" Match report Reading v Cardiff 19 Nov 2011 "
Sun Nov 20, 2011 8:13 pm
November has not been kind for Cardiff over the last few seasons. Last season was perhaps the worst with a first time home lost against the Jacks. After that horrible game next up was an away at the Madejski. That night the atmosphere amongst the travelling supporters, a Tuesday night, was one of denial. Only a few of us spoke out against what was going on in the background with an old chap next to me saying he expected the manager Dave Jones to depart by Christmas. Yep on the whole the feelings were down hearted but 12 months later it was totally different.
Over 3,800 Cardiff fans made the journey across the M4. Three wins from four league games and the fans were upbeat. Most of us were not too sure what was going on. Let's face it we were not use to winning in November. The thing was none of us really cared because we were all enjoying the football with a team of fighters and that is all we cared about. You just felt it, if we lost we knew it would not be for lack of effort. Besides you never know, while you fight you just might come out on top and that is what gets a crowd going.
Marshall returned between the posts after an illness and joined the ever present defenders of McNaughton, Hudson, Turner and Taylor. The famous 5 of Conway, Cowie, Whittingham , Kiss and Gunnarson made up the midfield with the lonely striker of Miller making up the 11.
Cardiff defended the goal in front of the away fans for the first half. Within the first 2 minutes Gunnarson was given the opportunity to launch one of his throws into the Reading area. The ball was cleared by the home defence but it fell to Conway 25 yards out. Conway worked himself into space and from 20 yards leashed a ferocious shot that the home keeper could only parry away. The ball bounced straight to Kiss who from 8 yards did well to half volley the ball back to the Reading goal forcing a reflective save from the keeper. There was a scramble in the area but the home side looked like they had survived this scare. As one of their players brought the ball away from the area he had the ball literally taken off his toes from Whittingham who from 25 yards placed the ball over the keeper and into the top right corner of the net for the first goal of the game. Some might say it was a fluke of a goal but the more I look at it the more I disagree. It was an awesome goal and a great start.
From the restart Reading dominated the game for the next 25 minutes. Within the first 10 minutes they had a couple of penalty calls turned down and won quite a few corners. However Marshall was not forced to make a save during this time and on 12 minutes when he look like he would be called into action Ben Turner showed what a fast set of legs he has on him when he got back to reflect a shot wide of goal. Reading finally broke the Cardiff line and with only Marshall to beat one of their strikers could only watch as his shot was blocked by Turner.
The same Reading striker had another similar chance on 20 minutes as he broke through down the right hand side. However his well aimed low shot was palmed away by Marshall for another corner.
Cardiff had to defend a number of corners during this spell but they defend held firm. Eventually they started to get back in the game with Gunnarson driving the midfield forward and Whittingham tracking back when attacks broke down.
Cardiff started to take the initiative again specially down the left side where Conway was running the show. A combination of passes down this wing allowed Conway to find Gunnarson in the home area with a swift cross. The big defender met the cross with his head but could only direct the ball wide of the post.
Moments later a telling ball from Whittingham in the Cardiff half picked out Miller who if he could bring the ball down only had the keeper to beat. He could only get his toe to the ball as it came down and the Reading goalkeeper committed to coming out gratefully accepted the easy save.
As the came approached half time the visitors looked like they were the team to score. However the home team looked capable of scoring from the counter attack as this was turning out ot be quite a fast paced game.
Just before the break Cardiff were awarded a free kick just outside the area. Whittingham sent one of his wipped in crosses that sped across the homes 6 yard area with Gunnarson just failing to get his foot to it.
However this was not the last chance of the half as Reading broke away down the right and from a dangerous cross a Reading head got to the ball that looked like it was on its way into the net only to be deflected wide by a defending Cardiff head.
The Referee brought the half to an end with the visitors going into the break one up.
The second half started very much as the first ended with a fast pace. Miller worked well with the midfield holding the ball up and allowing the midfielders to join him upfront. One such move saw a Gunnarson effort blocked just out side the area.
Reading looked dangerous on the break and with 10 minutes from the restart they though they had equalised. From a deep cross from the left the ball travelled across the Cardiff area and over the defenders. An oncoming Reading winger managed to get to the ball just inside the area and slot the ball home. Fortunately for the visitors he was flagged offside.
