Reading v West Sham-December 26 [R]

[whipsmart13]

It is on Setanta this morning. Will be watching some of it this AM live.

[whipsmart13]

Reading
01 Hahnemann
02 Murty
05 Sonko
06 Gunnarsson
03 Shorey
10 Hunt
15 Harper
16 Ingimarsson
17 Convey
09 Doyle
12 Kitson
Substitutes
32 Federici, 04 Cisse, 08 Lita, 22 Bikey, 24 Long

West Ham
01 Green
02 Neill
18 Spector
06 Upson
03 McCartney
15 Solano
08 Parker
17 Mullins
07 Ljungberg
12 Cole
09 Ashton
Substitutes
21 Wright, 05 Ferdinand, 14 Pantsil, 16 Noble, 33 Camara

[whipsmart13]

Reading so far (first 5 minutes) have pushed the play and West Sham have been on the defensive

[whipsmart13]

7 minute mark...another Reading goal opportunity on a cross by Kits to the middle (I think Harper or Doyle) and a header to the goalkeeper.

Doyle and Kits are putting the pressure on them and they are winning the battles easily against the West Sham centerbacks.

Corner Reading after another great play by Kits but the inswinger goes to the GK

[whipsmart13]

11 minute mark...Marcus with a long goalk kick and Reading win the 50/50 ball to create a shot opportunity for Harper but to the GK weakly

West SHam with a corner off of Murty getting beat (speed) down the flank and then Sonks knocks the ball almost out of Marcus for the West Sham corner. West Sham goes over the top on the corner and get a shot that is high...Reading starting to look a little bad in the back 4

[whipsmart13]

More 50-50 winners by Reading as headers by Kits and Doyle almost find convey about 5 yards outside the goal...the GK came out and got a piece as Convey was getting ready to finish it.

Again, Reading is winning control and creating a lot of opportunities ...almost all are because of Kits and Doyle

[whipsmart13]

Murty is down after a challeng with Freddie L......it looks like an ankle...no Liam on the bench so not a lot of cover on the wings. He's being taken off and is limping pretty good. Playing with 10 right now

[whipsmart13]

Murty back on the field after Kits is called for a foul ...I guess for not eating more of the elbow that knocked him down on the sideline....crap call by the linesman

[whipsmart13]

21st minute...off of a free kick...Kits wins another header and pushes it back in the middle for another finish but West Sham clears..

[whipsmart13]

Ashton offside on a very close play.....I'm afraid that if we don't score, West Sham is going to get an easy one because our back 4 look very disorganized right now.

Hunt down the right side and picks up the foul just outside the box...damn, he's got some wheels

[whipsmart13]

free kick is blocked

[whipsmart13]

damn...Gunnar with the straight red on a 2 footed tackle...it was a BS call because he got the ball but he should have known better. - 28th minute

[whipsmart13]

The play has definitely turned with the Shammers on the offensive every time they get the ball. Ashton is actively trying to punish us

[whipsmart13]

I guess on the positive side, no Gunnar for 2 games

[whipsmart13]

West Sham scores in the 41st minute.

The Red Card really, really turned this game around...it was a shame considering how well our offense was playing

[whipsmart13]

Before the half, Hunt got a yellow card for nothing apparently. Green knocked into his own defender, and apparently Green said something about the Petr Cech incident, and put his hands round Hunt's neck. Green gets a card BUT HUNT GETS A CARD! What a crock

[RichardL]

damn...Gunnar with the straight red on a 2 footed tackle...it was a BS call because he got the ball but he should have known better. - 28th minutethe problem is a two-footed tackle has to only be mis-timed slightly and you can end a player's career. I haven't seen it, but it's very hard to defend anyone sent off for one. Players know they can't do it, and I'm amazed players still do - and by the sounds of things it'll cost Reading a point if not three as well. Given that this was one of the two away games that away points looked more likely, due to west ham's poor home form, it was a stupid thing to do.

Makes me glad I didn't opt for the early start and a tortuous drive through London.

[SDeda1us]

And what does the letter of the law say about raised arms?

[whipsmart13]

Sorry for the gap in reporting...the joys of self-employment meant that I had to go to the office and make sure everyone is working...lol

It is in the 82nd minute and we evened it up at 1-1. Given the Red Card, 1 point would be great

[whipsmart13]

Kits scored in the 59th minute from an assist from Shorey