End of year thriller at the Lane

Just when you thought you'd seen it all in 2007, another bizarre unforgettable match involving Reading makes you think otherwise!

Not for the first time this season Reading scored four away goals, but still ended up going home with no points. However, the game at White Hart Lane was even harder for Reading fans to fathom because the Royals held the lead on three occasions, but still ended up losing. In a stunning game Reading rounded off 2007 – arguably the most successful and significant in the club’s 136 year history – in entertaining, but ultimately frustrating fashion. All in all the two sides shared ten goals in a 6-4 score-line.

It all started so quietly in the first half with Tottenham taking the lead through Dimitar Berbatov in the 7th minute when Robbie Keane crossed in for the Bulgarian to slot home from close range. Keane may have been a little offside, but if he was it was marginal. Reading struck back through Kalifa Cisse who cashed in on a Paul Robinson blunder after the England goalkeeper could only punch a Nicky Shorey free kick straight to Cisse’s feet. Keane had one further chance in the first half, but was inches away from a Berbatov cross. That was it for goals in the first half. Then eight turned up in the second.

Dave Kitson could have continued the scoring shortly after half time, but had a shot blocked inside the box by Pascal Chimbonda. From the resultant corner Ivar Ingimarrsson got his second goal in three games flicking the ball past Robinson for 2-1. Reading then should have put the game out of sight. Dave Kitson was free in the box, but was thwarted by Robinson’s unorthodox feet first dive. Robinson denied Kitson moments later this time with a more conventional hand first dive at the feet of the Reading striker. Robinson then rescued Tottenham for a third time when Stephen Hunt’s shot was struck straight at the Tottenham goalkeeper.

With Reading spurning three great chances to seal the game Tottenham sensed that they had been given a lifeline and they took it. Berbatov smashed home from inside the Reading penalty area after Graeme Murty’s clearance went straight to the Bulgarian. Reading though was not to be brushed aside. Dave Kitson finally got the goal he so craved against the team he supported as a boy. Nicky Shorey delivered a corner to the near post and Kitson rose at a near impossible angle to head the ball into the net and give Reading the lead for the second time.

That lead would only last four minutes. Dimitar Berbatov completed his hat trick in the 73rd minute after Chimbonda’s header had been put onto the Bulgarian’s foot. However, Tottenham were only level for a minute when Dave Kitson showed real defiance to dink the ball over Paul Robinson to give Reading the lead for the third time. Kitson must have also enhanced his England claims; the Reading fans rightly believe that to be the case with the deserved chant of Kinston for England. However, like Tottenham Reading could not cling onto the lead. Within a minute Steed Malbranque had skipped inside a penalty box full of defenders and levelled things up for 4-4.

Then came controversy. Robbie Keane appeared to have been pulled down by Ibrahima Sonko and a penalty was awarded. When Keane strode up to strike the penalty Jermaine Defoe appeared to be encroaching and referee Keith Stroud should have made Keane retake the spot kick. Keane, who missed a spot kick a week ago at Arsenal, also missed this one. Or rather Marcus Hahnemann saved it. Defoe headed home the rebound, but questions were rightly asked by Reading fans as to Defoe’s position as the penalty was being taken.

With the score at 5-4, Reading believed that a draw was still possible. Indeed a tenth goal did come along at White Hart Lane, however it went to the home side in the 83rd minute. Berbatov, the scourge of the Reading defence got a fourth goal to seal the game for Tottenham. Reading were left empty handed again, but perhaps all is not lost.

The wacky score-line comes just days before Portsmouth (dare I mention the score-line from Reading’s away game against Harry Redknapp’s team) visit the Madejski Stadium. Reading felt hard done by at Fratton Park in September but did not hold the lead once in that game. At White Hart Lane they held it three times and deserved at least a point. Hopefully with that feeling of disappointment still very fresh in their minds come New Year’s Day they can turn this negative into a positive.

And one other footnote, Tottenham and Reading face each other in the FA Cup next Saturday, again at White Hart Lane, what price a 0-0 draw?

By Stuart Croucher.