Moments later Reading created another chance but this time down the middle. With the Cardiff defence stretched they allowed an opening for a home striker who with only Marshall to beat from the D area could only see his shot saved.
On the 70 minute Conway was brought down as he tried to make his way into the inside from the touchline. Whittingham took the free kick about 10 yards outside the area. Instead of sending the cross to the far post the ball fell just short of the 6 yard area. Hudson making a run from the D left everyone standing as he got to the ball first and with the outside of his foot scored the second goal.
Reading made a substitution and within 7 minutes were back in the game. A deep cross from the right sent the ball towards the near post. The defence stood still waiting for Marshall to collect but he was slow off his line. A Reading striker got his head to the ball to direct it into the net.
MM then made a substitution by bring on McPhail for Kiss. This move allowed the visitors to keep the possession of the ball in midfield for the last 10 minutes. Reading struggled to regain possession and to add to their problems MM made another substitution by bring on Gerrard to shore up the defence in the last few minutes.
As the game went into injury time Cardiff had a great chance to seal the win. A move down the left exposed the Reading defence and a cross found Gunnarson free with space in the home area. He slotted the ball wide when it looked easier to score.
Reading threw everything at Cardiff with long punts but could not break the visitors down. Somehow they won a concession of corners that saw the Reading keeper running up the pitch. Visions of Boxing Day a couple of season ago much have been on the mind of some of the travelling supporters.
Cardiff saw these late scares of with no problems and the referee brought the game to an end with the 3 points making their way back home.
Summing up. We were up against a bit of quality in that Reading side. However our fighters saw them off. Totally different from last season where it was us who had the quality but where out done by the hungrier team. I'm beginning to think you can forget your quality because this is a lot more enjoyable.
Over 3,800 Cardiff fans made the journey across the M4. Three wins from four league games and the fans were upbeat. Most of us were not too sure what was going on. Let's face it we were not use to winning in November. The thing was none of us really cared because we were all enjoying the football with a team of fighters and that is all we cared about. You just felt it, if we lost we knew it would not be for lack of effort. Besides you never know, while you fight you just might come out on top and that is what gets a crowd going.
Marshall returned between the posts after an illness and joined the ever present defenders of McNaughton, Hudson, Turner and Taylor. The famous 5 of Conway, Cowie, Whittingham , Kiss and Gunnarson made up the midfield with the lonely striker of Miller making up the 11.
Cardiff defended the goal in front of the away fans for the first half. Within the first 2 minutes Gunnarson was given the opportunity to launch one of his throws into the Reading area. The ball was cleared by the home defence but it fell to Conway 25 yards out. Conway worked himself into space and from 20 yards leashed a ferocious shot that the home keeper could only parry away. The ball bounced straight to Kiss who from 8 yards did well to half volley the ball back to the Reading goal forcing a reflective save from the keeper. There was a scramble in the area but the home side looked like they had survived this scare. As one of their players brought the ball away from the area he had the ball literally taken off his toes from Whittingham who from 25 yards placed the ball over the keeper and into the top right corner of the net for the first goal of the game. Some might say it was a fluke of a goal but the more I look at it the more I disagree. It was an awesome goal and a great start.
From the restart Reading dominated the game for the next 25 minutes. Within the first 10 minutes they had a couple of penalty calls turned down and won quite a few corners. However Marshall was not forced to make a save during this time and on 12 minutes when he look like he would be called into action Ben Turner showed what a fast set of legs he has on him when he got back to reflect a shot wide of goal. Reading finally broke the Cardiff line and with only Marshall to beat one of their strikers could only watch as his shot was blocked by Turner.
The same Reading striker had another similar chance on 20 minutes as he broke through down the right hand side. However his well aimed low shot was palmed away by Marshall for another corner.
Cardiff had to defend a number of corners during this spell but they defend held firm. Eventually they started to get back in the game with Gunnarson driving the midfield forward and Whittingham tracking back when attacks broke down.
Cardiff started to take the initiative again specially down the left side where Conway was running the show. A combination of passes down this wing allowed Conway to find Gunnarson in the home area with a swift cross. The big defender met the cross with his head but could only direct the ball wide of the post.
Moments later a telling ball from Whittingham in the Cardiff half picked out Miller who if he could bring the ball down only had the keeper to beat. He could only get his toe to the ball as it came down and the Reading goalkeeper committed to coming out gratefully accepted the easy save.
