Match Report


ReadingReading     Birmingham CityBirmingham City
Aleksandar NikolovAleksandar Nikolov Andrew Blight Andrew Blight
Patrick MatthewsP. Matthews66
G
1
G
61Bart GrotB. Grot
Dietmar GötzD. Götz62
D
2
D
56Simon LampardS. Lampard
David SoaresD. Soares60
D
3
D
60Kemal WilcoxK. Wilcox
Neil EtheringtonN. Etherington72
D
4
D
60Frank MelchiotF. Melchiot
Patricio GuerreroP. Guerrero70
M
5captain
D
66Atam HillA. Hill
Roberto LimaR. Lima56
M
6
M
66Rafael MartinezR. Martinez
Marc BartschM. Bartsch56
M
7
M
62Andy McNeillA. McNeill
Ian MurrayI. Murray58
M
8
M
61Joe VonkJ. Vonk
Luciano ColleL. Colle67
A
9
A
60Kieron BridgeK. Bridge
Nuno SousaN. Sousa74
A
captain10
A
63Robert BrightonR. Brighton
Omer ByrneO. Byrne59
A
11
A
64Cristiano BarbosaC. Barbosa
 
Stephen SounessS. Souness57
D
12
D
58Trevor GascoigneT. Gascoigne
Gavin GowerG. Gower53
M
13
M
58Franco CristalliniF. Cristallini
Callum NaysmithC. Naysmith55
A
14
A
45Said BrugginkS. Bruggink

AGI
today's match is sponsored by AGI
Match Report
It's a clear sunny day here at Madejski Stadium where Reading play host to Birmingham City. A crowd of 18,633 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Reading are playing in a 3-4-3 formation while Birmingham City appear to be shaped for 4-3-3.
Today's match is refereed by Alun Moffat.


0.00
The whistle blows and Reading get the match underway!
2.05
Ian Murray makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Nuno Sousa. Nuno Sousa plays a quick one-two with Omer Byrne and rushes in on goal... Some silky footwork from Nuno Sousa provides him some room. He curls a shot at goal. It curls slightly but Bart Grot manages to gather it comfortably.
9.16
Frank Melchiot threads the ball through to Andy McNeill. Andy McNeill knocks the ball to his team mate, Rafael Martinez. Rafael Martinez controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal but he skews it badly. The ball flies well over the bar!
16.09
Marc Bartsch threads the ball through to Roberto Lima. Roberto Lima shoots from long range but it rises well off target!
18.33
Frank Melchiot hits a low pass to Joe Vonk. Joe Vonk knocks the ball forward to Andy McNeill. Andy McNeill controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal but it whistles just wide of the post!
21.30
Kemal Wilcox chips the ball to his team mate, Rafael Martinez. Rafael Martinez makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Robert Brighton. Robert Brighton finds some space and shoots from distance. It slams into the side netting. So close!!
27.30
Joe Vonk catches Nuno Sousa on the ankles. The referee calls over Joe Vonk and shows him a yellow card! Nuno Sousa hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
28.24
Marc Bartsch controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Nuno Sousa. Nuno Sousa plays a scrappy one-two with Luciano Colle and stumbles forward towards the goal... Frank Melchiot catches Nuno Sousa on the ankles. Nuno Sousa appeals for a penalty! The referee just ignores him!!
32.07
Without breaking stride, Marc Bartsch plays the ball forward to Luciano Colle. Luciano Colle knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
34.08
David Soares hits a low pass to Marc Bartsch. Marc Bartsch flicks a high ball forward to Omer Byrne who takes it down. Omer Byrne knocks in a cross ball towards Nuno Sousa. Nuno Sousa connects with the ball, driving a powerful header at goal. The ball flies into the top corner - goal!!
39.23
Rafael Martinez threads a neat ball through to Joe Vonk. Joe Vonk lofts in a cross ball towards Kieron Bridge. Kieron Bridge flicks the ball with his head. It's in!! A beautiful goal for Kieron Bridge!
42.57
Luciano Colle clumsily knocks into Atam Hill. The referee brings Luciano Colle to one side and gives him a warning! Atam Hill hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
45.00
The first half ends with the referee blowing his whistle!

Both teams emerge for the second half. Reading appear unchanged since the first half. Birmingham City also appear unchanged since the first half. The Reading players look more determined than they did at the start of the game.

