Match Report
| Blackburn Rovers | Blackburn Rovers |  |  | Reading | Reading | ||||||||||||||||
| Dimitri Bocharov | Dimitri Bocharov | Aleksandar Nikolov | Aleksandar Nikolov | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ralph Britton | R. Britton |  | 83 | G |  | 1 | | G | 79 |  | Vegard Soltvedt | V. Soltvedt | |||||||||
| Trevor Draper | T. Draper | | 77 | D |  | 2 |  | D | 68 |  | Rafael Lozano | R. Lozano | |||||||||
| Pierre-Yves Keita | P. Keita |  | 75 | D | | 3 | | D | 80 | | Adam Vassell | A. Vassell | |||||||||
| Steven Power | S. Power | | 75 | D | | 4 | | D | 76 |  | Martin Boban | M. Boban | |||||||||
| Pierre G. Tarozzi | P. Tarozzi |  | 77 | D | | 5 | | M | 85 | | Scott Mccann | S. Mccann | |||||||||
| Jamie Salmon | J. Salmon | | 84 | M | | 6 | | M | 80 | | David Lawton | D. Lawton | |||||||||
| Francis Marsden | F. Marsden | | 93 | M | | 7 | | M | 86 | | Stephen Mendez | S. Mendez | |||||||||
| Peter McManaman | P. McManaman | | 85 | M | | 8 | | M | 79 | | Ian Fenton | I. Fenton | |||||||||
| Max Peters | M. Peters | | 84 | A | | 9 | |  | A | 84 |  | Antonio Bento | A. Bento | ||||||||
| Marcos Trevino | M. Trevino |  | 80 | A | | | 10 | | A | 79 | | Helder Lopes | H. Lopes | ||||||||
| Paulo Gomes | P. Gomes | | 81 | A | | 11 | | A | 83 | | Duarte Moutinho | D. Moutinho | |||||||||
| Robert Eustace | R. Eustace | | 88 | M | | 12 | | D | 73 | | David Kirkland | D. Kirkland | |||||||||
| Tommy Deane | T. Deane | | 78 | A | | 13 | | M | 78 | | Diego Di Cara | D. Di Cara | |||||||||
| Eduardo Butragueno | E. Butragueno | | 74 | D | | 14 | | A | 78 | | John Bishop | J. Bishop | |||||||||
 today's match is sponsored by AGI |
Match Report
The sky is dark and overcast here at Ewood Park where Blackburn Rovers play host to Reading. Its a sell-out today with the 21,000 capacity stadium completely full.
The pitch is in great condition.
Blackburn Rovers are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Reading appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Ronnie Harley.
The pitch is in great condition.
Blackburn Rovers are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Reading appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Ronnie Harley.
0.00
0-0The whistle blows and Blackburn Rovers kick off!
2.56
0-0Stephen Mendez takes it forward alone. Stephen Mendez shoots from outside the area. Ralph Britton gets down and covers it.
9.11
0-0Jamie Salmon hacks Stephen Mendez from behind! Jamie Salmon is shown the yellow card! Stephen Mendez stretches but gets up unharmed.
12.03
Pierre-Yves Keita flicks a high pass forward. Francis Marsden collects the pass. Francis Marsden makes an attacking run forward. Francis Marsden sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal but Vegard Soltvedt reads it well. Excellent save!
15.53
0-0Duarte Moutinho clumsily knocks into Pierre G. Tarozzi. Duarte Moutinho is shown the yellow card! Pierre G. Tarozzi grimaces as he struggles to run off the knock.
16.08
Stephen Mendez makes a simple pass to Duarte Moutinho. Duarte Moutinho whips in a cross ball towards Helder Lopes. Helder Lopes rises majestically and gets a header on goal. The ball is well placed but the keeper is a match for it. Nice save!
18.11
0-0Pierre G. Tarozzi flicks a high pass forward. Francis Marsden controls it well on his chest. Francis Marsden shoots from 20 yards but it flies well off target!
21.09
Pierre-Yves Keita flicks a high ball forward to Max Peters who takes it down. Max Peters knocks in a cross ball towards Marcos Trevino. With a superhuman jump, Marcos Trevino connects with the ball and heads it goalwards. The keeper is on top of it. Excellent keeping!
24.53
0-0Pierre-Yves Keita flicks a high ball forward to Jamie Salmon who takes it down. Jamie Salmon advances with the ball. Jamie Salmon knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Martin Boban.
28.17
Helder Lopes flicks a high pass forward. Antonio Bento holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Antonio Bento tries a spectacular long range effort but it whistles just wide of the post!
32.27
Martin Boban flicks a high pass forward to Stephen Mendez who brings the ball under control. Stephen Mendez runs deep into the other half of the pitch. Stephen Mendez tries a spectacular long range effort. The ball curls but the keeper is able to reach it. Well saved!
33.16
With vision, Peter McManaman plays the ball forward to Jamie Salmon. Jamie Salmon lofts in a cross ball towards Max Peters. Max Peters makes a convincing header but it flies well off target!
36.26
Jamie Salmon flicks a high pass forward. Francis Marsden controls it well on his chest. Francis Marsden knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Adam Vassell.
38.31
Francis Marsden controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Paulo Gomes. Paulo Gomes knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Vegard Soltvedt who gathers it comfortably.
