Kitson outshines Owen

All the talk prior to Reading’s home game with Newcastle United was whether England star Michael Owen would start his first game since injuring himself in the World Cup last summer. A sultry summer’s evening awaited the two sides and the Owen name was indeed one of the names in the starting line up. Due respect was also shown for World Cup legend Alan Ball with a brilliantly observed period of applause by the Madejski Stadium crowd. Then it was down to the game in hand.

Michael Owen so nearly signed on with a dream comeback inside the first minute, when he stretched to deflect the ball goal-wards. Owen was on side but the ball raced wide of the goal. Seven minutes later Owen had the ball in the net after Obafemi Martins passed through to Owen inside the box, but the flag was up for offside. Owen must have felt somewhat aggrieved, but so did Reading moments later when Kevin Doyle was up-ended in the penalty box by Titus Bramble. Referee Mike Riley waved away the Reading protest. Doyle could have scored soon after but curled a shot wide. Michael Duberry also blasted a shot over the bar from a corner soon after Doyle’s effort.

The game seemed to have sobered up after its frantic opening, however as the first half neared its climax, the away side looked more likely to break the deadlock. James Milner’s shot ten minutes from the end of the first half was not far off the goal as it winged its way wide. Kieron Dyer was unfortunate not to score from a well-worked Newcastle free kick, but Marcus Hahnemann had all the luck as he deflected Dyer’s shot. Neither side was able to capitalise on any chances and the score was 0-0 at the break.

The score of nil nil lasted just seven minutes in the second half. Dave Kitson pulled down a cross from Seol Ki Hyeon following a clever dummy by John Oster and neatly shot past Steve Harper to give Reading the lead. The goal was an obvious realise of tension for the Reading number 12, it was his first goal since the opening day of the season. Kitson’s celebration was a clear illustration of Kitson’s relief. Kitson ran to the crowd who pulled him in with a bear hug like motion. The referee may not have approved of Kitson’s approach to the crowd but after Kitson’s trials and tribulations with injury this season, the referee surely must have understood the emotion that was emanating from the Reading striker.

Kitson could have got a second eleven minutes later when he was set free by Kevin Doyle only to shoot wide. Newcastle missed two easy headers to draw level first from Shola Ameola and then from Martins. Reading though held firm and despite a chaotic last minute substitution that caused confusion among the officials when James Harper replaced Brynjar Gunnarsson, Reading were able to see out the five minutes injury time and go back up to seventh in the table.

By Stuart Croucher