45.00
The whistle blows and Birmingham City get the second half underway!
47.32
Dietmar Götz hacks Kieron Bridge from behind! The referee calls over Dietmar Götz and shows him a yellow card! Kieron Bridge stretches but gets up unharmed.
48.21
Kemal Wilcox flicks a high pass forward. Joe Vonk holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Joe Vonk darts forward. Joe Vonk sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal but it's a lousy effort!
54.56
Dietmar Götz flicks a high ball forward to David Soares who takes it down. David Soares runs deep into the other half of the pitch. David Soares makes a probing pass to Nuno Sousa but he's offside!
60.21
Reading have made 2 substitutions with Stephen Souness replacing David Soares and Gavin Gower replacing Roberto Lima .Birmingham City have made 3 substitutions with Trevor Gascoigne replacing Atam Hill, Franco Cristallini replacing Rafael Martinez and Said Bruggink replacing Cristiano Barbosa .
61.28
Gavin Gower chips the ball to his team mate, Nuno Sousa. Nuno Sousa shoots from long range but Bart Grot is on top of his game. Excellent keeping!
63.29
Kieron Bridge flicks a high ball forward to Robert Brighton who takes it down. Robert Brighton shoots from 25 yards. The ball clips the outside of the post and goes out!
65.11
Ian Murray flicks a high pass forward. Omer Byrne holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Omer Byrne plays the ball forward to Luciano Colle. Luciano Colle skips past Kemal Wilcox! Luciano Colle muscles his way past his marker and unleashes a shot at goal. The ball clips the inside of the post and flies into the back of the net!! Goal for Reading!
71.58
Marc Bartsch flicks the ball to his team mate, Luciano Colle. Luciano Colle threads a neat, attacking ball through to Marc Bartsch. Marc Bartsch rockets a shot on goal but connects badly and the ball goes wide!
72.19
Neil Etherington chips the ball to his team mate, Stephen Souness. Stephen Souness makes a simple pass to Omer Byrne. Omer Byrne tries a spectacular long range effort. The ball comes in low, but Bart Grot comfortably smothers it!
75.18
Neil Etherington knocks the ball to his team mate, Gavin Gower. Gavin Gower flicks a high pass forward. Marc Bartsch holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Marc Bartsch plays a scrappy one-two with Nuno Sousa and stumbles forward towards the goal... Kemal Wilcox barges into Marc Bartsch. Marc Bartsch appeals for a penalty! The referee just ignores him!!
77.23
Reading have made a substitution with Callum Naysmith replacing Omer Byrne .
78.32
Dietmar Götz clumsily knocks into Joe Vonk. Dietmar Götz is given a warning by the referee! Joe Vonk stretches but gets up unharmed.
90.00
Stephen Souness hacks Robert Brighton from behind! The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Robert Brighton hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
90.00
The referee whistles full-time!

Match Statistics
 

Reading

Birmingham City
Goals
2
1
Shots on Target
5
1
Shots off Target
2
5
Offsides
1
0
Fouls
4
1
Yellow Cards
2
1
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
58.7%
41.3%
Play Area
25.4%
42.9%
31.7%

Scorers
Nuno Sousa 34
Luciano Colle 65
Kieron Bridge 39

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Nuno Sousa of Reading

Match Ratings
1.Patrick Matthews (GK)
6
2.Dietmar Götz (DEF)yellow card
5
3.David Soares (DEF)
7
4.Neil Etherington (DEF)
6
5.Patricio Guerrero (MID)
6
6.Roberto Lima (MID)
6
7.Marc Bartsch (MID)
7
8.Ian Murray (MID)
6
9.Luciano Colle (ATT)goal scored
8
10.Nuno Sousa (ATT)goal scored
9
11.Omer Byrne (ATT)
8
 
12.Stephen Souness (DEF)yellow card
5
13.Gavin Gower (MID)
6
14.Callum Naysmith (ATT)
6

1.Bart Grot (GK)
7
2.Simon Lampard (DEF)
6
3.Kemal Wilcox (DEF)
6
4.Frank Melchiot (DEF)
6
5.Atam Hill (DEF)
6
6.Rafael Martinez (MID)
6
7.Andy McNeill (MID)
6
8.Joe Vonk (MID)yellow card
7
9.Kieron Bridge (ATT)goal scored
8
10.Robert Brighton (ATT)
6
11.Cristiano Barbosa (ATT)
6
 
12.Trevor Gascoigne (DEF)
6
13.Franco Cristallini (MID)
6
14.Said Bruggink (ATT)
6