" MATCH REPORTS - READING/CARDIFF CITY "
Sat Apr 04, 2015 5:03 pm
" Reading 1 v 1 Cardiff City match report: Bluebirds salvage point thanks to late Conor McAleny strike "
By Terry Phillips
Saturday 4th April 2015
The game had a real end of season feel to it, but Cardiff City secured a point late on when McAleny found the net in the 90th minute
Conor McAleny fired a 90th minute equaliser for Cardiff City that extended their unbeaten Championship away run to six matches.
Reading went ahead after four minutes when Pavel Pogrebnyak slid his shot under goalkeeper David Marshall.
Cardiff’s defence was pulled apart by a simple long cross to the far post and when it was headed down Pogrebnyak was left unmarked to score.
There were few other chances in a scrappy first half as City, without a big target man following Kenwyne Jones' loan departure to Bournemouth, put Conor McAleny and Eoin Doyle together in attack for the first time.
Russell Slade made three changes in all to the side that beat Birmingham 2-0 at home before the international break
Lee Peltier returned at right-back with Fabio on the left, while McAleny linked up in attack with Doyle, replacing Jones and the injured Alex Revell.
The service to the strikers wasn’t good enough in the opening period as the Bluebirds struggled to adjust to playing without a recognised centre-forward.
Reading looked certain winners as the game wore on but Cardiff produced a last gasp equaliser to snatch a welcome point.
Bruno Manga and Fabio started the decisive move before Craig Noone moved the ball on and Aron Gunnarsson drove forward.
His cross picked out McAleny, who struck a shot beyond goalkeeper Adam Federici to make it 1-1.
Peltier, Gunnarsson and McAleny were the pick of the Cardiff players, who eventually rewarded the 1,780 Cardiff fans at the Madejski Stadium for their vocal support.
Reading
A Federici, C Gunter, A Pearce (capt), M Hector, J Obita, H Akpan, G McCleary (O Norwood 74), N Ake, H Robson-Kanu (N Blackman 86), J Mackie (K Appiah 68), P Pogrebnyak. Subs not used: Yakubu, J Karacan, N Blackman, Z Knight, M Andersen.
Cardiff City
D Marshall (capt), L Peltier (S Malone 83), B Manga, S Morrison, Fabio; C Noone, A Gunnarsson, P Whittingham, J Ralls (M Kennedy 65); C McAleny, E Doyle (J Mason 65). Subs not used: T Adeyemi, S O’Keefe, S Moore (gk), D Gabbidon.
Referee: Scott Duncan (Northumberland).
By Terry Phillips
Saturday 4th April 2015
The game had a real end of season feel to it, but Cardiff City secured a point late on when McAleny found the net in the 90th minute
Conor McAleny fired a 90th minute equaliser for Cardiff City that extended their unbeaten Championship away run to six matches.
Reading went ahead after four minutes when Pavel Pogrebnyak slid his shot under goalkeeper David Marshall.
Cardiff’s defence was pulled apart by a simple long cross to the far post and when it was headed down Pogrebnyak was left unmarked to score.
There were few other chances in a scrappy first half as City, without a big target man following Kenwyne Jones' loan departure to Bournemouth, put Conor McAleny and Eoin Doyle together in attack for the first time.
Russell Slade made three changes in all to the side that beat Birmingham 2-0 at home before the international break
Lee Peltier returned at right-back with Fabio on the left, while McAleny linked up in attack with Doyle, replacing Jones and the injured Alex Revell.
The service to the strikers wasn’t good enough in the opening period as the Bluebirds struggled to adjust to playing without a recognised centre-forward.
Reading looked certain winners as the game wore on but Cardiff produced a last gasp equaliser to snatch a welcome point.
Bruno Manga and Fabio started the decisive move before Craig Noone moved the ball on and Aron Gunnarsson drove forward.
His cross picked out McAleny, who struck a shot beyond goalkeeper Adam Federici to make it 1-1.
Peltier, Gunnarsson and McAleny were the pick of the Cardiff players, who eventually rewarded the 1,780 Cardiff fans at the Madejski Stadium for their vocal support.
Reading
A Federici, C Gunter, A Pearce (capt), M Hector, J Obita, H Akpan, G McCleary (O Norwood 74), N Ake, H Robson-Kanu (N Blackman 86), J Mackie (K Appiah 68), P Pogrebnyak. Subs not used: Yakubu, J Karacan, N Blackman, Z Knight, M Andersen.
