MATCH REPORT: 2006/2007 Season

25 November 2006: FA PREMIER LEAGUE
FULHAM 0 READING 1
goals
Reading: Doyle (17 mins, pen).
Fulham: -
Half Time: 0-1
Attendance: 22,673

PREMIERSHIP 25 Nov 2006
Pos Team P Pts GD
6 Arsenal 13 22 +11
7 READING 14 22 -2
8 Everton 14 21 +6
teams
Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little (Oster 38), Sidwell (Gunnarsson 33), Harper, Hunt, Ki-Hyeon (Lita 90), Doyle. Subs Not Used: Federici, Bikey.
Fulham: Niemi, Rosenior, Pearce, Knight, Queudrue (Bocanegra 45), Radzinski (Routledge 75), Claus Jensen, Brown (Diop 75), Boa Morte, McBride, John. Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Helguson.
bookings
Reading: Harper, Ingimarsson, Sonko.
Fulham: -. Sent Off: Pearce (16 mins).
Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).
report
Reading temporarily went sixth in the Premiership table with their third straight league victory against ten man Fulham. Bolton, who kicked-off later and defeated Arsenal to go back above Reading, visit the Madejski Stadium on Saturday as Reading look to continue their phenomenal season so far. Reading's latest victory saw them draw level on points with Arsenal and stay ahead of both Everton and Liverpool who are immediately below Reading in the table. Happy days.

Fulham were effectively defeated by a single combined incident not long after the quarter of an hour mark. Reading were already building on a very solid start that could have seen an early lead when a Little cross nearly found it's target at the far post. Little was involved again for the decisive moment when his ball to Harper saw a through ball leaving Doyle to run at goal. Pearce, the last defender, ran alongside Doyle but couldn't keep up and ended up swinging his leg through Doyle to conceed an obvious penalty. The referee had no choice but to give a straight red card and give Reading an early advantage. Doyle stepped up, the keeper went the wrong way, and Doyle's low spot-kick was to be the winning goal.

Fulham had a chance to eqaulise when a decent header saw Hahnemann made a good save. Down the other end Reading nearly doubled the lead after an excellent cross caused panic in the defence and the ball was flicked over the bar for a corner. After a lively start from both sides Reading were keen to hold the lead - even more so after Sidwell and Little were both forced to leave the pitch with injuries during the first half. Reading were happy to hold back and hang onto the lead and a few mistimed passes going forward saw us fail to build on the lead. Before the break Hahnemann needed to make a save from a header on-target and Ingimarsson made a perfect tackle as it looked like both sides were playing with ten men. The home side also made a bright start to the second half and had a penalty appeal of their own turned down, before Reading regained their composure to lock Fulham out.

The better chances of the second half then fell to Reading. Substitute Oster, who had replaced Little in the first half, had two chances to seal the win - putting one over the bar from close range after a Seol cross and then narrowly failing to connect with a low cross. Reading were good value for their win despite not making full advantage of the extra man. A tidy enough performance at a very difficult venue to take deserved points that add to an ever growing total.

FANS' POST MATCH OPINION

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