Match Report
| Oxford United | Oxford United |  |  | Reading | Reading | ||||||||||||||||
| Computer Player | Computer Player | Computer Player | Computer Player | ||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Patterson | M. Patterson |  | 66 | G |  |  | 1 | | G | 62 | | Anthony Dublin | A. Dublin | ||||||||
| Jon Rufus | J. Rufus | | 67 | D |  | 2 |  | D | 50 | | James Andrews | J. Andrews | |||||||||
| Kevin Croft | K. Croft | | 47 | D | | 3 | | D | 48 | | Gareth Robson | G. Robson | |||||||||
| Dale Ince | D. Ince | | 45 | D | | 4 | | D | 48 | | Neil Lua-Lua | N. Lua-Lua | |||||||||
| Dean Keane | D. Keane | | 45 | D | | 5 | | D | 45 | | Richard Sinclair | R. Sinclair | |||||||||
| Chris Mcleod | C. Mcleod | | 61 | M | | 6 | | | M | 59 |  | Rodrigo Castro | R. Castro | ||||||||
| Syd Swift | S. Swift | | 61 | M | | 7 | | M | 54 | | Teddy Rodgers | T. Rodgers | |||||||||
| Gary Brand | G. Brand | | 59 | M | | 8 | | M | 51 | | Nicky Cottee | N. Cottee | |||||||||
| Anthony Merson | A. Merson | | 58 | A | | 9 | | A | 56 | | John Neville | J. Neville | |||||||||
| Jonas Röhlig | J. Röhlig |  | 52 | A | | 10 | | A | 54 | | Robert Edworthy | R. Edworthy | |||||||||
| Billy Booth | B. Booth |  | 50 | A | | 11 | | A | 52 | | Neil McManaman | N. McManaman | |||||||||
| James Howells | J. Howells | | 51 | M | | 12 | | A | 52 | | Kemal Bloomer | K. Bloomer | |||||||||
| Gilles Formon | G. Formon | | 49 | A | | 13 | | A | 48 | | Warren Vernazza | W. Vernazza | |||||||||
| Dietmar Jahn | D. Jahn | | 49 | G | | 14 | | M | 45 | | Billy Izzet | B. Izzet | |||||||||
 today's match is sponsored by SkateUK |
Match Report
It is a thoroughly wet and miserable day here at Kassam Stadium where Oxford United play host to Reading. A crowd of 4,608 fill this 5,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Both Oxford United and Reading are lined up in a 4-3-3 formation.
Today's match is refereed by Brian Standing.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Both Oxford United and Reading are lined up in a 4-3-3 formation.
Today's match is refereed by Brian Standing.
0.00
0-0The whistle blows and Reading get the match underway!
2.15
0-0With some swift thinking, Rodrigo Castro plays the ball forward to Neil McManaman. Neil McManaman knocks in a cross ball towards John Neville. John Neville heads the ball goalwards. The keeper is on top of it. Quality keeping!
4.12
With imagination, Chris Mcleod laces a through ball forward to Jonas Röhlig. Jonas Röhlig lofts in a cross ball towards Anthony Merson. Anthony Merson rises majestically and gets a header on goal. Anthony Dublin didn't know what hit him as the ball comes off him at close range. The loose ball is scrambled clear by the defence.
6.35
0-0Seeing a gap ahead, Neil Lua-Lua plays the ball forward to Nicky Cottee. With imagination, Nicky Cottee plays the ball forward to John Neville. John Neville knocks in a cross ball towards Robert Edworthy. With a superhuman jump, Robert Edworthy connects with the ball and heads it goalwards. It's miles wide!
8.44
0-0Nicky Cottee deftly passes the ball to his team mate, John Neville. John Neville knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
10.03
0-1Gareth Robson knocks the ball forward to Teddy Rodgers. Teddy Rodgers deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Neil McManaman. Neil McManaman lofts in a cross ball towards John Neville. John Neville makes a convincing header. It's in!! A beautiful goal for John Neville!
14.01
Gareth Robson takes it forward alone. Gareth Robson surges forward with the ball. Gareth Robson knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
20.19
Nicky Cottee controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Neil McManaman. Neil McManaman threads a neat, attacking ball through to Robert Edworthy. Robert Edworthy shoots from just inside the box. The ball swerves in the air but the keeper is more than a match for it. Fabulous stop!
21.25
Kevin Croft threads a neat ball through to Chris Mcleod. Chris Mcleod decides to run forward with the ball. Chris Mcleod knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
22.24
Rodrigo Castro flicks a high pass forward. Neil McManaman holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Neil McManaman knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
24.44
Nicky Cottee takes it forward alone. Nicky Cottee shoots from outside the area. The ball dips but the keeper is on top of it. Nice save!
