" Match report Reading v Cardiff play off 1st leg "
Sat May 14, 2011 3:15 pm
It is starting to get tiring supporting Cardiff at the moment. The club require us to get behind our team for another three times. That is three times more than we expected this season. It is hard, it is tiring but we did not let them down last night.
Without doubt Cardiff are the limping soldiers going into the playoffs. The other 3 teams seem to be well prepared with some good form and very little injury problems. The same cannot be said for Cardiff who besides the injuries to Heaton and Hudson after been let down with the antics of Chopra, Samuels, Bywaters and possible Bothroyd. Obviously not the best preparations for such important games but now is the time to forget about it all and get on with it.
Bywater kept his starting place ahead of the injured Heaton. Blake made the unusual start at left back with Quinn on the right supported by McNaughton and Keinan in central defence. JET made a surprise start in midfield with the ever present Oli and Whittingham and Burke making up the line. Upfront the familiar partnership of Bothroyd and Bellamy started as well.
Cardiff defended the goal in front of their supporters for the first half. It was clear from the start what Reading game plan was and that was to attack the Cardiff left side defended by Blake. For the first few moments of the game Blake came out on top of the three Reading attackers who took him on. It was inevitable that one cross would get in and when it did Quinn was on hand to clear.
Cardiff gave away a free kick just outside their penalty area but the Reading hot shot Ian Harte squandered the chance by placing the ball high.
Another early scare for Cardiff came from a Reading corner that Bywater let slip though his hands or so it seemed. As he came out to collect what looked like an easy catch the ball seemed to go through his hands and out for another corner.
Then it was the turn of Cardiff with Bellamy making his cross field runs and opening up the Reading defence. From this pressure Cardiff won a couple of corners of which they went close with a Keinan header. However the best chance fell to Bellamy who in space picked up a Whittingham pass. As Bellamy skipped pass his marker he sent a powerful shot across the Reading penalty area. All was needed was a touch from a Cardiff foot but like most cases Bellamy being 10 yards ahead of the game to any other Cardiff player there was no Cardiff foot for miles around. Actually the Reading keeper got a finger to the cross for a corner.
Moment later tragedy struck Cardiff as Bellamy pulled a hamspring. He was to be replaced by Chopra after 17 minutes.
Cardiff continued to pressure and were awarded a couple of free kicks just outside the Reading area. One of these kicks taken by Whittingham caused panic in the Reading defence as they scrambled to clear their lines. A blocked shot from the free kick fell to Blake 22 yards out. His effort was weak and was easily collected by the Reading keeper.
In the last 10 minutes of the half Reading started to take the initiated. McNaughton found himself one on one with the Reading winger just outside the Cardiff box. He made an uncharacteristic slip allowing the winger inside the area. From the left side this winger sent a shot across the 6 yard box but the ball was deflected behind for a goal kick.
The home side went close to taking the lead when they finally got the better of the Cardiff defence down the right. As a Royal attacker made for the byline he sent the ball back towards the 6 yard line. A Reading foot got to it first but could only direct it towards the Cardiff goal. The ball trickled towards goal but looked like it was going inches wide of the post. Bywater made sure it went wide by palming it away for a corner.
As half time approached Reading had their best chance to take the lead. They had resorted to long balls from their half in the hope that their fast forwards could get behind the Cardiff defence. One such move saw the ball end up inside the D area with the Cardiff defence left wondering over to the right. A Reading forward looked favourite to get to the ball therefore only having Bywater to beat. From nowhere McNaughton came across and made the tackle of the season and Cardiff managed to clear their lines.
The referee soon after blew for half time with the score goalless.
The second half Cardiff started with Cardiff attacking. A floating cross from the right was met by a waiting Bothroyd who could only direct the ball wide from 12 yards.
Soon after Reading started to take the initiative but failed to make any impact on the Cardiff goal. They once again tried to break the Cardiff defence by direct football over the defence line but Keinan and McNaughton held their own. Ian Harte was once again their danger man as his set pieces of which one of the force Blake to head clear from close range.
As the game went into its’ last quarter Cardiff started to play well down their left side. Bothroyd worked hard with JET who seemed to be struggling. However they put in some good one twos but failed to break the Reading defence down.
Cardiff tried their luck down the left side and nearly took the lead. From a McNaughton free kick just inside the Reading half Bothroyd beat the approaching keeper with his head and flicked the ball on. With the goal open a Cardiff player failed to make contact with the ball as it went behind for a goal kick.
With Cardiff in the ascendancy they started to move the move around the Reading half. One such move saw Whittingham make space from 25 yards and sent a screamer of a shot that went inches wide of the right post with the Reading keeper well beaten.
With five minutes left Lee Naylor came on for Quinn. Reading then started to attack down the Naylor side but failed to make any headway. As the game went into injury time a long cross into the Cardiff box looked heading for a Reading head in space. Naylor somehow got his head there first and diverted the ball away for a corner from what could have been a winning goal.
The referee brought the game to an end after five minutes of injury time with the game remaining goalless.
Summing up. It was a tense game to watch for the supporters of Cardiff and Reading. A draw was a fair result but both teams were poor. Perhaps the nerves played a big part. Well we have got to do it all again Tuesday but at this moment in time it does feel to me this game has not ended. Strange feeling.
Without doubt Cardiff are the limping soldiers going into the playoffs. The other 3 teams seem to be well prepared with some good form and very little injury problems. The same cannot be said for Cardiff who besides the injuries to Heaton and Hudson after been let down with the antics of Chopra, Samuels, Bywaters and possible Bothroyd. Obviously not the best preparations for such important games but now is the time to forget about it all and get on with it.
