoke provide the perfect blueprint of what Reading are trying to achieve as they look to consolidate their Premier League status. The Royals have strengthened their squad by signing the likes of Pavel Pogrebnyak, Danny Guthrie and Chris Gunter and enter the campaign with all the forward momentum of their terrific end to last season.
    • 14:20 An excellent second half to last season saw Reading win the Championship and secure automatic promotion.
    • 14:15 Welcome to our LIVE coverage of Stoke City’s trip to the Madejski Stadium to face Reading.

  • Summary

    • 92' Harte's free-kick curls inches over the bar. So close to a Reading winner!
    • 89' GOAL! READING 1-1 STOKE. Le Fondre calmly strokes his penalty into the bottom right corner.
    • 88' Penalty to Reading! Whitehead is sent off after bringing down McCleary in the area.
    • 70' Pogrebnyak is looking more of a threat and Begovic has to be on his mettle to hold a close-range header.
    • 64' Good ball in from McAnuff who picks out Le Fondre whose header goes over.
    • 34' GOAL! READING 0-1 STOKE. A real mess at the back for Reading as Kightly pounces on a loose ball in the box. His shot deflects off Gorkss and Federici fails to make a simple catch as the ball squeezes into the bottom corner!
    • 32' Walters takes the ball confidently on his chest and volleys straight at Federici. The Stoke frontman is looking a threat.
    • 31' Walters gets a glancing header on an inswinging Kightly free-kick and the ball bounces inches wide of the far post!
    • 26' Kaspars Gorkss gets a free-header on an excellent Danny Guthrie corner and heads just over the bar!
    • 19' Lovely turn from Walters on the edge of the box before firing a curling effort up and over the bar.
    • 15' Marc Wilson is penalised for blocking McAnuff on the touchline. Begovic fails to catch the resulting free-kick into the box but gathers at the second attempt.
    • 14:30 READING: Federici; Gunter, Harte, Gorkss, Pearce; Guthrie, Leigertwood, McAnuff, Robson-Kanu; Le Fondre, Pogrebnyak. Subs: McCarthy, Cummings, Mariappa, Tabb, McCleary, Church, Hunt. /// STOKE CITY: Begovic; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson; Kightly, Whelan, Whitehead, Etherington; Walters, Crouch. Subs: Sorensen, Jones, Ness, Delap, Shotton, Jerome, Palacios.
    • 14:15 Welcome to our LIVE coverage of Stoke City’s trip to the Madejski Stadium to face Reading.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      4.8 4
      Defenders
      6.3 5
      Yellow Card 5.8 6
      5.3 6
      6.3 7
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 7 6
      6.3 7
      6 6
      Substitution Out67′ 5.7 6
      Strikers
      Yellow Card Substitution Out77′ 6.8 6
      Goal 6 7
      Subs
      Substitution In67′ 8 7
      Substitution In77′ 6 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      Yellow Card 7.2 6
      Defenders
      6.4 6
      7.8 8
      Yellow Card 7 7
      7.4 6
      Midfielders
      Red Card 5.7 5
      Substitution Out85′ 6.3 6
      Goal Substitution Out75′ 7.4 7
      Yellow Card Substitution Out80′ 7 6
      Strikers
      6.8 8
      6.4 5
      Subs
      Substitution In80′ 6 6
      Substitution In75′ 7 6
      Substitution In85′ 8.5 6

Comment 3 - 23 of 23

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  1. Who is Gunter? What a load of rubbish.

    From Fender, on Tue 21 Aug 11:49

  2. Come on you potters. Once again couldnt close off­ the game and not scoring enough..........we need to­ pick up these points if we are to be the club we really­ should be.....top 10 every year!!!!

    From , on Mon 20 Aug 7:44

  3. McCleary is a must to start games.

    From THOMAS, on Sat 18 Aug 21:24

  4. One game into the season and we have people talking­ about relegation. Liverpool are the only ones who­ should worry about relegation at this stage.

    From Aaron, on Sat 18 Aug 18:32

  5. Well Done reading ... I just dont know what to say­ ..............................

    From stokey11111, on Sat 18 Aug 16:58

  6. Same old .. same old ... The ref knew what he was­ doing , the timing of the pen and what it means .. what­ a ******** muppet !!

    From stokey11111, on Sat 18 Aug 16:52

  7. no way !!!!!

    From stokey11111, on Sat 18 Aug 16:48

  8. no

    From stokey11111, on Sat 18 Aug 16:48

  9. Well done Kightly , fantastic start , fantasatic­ signing... Come on you POTTERS !!!!!

    From stokey11111, on Sat 18 Aug 16:35

  10. come on stoke, yes

    From stoke1waza, on Sat 18 Aug 15:41

  11. come on stoke, yes

    From stoke1waza, on Sat 18 Aug 15:40

  12. If we cant beat Reading, we are going down this year

    From PAUL, on Sat 18 Aug 15:31

  13. come on u reading

    From JOHN, on Sat 18 Aug 15:29

  14. first game of the season, cant wait, good luck boys,­ look forward to watchin, Luv you Tony P. fantastic­ manager. Annette

    From ANNETTE, on Sat 18 Aug 8:20

  15. Lets put out a great game for both fans today Stoke.­ Reading are back and we can welcome them back with open­ goals or show them and the rest of the football world­ we mean business this year. A new season, and a few­ great signings for us should add a little flare to our­ squad and something i'm eager to see. COME ON YOU­ MIGHTY POTTERS !!!.

    From stokey11111, on Fri 17 Aug 21:09
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    both teams are suck!

    From Pdos, on Fri 17 Aug 11:32

  17. John. We may not play very well but by jolly we enjoy­ ourselves and have a tipple or two afterwards.

    From Winston-Smythe, on Fri 27 Jul 16:10

  18. We played very well last season staying 8th but then a­ little drop. This time lets finish 8th or higher up the­ table. SO COME ON YOU MIGHTY MIGHTY POTTERS!!!!

    From Karen, on Thu 26 Jul 8:46

  19. These are the hardest games for Stoke. We just never­ seem motivated. Look what happened against Swansea,­ Norwich, Bolton, Wigan and West Brom last season.

    From Aaron, on Sun 8 Jul 22:08

  20. Welcome to the Premier League Reading: Now Stoke give­ this new EPL new blood a good lesson in losing. Stoke­ City 3 - 0 Reading

    From A Yahoo! user, on Sun 1 Jul 21:12
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