Not that we needed any more signs that next season is going to be the one, but in this Reading performance, particularly in the first half, there were plenty of positive signs for the new season. Southampton turned up fielding a near first choice team in front of 1,000 fans in the away end, but it was Reading that seemed to have the most quality through a first half played well above friendly standard. With the sun beating down and a decent attendance, even Southampton's last minute equaliser, couldn't stop everyone going away happy.

Right from the start there were plenty of signs that players are desperate to play for the Royals this season. Last season at this point it seemed a lot of the squad were happy just to collect wages, but now every player is fighting for their place by putting in decent performances on the pitch. Robinson showed it more than anything. It may have only been a friendly but Matty was legging it all over the place and putting in all kinds of tackles - getting forward and getting back and then flying in all over the place. Some challenges may have been a bit late, but it was pure determination on show. A treat. With Viveash and Williams looking a superb combination at the back, and not letting a single thing through, Reading commanded the first half. Southampton put together a couple of nice passing moves but didn't threaten during the first forty-five minutes, Reading were doing plenty of passing the ball around and also doing all the attacking.

During the first five minutes we won a couple of free kicks on the corner of the box after Robinson runs down the left, allowing Caskey to whip the ball into a crowd of players waiting. Nothing came of the free kicks, but it set the pattern for the first half. Moments later Matt Robinson could have helped us to take the lead after storming down the left wing from defence and putting over a decent cross which we narrowly failed to connect with. Half way through the first half the ball was knocked out from the edge of the box to Keith Jones, well outside the area. Jones just hit it with his right foot, over a few players, over the keeper, and dipping under the bar and into the back of the Southampton net. Quite some goal, and a deserved 1-0 lead for the Royals. It was quite strange that the goal ended up coming from a piece of genuis from Keith Jones, Reading's summer signing from Charlton, because it was a real team effort on display. However Keith Jones was at the middle of everything and looks like a direct replacement for Peter Grant - but perhaps an even better all round player. Not only did he stick in a goal of the highest quality but he can tackle and pass - and chases everything. He got back to make a great tackle in a rare moment when Southampton looked like breaking through.

As the half continued Reading looked more and more comfortable, and a couple of players who had been quiet started getting more into it. Sammy Igoe did nothing for the opening twenty minutes but then started picking up plenty of balls and taking them down the right wing with a fair bit of pace. Adrian Williams was replaced during the first half after colliding with a Southampton player. He played on for a few minutes before going off, but it didn't look like anything serious. Barry Hunter came on and straight away slotted into the defence.

Just before half time Viveash appeared to bring down a Southampton player in the box for what seemed like a definate penalty. The referee just waved play on, but it was a rare cock-up in an otherwise solid performance from Viveash. At the break Reading had won four corners to Southamptons none - and that was a fair reflection of the play. The team performance from Reading was spot on - players really working for each other to get in the right place at the right time. Rather than having a couple of talented players we worked as a team unit - it was great to see a couple of dummies by Caskey that saw the ball sent through for a Reading player to run straight onto it.

The second half was a different story as Reading let Southampton do a bit more attacking and sat back a bit - but it was no suprise after all eleven players had put in so much in the opening 45 minutes in really hot conditions. Southampton started to look a lot more dangerous, and although our defence coped well, Polston was having real problems at right-back coping with the pace of the attack. It was from that wing that Southampton made their first real chance, breaking into the area and shooting from close range. It was Howie's first chance to prove himself and he did well getting down quickly to make a great save to his right to send the ball out for a corner.

Phil Parkinson got a brilliant reception from the East Stand after coming on to replace Newman in midfield. Up front Henderson came on to replace McIntyre. On this game McIntyre looks a far better bet than Henderson. Henderson must have potential, and showed he has a bit of pace, but didn't really show any touches of great skill, and looked awkward against a strong defence. With Butler still out injured we could be a bit weak up front for the start of the new season. Forster, with his superb control and endless running picks himself, but he does need a stronger striking partner.

After creating a fair few chances it was no suprise when Southampton got the equaliser - with the last kick of the game. The ball was played down the right side of the box after an attempted shot that was blocked. It was played back across the face of Howie's goal to a Southampton forward stood by himself in the middle of the box. An easy tap-in to make it 1-1. Still, hopefully we can get these last minute disasters out of the way for the new season - we'd have all gone home frustrated if it had been two points thrown away.
Graham

Caskey sticks over a free kick in the opening few minutes

Matt Robinson on a run down the wing before supplying a cross

Keith Jones putting the pressure on in midfield.