28.03
Chris Mcleod plays the ball forward to Jonas Röhlig. Jonas Röhlig knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
32.50
0-1Dale Ince sees Gary Brand in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Gary Brand threads a neat ball through to Jonas Röhlig. Jonas Röhlig knocks the ball beyond the defensive line but Billy Booth is offside!
38.37
Chris Mcleod flicks a high pass forward. Billy Booth collects the pass. Billy Booth makes a simple pass, allowing Anthony Merson to run into the box. Anthony Merson shoots from just inside the box. Anthony Merson scores for Oxford United!!
44.22
Nicky Cottee takes it forward alone. Nicky Cottee lofts in a cross ball towards Neil McManaman. Neil McManaman beats his man to it with a header. It's there!! Michael Patterson has to pick the ball from the back of the net!
45.00
The referee whistles the end of the first half!
Both teams emerge for the second half. Oxford United appear unchanged since the first half. Reading also appear unchanged since the first half. The Oxford United players look more determined than they did at the start of the game.
45.00
Oxford United kick off!
48.30
Neil Lua-Lua flicks the ball to his team mate, Rodrigo Castro. Rodrigo Castro flicks a high pass forward. Neil McManaman holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Neil McManaman knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Dale Ince.
51.09
Teddy Rodgers flicks a high pass forward. John Neville collects the pass. John Neville sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal. Magnificent save by Michael Patterson!
53.08
Nicky Cottee sees space and advances. Nicky Cottee shoots from 25 yards. The ball comes in low, but Michael Patterson smothers it!
54.48
Rodrigo Castro knocks the ball to his team mate, John Neville. John Neville shoots from 20 yards but slams it into the crowd!
55.54
Teddy Rodgers knocks the ball to his team mate, John Neville. John Neville plays a quick one-two with Robert Edworthy and rushes in on goal... John Neville shoots from just inside the box but couldn't keep it down. It goes high into the crowd!
63.51
Neil Lua-Lua makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Teddy Rodgers. Teddy Rodgers flicks a high ball forward to Neil McManaman who takes it down. Neil McManaman knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
67.29
Neil Lua-Lua flicks a high pass forward. Rodrigo Castro controls it well on his chest. Rodrigo Castro threads a neat ball through to Neil McManaman. Neil McManaman knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Dale Ince.
77.31
1-2Oxford United have made 3 substitutions with James Howells replacing Jon Rufus, Gilles Formon replacing Anthony Merson and Dietmar Jahn replacing Gary Brand .
78.39
Rodrigo Castro hits a low pass to Robert Edworthy. Robert Edworthy knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
87.31
Chris Mcleod makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Jonas Röhlig. Jonas Röhlig knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Gareth Robson.
90.00
The whistle blows full-time!
Match Statistics
Goals
1
2
Shots on Target
2
7
Shots off Target
0
3
Offsides
1
0
Fouls
0
0
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0
Possession
30.2%
69.8%
Play Area
27.9%
48.8%
23.3%
Scorers
Man of the Match
| The man of the match was awarded to Nicky Cottee of Reading |
Match Ratings
| 1. | Michael Patterson (GK) | 7 | |
| 2. | Jon Rufus (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Kevin Croft (DEF) | 6 | |
| 4. | Dale Ince (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Dean Keane (DEF) | 6 | |
| 6. | Chris Mcleod (MID) | 7 | |
| 7. | Syd Swift (MID) | 6 | |
| 8. | Gary Brand (MID) | 6 | |
| 9. | Anthony Merson (ATT) |  | 7 |
| 10. | Jonas Röhlig (ATT) | 6 | |
| 11. | Billy Booth (ATT) | 6 | |
| 12. | James Howells (MID) | 6 | |
| 13. | Gilles Formon (ATT) | 6 | |
| 14. | Dietmar Jahn (GK) | 6 | |
| 1. | Anthony Dublin (GK) | 6 | |
| 2. | James Andrews (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Gareth Robson (DEF) | 7 | |
| 4. | Neil Lua-Lua (DEF) | 7 | |
| 5. | Richard Sinclair (DEF) | 6 | |
| 6. | Rodrigo Castro (MID) | 7 | |
| 7. | Teddy Rodgers (MID) | 6 | |
| 8. | Nicky Cottee (MID) | 9 | |
| 9. | John Neville (ATT) | | 8 |
| 10. | Robert Edworthy (ATT) | 6 | |
| 11. | Neil McManaman (ATT) | | 9 |
| 12. | Kemal Bloomer (ATT) | 0 | |
| 13. | Warren Vernazza (ATT) | 0 | |
| 14. | Billy Izzet (MID) | 0 | |