MATCH REPORT: 2006/2007 Season

9 December 2006: FA PREMIER LEAGUE
WATFORD 0 READING 0
goals
Reading: -
Watford: -
Half Time: 0-0
Attendance: 19,223

PREMIERSHIP 9 Dec 2006
Pos Team P Pts GD
4 Liverpool 17 28 +8
5 READING 17 26 -2
6 Arsenal 15 25 +13
teams
Reading: Hahnemann, Bikey, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Oster (Little 90), Harper, Sidwell, Hunt, Lita (Long 75), Doyle. Subs Not Used: Federici, Gunnarsson, Sodje.
Watford: Lee, Chambers, DeMerit, Shittu, Stewart, Smith (Powell 84), Francis, Bangura, Bouazza, Young, Henderson. Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Mariappa, Priskin, Spring.
bookings
Reading: Oster.
Watford: -
Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).
report
Last season Reading and Watford played out two 0-0 draws in the Championship - and it was the same forumla today in the Premiership as neither side managed to find the net in a scrappy draw. In a game lacking entertainment there were few chances and very little impressive football on show as both sides struggled to retain the ball or make an impact going forward. The Royals were without Murty and Seol - giving Bikey a start and Lita a chance up front. Lita had Reading's best chances of the first half after being played through by Hunt and then by a Doyle header but both times he failed to find the target from close range. Watford finished the first half with the better chances as Hahnemann became the first goalkeeper to need to make a save with five minutes of the half remaining. He had an easy save from a long range effort and former Royals striker Henderson might have done better from close range but shot straight at Marcus in the Reading goal.

The second half was the same again with neither side looking likely to break the deadlock with no accuracy up front. Henderson again had a chance but put it over the crossbar, and when Watford did break through they failed to hit the target. Hahnemann had one save of note to make in the second half while down the other end the keeper wasn't tested. Both defenses put in solid performances but both sides seemed unable to keep hold of the ball and were seemingly happy to settle for the draw. Oster picked up the only yellow card of the game as the game drew to a close. Glen Little appeared for a minute but it never seemed likely he could make an impact in a disappointing game.
FANS' POST MATCH OPINION

This was a truly terrible game of football that would have embarrassed a lot of lower division clubs, and a chilling reminder of what we used to see at Reading under TB One and TB Two in the not-so-distant past. It surpassed even our hosts' dire game against Sheffield United on Sky a fortnight ago. The only positive is that we don't have to endure this kind of rubbish week-in, week-out. On Saturday's showing, I'm quite frankly surprised that Watford have got any fans left. They can keep my thirty two quid but can I have my wasted afternoon back please?
Kris, Muswell Hill

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