As the came approached half time the visitors looked like they were the team to score. However the home team looked capable of scoring from the counter attack as this was turning out ot be quite a fast paced game.
Just before the break Cardiff were awarded a free kick just outside the area. Whittingham sent one of his wipped in crosses that sped across the homes 6 yard area with Gunnarson just failing to get his foot to it.
However this was not the last chance of the half as Reading broke away down the right and from a dangerous cross a Reading head got to the ball that looked like it was on its way into the net only to be deflected wide by a defending Cardiff head.
The Referee brought the half to an end with the visitors going into the break one up.
The second half started very much as the first ended with a fast pace. Miller worked well with the midfield holding the ball up and allowing the midfielders to join him upfront. One such move saw a Gunnarson effort blocked just out side the area.
Reading looked dangerous on the break and with 10 minutes from the restart they though they had equalised. From a deep cross from the left the ball travelled across the Cardiff area and over the defenders. An oncoming Reading winger managed to get to the ball just inside the area and slot the ball home. Fortunately for the visitors he was flagged offside.
Moments later Reading created another chance but this time down the middle. With the Cardiff defence stretched they allowed an opening for a home striker who with only Marshall to beat from the D area could only see his shot saved.
On the 70 minute Conway was brought down as he tried to make his way into the inside from the touchline. Whittingham took the free kick about 10 yards outside the area. Instead of sending the cross to the far post the ball fell just short of the 6 yard area. Hudson making a run from the D left everyone standing as he got to the ball first and with the outside of his foot scored the second goal.
Reading made a substitution and within 7 minutes were back in the game. A deep cross from the right sent the ball towards the near post. The defence stood still waiting for Marshall to collect but he was slow off his line. A Reading striker got his head to the ball to direct it into the net.
MM then made a substitution by bring on McPhail for Kiss. This move allowed the visitors to keep the possession of the ball in midfield for the last 10 minutes. Reading struggled to regain possession and to add to their problems MM made another substitution by bring on Gerrard to shore up the defence in the last few minutes.
As the game went into injury time Cardiff had a great chance to seal the win. A move down the left exposed the Reading defence and a cross found Gunnarson free with space in the home area. He slotted the ball wide when it looked easier to score.
Reading threw everything at Cardiff with long punts but could not break the visitors down. Somehow they won a concession of corners that saw the Reading keeper running up the pitch. Visions of Boxing Day a couple of season ago much have been on the mind of some of the travelling supporters.
Cardiff saw these late scares of with no problems and the referee brought the game to an end with the 3 points making their way back home.
Summing up. We were up against a bit of quality in that Reading side. However our fighters saw them off. Totally different from last season where it was us who had the quality but where out done by the hungrier team. I'm beginning to think you can forget your quality because this is a lot more enjoyable.
Re: " Match report Reading v Cardiff 19 Nov 2011 "
Sun Nov 20, 2011 8:19 pm
Great match report Ian, Thanks 
Re: " Match report Reading v Cardiff 19 Nov 2011 "
Sun Nov 20, 2011 9:22 pm
As an exile now looking in, i follow games on the radio and the net, and since joining this board really look forwards to these reports which bring to life and paint the picture of the events of the matches, could you also tell more about the following and atmosphere too please!. Thanks again, my next Cardiff visit is for the Peterboro game in feb then Hull at home. trying to squeeze another in this year but so difficult being based in the land of the turnip!
heres looking to the next raft of games and more great reports to see
heres looking to the next raft of games and more great reports to see
Re: " Match report Reading v Cardiff 19 Nov 2011 "
Mon Nov 21, 2011 6:09 pm
Nice one Ian, cracking read as per usual.
Re: " Match report Reading v Cardiff 19 Nov 2011 "
Mon Nov 21, 2011 6:19 pm
Ian you should write the reports for the Echo much better than the shite they come out with
Re: " Match report Reading v Cardiff 19 Nov 2011 "
Mon Nov 21, 2011 7:58 pm
Crackin read Ian, u wanna work for the football league paper, in their report there were five spelling mistakes!! Shocking!!
Re: " Match report Reading v Cardiff 19 Nov 2011 "
Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:42 am
Thanks once again Ian, look forward to last nights report at Coventry.