Reading and Middlesbrough serve up draw

Reading chalked up their second draw of the season and their first point since October 27th in a 1-1 draw at home to Middlesbrough.

Reading would not have been disappointed to see the back of November. In the eleventh month, Reading added no points to their precarious and of course unlucky total of thirteen. A Monday night home defeat at the hands of league leaders Arsenal was sandwiched between two defeats on the road at Fulham and Manchester City. The visit of Middlesbrough to the Madejski Stadium gave Reading their first point since the end of October following a 1-1 draw with the Teesiders. However it is hard to not feel disappointed that the draw wasn’t a victory.

Steve Coppell issued a mantra in the post match press conference, when he rightly surmised that every point in the Premier League was precious. The precious point should have been three, especially after Reading still held a 1-0 lead going into the final seven minutes. Dave Kitson had given Reading the lead in the 54th minute with a magnificent lob that cleared Ross Turnbull in the Middlesbrough goal and looped into the net.

Kitson’s goal coming shortly after half time, was in response to a first half that had produced little. The visitors had the best chance in the first period when Jeremie Aliadeiere shot forced Marcus Hahnemann into pushing the ball wide of the goal. Adam Johnson followed up by placing the ball though Hahnemann’s legs only to see the ball strike a post and land in the grateful arms of the Reading goalkeeper.

Reading wanted to grab further goals but was unable to find the decisive formula to kill the game. Kevin Doyle tried a run and shot but only succeeded in putting the ball wide of the target. Kitson could have got a second from a Nicky Shorey free kick but directed a powerful header over the crossbar. Reading were carving out limited opportunities, but were weary of the threat posed by the visiting team who were beginning to play on the break with patience and purpose. Aliadere and Johnson were certainly finding dangerous positions on the flanks.

At the same time, the tension and pressure of the game was starting to spill over. Jonathan Woodgate and Stephen Hunt became tangled, leading to a melee in the corner of the pitch below the PA box. The bad tempered atmosphere also got to Hahnemann and Ibrahima Sonko who took part in a furious row just moments after the first bout, following a defensive mix-up between goal-keeper and central defender. Reading were doing all they could to keep their heads, but so too were Middlesbrough.

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate made two changes and took off Woodgate and Dong Gook Lee, replacing them with Robert Huth and Tuncay Sanli. The substitutions proved inspired. Sanli headed the equaliser past Hahnemann after he connected with Luke Young’s cross from the right wing. Middlesbrough had got a draw, with Reading’s disappointment tangible in the early December air.

A draw at home may be seen as disappointing, especially as Middlesbrough have slipped into the bottom three after the results around the country went against them. However, to get a point following three defeats is a lot better than another loss. Reading is getting goals over all and with Dave Kitson and Kevin Doyle looking a decent partnership all is not loss. The Reading side may lack a touch of confidence, but do not lack spirit. The results will come and the corner will be turned. Patience and common sense are required to do so. In Steve Coppell Reading have nobody better to deliver such qualities.

By Stuart Croucher.