42.30
0-1Stephen Mendez flicks a high pass forward. David Lawton controls it well on his chest. David Lawton knocks in a cross ball towards Antonio Bento. Antonio Bento rises majestically and gets a header on goal. Ralph Britton is helpless! The ball slams into the back of the net - goal!!
45.00
The whistle indicates the end of the first half!
Both teams emerge for the second half. Blackburn Rovers appear unchanged since the first half. Reading have changed their lineup with David Kirkland replacing Rafael Lozano. Both teams look fired up and appear much more hungry than they were previously.
45.00
Reading kick off!
47.46
Adam Vassell flicks a high pass forward. Duarte Moutinho holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Duarte Moutinho shoots from 20 yards. Solid save from Ralph Britton. What a great pair of hands!
48.55
With great vision, David Lawton plays the ball forward to Helder Lopes. Helder Lopes knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Ralph Britton who gathers it comfortably.
51.59
Pierre-Yves Keita threads a neat ball through to Francis Marsden. Francis Marsden chips the ball to his team mate, Paulo Gomes. Paulo Gomes knocks in a cross ball towards Jamie Salmon. Jamie Salmon makes a deft header. Magnificent save by Vegard Soltvedt!
53.24
Showing composure, Peter McManaman plays the ball forward to Max Peters. Max Peters knocks in a cross ball towards Francis Marsden. Francis Marsden makes a convincing header. What a cracker!! Vegard Soltvedt had no chance!! Goal for Blackburn Rovers!
60.24
1-1Reading have made 2 substitutions with Diego Di Cara replacing David Lawton and John Bishop replacing Antonio Bento .
65.23
Ian Fenton knocks the ball to his team mate, Duarte Moutinho. Duarte Moutinho shoots from long range. It slams into the side netting. So close!!
69.03
Stephen Mendez controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Duarte Moutinho. Duarte Moutinho tries a spectacular long range effort but is denied by Ralph Britton. Excellent save.
75.13
Pierre-Yves Keita hits a low pass to Trevor Draper. Trevor Draper flicks a high pass forward. Jamie Salmon holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Jamie Salmon lofts in a cross ball towards Marcos Trevino. Marcos Trevino jumps high and flicks the ball with his head. Solid save from Vegard Soltvedt.
77.56
Paulo Gomes makes a probing pass to Marcos Trevino. Marcos Trevino knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
78.50
Diego Di Cara flicks a high pass forward. Helder Lopes collects the pass. Helder Lopes knocks in a cross ball towards Ian Fenton. Ian Fenton directs the ball goalwards with his head. The ball clips the underside of the bar and bounces just over the line. The fans cheer wildly!
81.20
1-2Trevor Draper flicks a high ball forward to Max Peters who takes it down. Max Peters threads the ball through to Jamie Salmon. Jamie Salmon knocks in a cross ball towards Max Peters. Martin Boban catches Max Peters on the ankles. That's got to be a penalty! No, the referee isn't even looking in that direction!!
83.53
Scott Mccann threads a neat ball through to Duarte Moutinho. Duarte Moutinho tries a spectacular long range effort but it flies just off target!
90.00
Stephen Mendez makes a beautiful solo run. Stephen Mendez shoots from outside the area. The ball clips the underside of the bar and bounces just over the line. The fans cheer wildly!
90.00
Full-time is reached with the referee blowing his whistle!
Match Statistics
Goals
1
3
Shots on Target
5
8
Shots off Target
2
3
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
1
1
Yellow Cards
1
1
Red Cards
0
0
Possession
53.5%
46.5%
Play Area
31%
46.5%
22.5%
Scorers
Man of the Match
| The man of the match was awarded to Stephen Mendez of Reading |
Match Ratings
| 1. | Ralph Britton (GK) | 7 | |
| 2. | Trevor Draper (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Pierre-Yves Keita (DEF) | 7 | |
| 4. | Steven Power (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Pierre G. Tarozzi (DEF) | 6 | |
| 6. | Jamie Salmon (MID) |  | 6 |
| 7. | Francis Marsden (MID) |  | 8 |
| 8. | Peter McManaman (MID) | 6 | |
| 9. | Max Peters (ATT) | 7 | |
| 10. | Marcos Trevino (ATT) | 6 | |
| 11. | Paulo Gomes (ATT) | 6 | |
| 12. | Robert Eustace (MID) | 0 | |
| 13. | Tommy Deane (ATT) | 0 | |
| 14. | Eduardo Butragueno (DEF) | 0 | |
| 1. | Vegard Soltvedt (GK) | 7 | |
| 2. | Rafael Lozano (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Adam Vassell (DEF) | 6 | |
| 4. | Martin Boban (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Scott Mccann (MID) | 6 | |
| 6. | David Lawton (MID) | 6 | |
| 7. | Stephen Mendez (MID) | | 9 |
| 8. | Ian Fenton (MID) | | 8 |
| 9. | Antonio Bento (ATT) | | 7 |
| 10. | Helder Lopes (ATT) | 7 | |
| 11. | Duarte Moutinho (ATT) | | 6 |
| 12. | David Kirkland (DEF) | 6 | |
| 13. | Diego Di Cara (MID) | 6 | |
| 14. | John Bishop (ATT) | 6 | |