NOTE ON THESE PICTURES:
Due to Reading Football Club's restrictive policies on unofficial websites these will be the last match pictures taken within the Madejski Stadium to appear on this website. This follows on from the club banning Hob Nob Anyone?'s use of match audio, club related imagery, re-production of the Royals Anthem, and even the fixture list! This site will continute to support the club although the club no longer supports this site.

Report from Guest Reporter, Neil Cole:

I was informed by a Southampton fan after the game that he had missed the equaliser, and consequently had no idea who had scored, because "everyone had fallen asleep by then". I suppose this is what we have come to expect from pre-season friendlies; a general air of mediocrity and a lack of any real effort from the players or the fans. Still, it was a vast improvement on last season's 3-0 defeat to the same opposition, when Tommy Burns was in charge of the Royals. Although friendlies are always unreliable indicators of the season to come, I suppose this should give us some encouragement that this season will start better than the last one.

The match was very even, with Reading shading the first half and Southampton having the better of the second. There were certainly some positives to take out of the first 45 minutes from the Royals point of view, in particular the performances of Keith Jones and Matthew Robinson. Jones looks to have shaken off last season's injury problems and despite flagging towards the end, he played a full 90 minutes. He put Reading in the lead in the 23rd minute, with a fantastic volley which looped over the keeper and took pretty much everyone in the ground by surprise. Robinson was probably the pick of the Royals, and was the only player on the pitch to give 100%. Possibly spurred on by the anti-Pompey (and anti-bald) chants from the Saints fans, Robinson was keen to impress and he certainly did so.

Reading's few other chances came almost entirely from the midfield, which was of course the story of last season. The lack of strike power is our biggest worry for the season ahead, with both McIntyre and Henderson ineffective at creating anything even remotely inventive. Henderson had one glorious chance to impress, as a dodgy kick by the Saints keeper was just begging to be hit straight back over the keeper. Yet his first touch was awful and he lost possession immediately. The other worry for Reading was the injury to Adie Williams after half an hour, forcing the introduction of Barry Hunter. Hopefully, this substitution was due to over-caution on the part of Alan Pardew, since Williams' availability will be vital come August 12th.

Southampton had a penalty shout in the last minute of the first half, as it appeared that nobody told Uwe Rosler it was only a friendly game. The dramatic fall, and unnecessary reaction to the ref waving play on were straight out of Euro 2000, and quite out of place in today's match.

The second half was devoid of any real action, with the only chances going to the Saints. They finally equalised through Gary Monk in the last minute, when most people were already on their way out of the ground. Hopefully, this lack of concentration towards the end isn't a sign of things to come, as holding on to 1-0 leads could well be a vital part of any promotion push.

After the game, the Reading stewards decided to do a mock emergency evacuation of the North Stand. Being rushed down the stairs by over-eager stewards wasn't what was needed when the final whistle eventually blew... like the Southampton fans we had only just been roused from our second-half and post-beer slumber. The stewards even tried to prevent use of the North Stand toilets, and seemed delighted when the last of the 200 or so non-plussed NorthStanders was finally saved from whatever disaster they were determined to rescue us from.

An unnecessary end to a generally unnecessary game. Neither side will take much from this match other than an increased eagerness for the real action to get underway. Roll on the Millwall game, when everyone starts caring again. Rest assured there won't be any sleeping fans in the New Den at 4.45 on August 12th.

What can i say, what a goal! Keith Jones settled in well to his midfield role and after a few tackles he won goal of the season and we are only in pre -season! Forster looked sharp up front but we missed Butler and that showed as Henderson and McIntyre could not provide Forster with much support. Both Adies looked good at the back and they dealt with any high balls, an area where Reading struggled last year. Matt Robinson crossed the ball well and if Butler was playing those crosses would have been on his head all day long. Igoe's skill gave us some creativivty on the right wing as Caskey had a sound game.
Roll on Millwall!
-- Jon

In comparison with the same fixture last season: we were better, they were worse, much worse. I'm still a bigger fan of Howie than Whitehead - he's improved so much over the last year or so. He commands his area much better and is flapping much less than he used to. Distribution still needs improvement, but that should come with time. I think that it could have been down to his lack of confidence in the players in front of him... which will undoubtably change this season. Forster looked hungry for goals, if a little gready on occasion. Jimmy Mac looks a different player - more confident, willing to have a go... brilliant. Hopefully he'll stay as he could be very useful. If we sell Caskey we could have another scoring mid-fielder in Jones - what was all that about?! One second we were mid-slow build-up, the next BANG! Ball in the back of the net.... Marvellous performance by the Royals - here's to more of that....
-- Ferret