In a week when Brian McDermott was handed the permanent position of Reading manager it seemed somewhat ironic that McDermott’s first game without the word caretaker in his job title should be against Barnsley. The last time the two clubs met in late August, Reading triumphed 3-1 at Oakwell with mass demonstrations by Barnsley fans taking place after the match leading to the subsequent removal of Simon Davey from the Barnsley manager’s chair.
Reading’s leading goal scorer Gylfi Sigurdsson scored a late winner to send Reading marching into the last sixteen of the FA Cup. Yet again the Royals took a Premier League scalp as Burnley was sent packing from the Madejski Stadium. Reading’s caretaker manager Brian McDermott would have done his prospects of a permanent appointment no harm at all, as Reading make it into the Fifth Round of the FA Cup for only the sixth time in 85 years.
The afterglow from Reading’s magnificent victory at Anfield lasted precisely three days. Following the glorious 2-1 victory over Liverpool in Wednesday night’s FA Cup third round replay, Reading was pulled firmly back down to Earth by the Championship’s form side Nottingham Forest. The 2-1 victory for the home side left the Royals feeling empty at not being able to capitalise further on their FA Cup exploits. However Forest will readily admit that they owe their victory in no small part to their goalkeeper, Lee Camp, who put in an inspired display.
Reading's upcoming Coca-Cola Championship fixture against Newcastle United has been postponed. The game was originally set for 3pm this coming Saturday 9th January, but there is no prospect of a significant improvement in conditions between now and the weekend, so the club, along with the Football League, have taken the decision on the grounds of safety.
Stuart Roach’s investigation to find the real Steve Coppell in his book ‘On a wing and a prayer’, proved entertaining and interesting. Having read the book very quickly, I was intrigued to see behind the headlines of a career that was successful both on and off the pitch. Roach’s style jumps between Coppell’s playing and management careers, but in a fashion that does not make the reader’s head spin.
Reading and Liverpool shared a 1-1 draw in an exciting FA Cup third round match at the Madejski Stadium. Brian McDermott’s men certainly scared the daylights out of Rafael Benitez’ star studded team when Simon Church put Reading in front in the 24th minute. Liverpool levelled the scores nine minutes before the break when Stephen Gerrard hit a long-range equaliser. However, the Premier League giants were left in no doubt that they had an extremely hard game on their hands as Reading showed the mettle to lift the morale of all those cheering them on.
Coca Cola Championship
13/03/2010
Coca Cola Championship
16/03/2010
Coca Cola Championship
27/03/2010
Coca Cola Championship
05/04/2010
Coca Cola Championship
13/04/2010