Bywater kept his starting place ahead of the injured Heaton. Blake made the unusual start at left back with Quinn on the right supported by McNaughton and Keinan in central defence. JET made a surprise start in midfield with the ever present Oli and Whittingham and Burke making up the line. Upfront the familiar partnership of Bothroyd and Bellamy started as well.
Cardiff defended the goal in front of their supporters for the first half. It was clear from the start what Reading game plan was and that was to attack the Cardiff left side defended by Blake. For the first few moments of the game Blake came out on top of the three Reading attackers who took him on. It was inevitable that one cross would get in and when it did Quinn was on hand to clear.
Cardiff gave away a free kick just outside their penalty area but the Reading hot shot Ian Harte squandered the chance by placing the ball high.
Another early scare for Cardiff came from a Reading corner that Bywater let slip though his hands or so it seemed. As he came out to collect what looked like an easy catch the ball seemed to go through his hands and out for another corner.
Then it was the turn of Cardiff with Bellamy making his cross field runs and opening up the Reading defence. From this pressure Cardiff won a couple of corners of which they went close with a Keinan header. However the best chance fell to Bellamy who in space picked up a Whittingham pass. As Bellamy skipped pass his marker he sent a powerful shot across the Reading penalty area. All was needed was a touch from a Cardiff foot but like most cases Bellamy being 10 yards ahead of the game to any other Cardiff player there was no Cardiff foot for miles around. Actually the Reading keeper got a finger to the cross for a corner.
Moment later tragedy struck Cardiff as Bellamy pulled a hamspring. He was to be replaced by Chopra after 17 minutes.
Cardiff continued to pressure and were awarded a couple of free kicks just outside the Reading area. One of these kicks taken by Whittingham caused panic in the Reading defence as they scrambled to clear their lines. A blocked shot from the free kick fell to Blake 22 yards out. His effort was weak and was easily collected by the Reading keeper.
In the last 10 minutes of the half Reading started to take the initiated. McNaughton found himself one on one with the Reading winger just outside the Cardiff box. He made an uncharacteristic slip allowing the winger inside the area. From the left side this winger sent a shot across the 6 yard box but the ball was deflected behind for a goal kick.
The home side went close to taking the lead when they finally got the better of the Cardiff defence down the right. As a Royal attacker made for the byline he sent the ball back towards the 6 yard line. A Reading foot got to it first but could only direct it towards the Cardiff goal. The ball trickled towards goal but looked like it was going inches wide of the post. Bywater made sure it went wide by palming it away for a corner.
As half time approached Reading had their best chance to take the lead. They had resorted to long balls from their half in the hope that their fast forwards could get behind the Cardiff defence. One such move saw the ball end up inside the D area with the Cardiff defence left wondering over to the right. A Reading forward looked favourite to get to the ball therefore only having Bywater to beat. From nowhere McNaughton came across and made the tackle of the season and Cardiff managed to clear their lines.
The referee soon after blew for half time with the score goalless.
The second half Cardiff started with Cardiff attacking. A floating cross from the right was met by a waiting Bothroyd who could only direct the ball wide from 12 yards.
Soon after Reading started to take the initiative but failed to make any impact on the Cardiff goal. They once again tried to break the Cardiff defence by direct football over the defence line but Keinan and McNaughton held their own. Ian Harte was once again their danger man as his set pieces of which one of the force Blake to head clear from close range.
As the game went into its’ last quarter Cardiff started to play well down their left side. Bothroyd worked hard with JET who seemed to be struggling. However they put in some good one twos but failed to break the Reading defence down.
Cardiff tried their luck down the left side and nearly took the lead. From a McNaughton free kick just inside the Reading half Bothroyd beat the approaching keeper with his head and flicked the ball on. With the goal open a Cardiff player failed to make contact with the ball as it went behind for a goal kick.
With Cardiff in the ascendancy they started to move the move around the Reading half. One such move saw Whittingham make space from 25 yards and sent a screamer of a shot that went inches wide of the right post with the Reading keeper well beaten.
With five minutes left Lee Naylor came on for Quinn. Reading then started to attack down the Naylor side but failed to make any headway. As the game went into injury time a long cross into the Cardiff box looked heading for a Reading head in space. Naylor somehow got his head there first and diverted the ball away for a corner from what could have been a winning goal.
The referee brought the game to an end after five minutes of injury time with the game remaining goalless.
Summing up. It was a tense game to watch for the supporters of Cardiff and Reading. A draw was a fair result but both teams were poor. Perhaps the nerves played a big part. Well we have got to do it all again Tuesday but at this moment in time it does feel to me this game has not ended. Strange feeling.
Re: Match report Reading v Cardiff play off 1st leg
Sat May 14, 2011 4:09 pm
Cheers Ian 
.. Agree, was Poor but hopefully we'll take then at home on Tuesday
.. Agree, was Poor but hopefully we'll take then at home on Tuesday
Re: Match report Reading v Cardiff play off 1st leg
Sat May 14, 2011 5:55 pm
Bump
Re: " Match report Reading v Cardiff play off 1st leg "
Sat May 14, 2011 6:10 pm
GREAT REPORT Ian
Re: " Match report Reading v Cardiff play off 1st leg "
Sun May 15, 2011 9:33 am
Re: " Match report Reading v Cardiff play off 1st leg "
Tue May 17, 2011 1:24 pm
Cheers Ian look forward to Tonights Match Report and A WEMBLEY ONE