Cardiff City
D Marshall (capt), L Peltier (S Malone 83), B Manga, S Morrison, Fabio; C Noone, A Gunnarsson, P Whittingham, J Ralls (M Kennedy 65); C McAleny, E Doyle (J Mason 65). Subs not used: T Adeyemi, S O’Keefe, S Moore (gk), D Gabbidon.
Referee: Scott Duncan (Northumberland).
Re: " MATCH REPORT - READING/CARDIFF CITY "
Sat Apr 04, 2015 5:08 pm
Cheers Mason, good point, sadly I never bet on a draw 
Re: " MATCH REPORT - READING/CARDIFF CITY "
Sat Apr 04, 2015 5:10 pm
Forever Blue wrote:Cheers Mason, good point, sadly I never bet on a draw
Ha ha, I'm meeting Will for a drink 8.15
Re: " MATCH REPORTS - READING/CARDIFF CITY "
Sat Apr 04, 2015 8:49 pm
READING 1 CARDIFF CITY 1
With Danny Williams and Nathaniel Chalobah both injured, Reading boss Steve Clarke gave a debut to Chelsea loanee Nathan Ake who partnered Hope Akpan in a team otherwise identical from the one that faced Bradford in our last fixture at the Madejski. Fellow new loan signing Kwesi Appiah had to make do with a spot on the bench as Reading lined up in a 4-4-2 against a Cardiff City side including former Royal Sean Morrison.
Morrison's touches were widely booed throughout the game but Reading fans soon had something positive to celebrate when Jordan Obita's cross was nodded down by Garath McCleary into the path of Pavel Pogrebnyak. The big Russian's effort was far from his cleanest strike but Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall made a hash of the save and the ball slipped passed him to make it 1-0 to Clarke's side.
Reading looked comfortable against a Cardiff team going through the motions but despite being on top they still struggled to create many clear cut chances.
That began to change in the second period and McCleary should have made it two-nil before substitute Appiah wasted two good chances to kill off the game, first failing to round the keeper with a poor first touch and then firing straight at Marshall when in space inside the box. Michael Hector then rattled the bar and you thought it was simply a matter of time until this game was put to bed.
However, if Reading have taught us anything this year, it's not to trust them to get the job done.
Despite a game that had seen little to no threat on the Reading goal,Cardiff's Conor McAleny was given space to cut across the top of the box and curl a fine shot past Adam Federici with 10 seconds left in normal time, leaving both sides with a point.
The result leaves Reading nine points clear of the bottom three with a game in hand, and need just 10 points to ensure they'll be playing in the Championship next season. However, on a day when our FA Cup Semi-Final opponents Arsenal smashed Liverpool 4-1, this won't do much to inspire our already low confidence levels heading into our big day out on the 18th.
We'll have a full detailed report as well as player ratings and an individual look at our two debutants all up on the website over the next couple of days so keep an eye out for those.
With Danny Williams and Nathaniel Chalobah both injured, Reading boss Steve Clarke gave a debut to Chelsea loanee Nathan Ake who partnered Hope Akpan in a team otherwise identical from the one that faced Bradford in our last fixture at the Madejski. Fellow new loan signing Kwesi Appiah had to make do with a spot on the bench as Reading lined up in a 4-4-2 against a Cardiff City side including former Royal Sean Morrison.
Morrison's touches were widely booed throughout the game but Reading fans soon had something positive to celebrate when Jordan Obita's cross was nodded down by Garath McCleary into the path of Pavel Pogrebnyak. The big Russian's effort was far from his cleanest strike but Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall made a hash of the save and the ball slipped passed him to make it 1-0 to Clarke's side.
Reading looked comfortable against a Cardiff team going through the motions but despite being on top they still struggled to create many clear cut chances.
That began to change in the second period and McCleary should have made it two-nil before substitute Appiah wasted two good chances to kill off the game, first failing to round the keeper with a poor first touch and then firing straight at Marshall when in space inside the box. Michael Hector then rattled the bar and you thought it was simply a matter of time until this game was put to bed.
However, if Reading have taught us anything this year, it's not to trust them to get the job done.
Despite a game that had seen little to no threat on the Reading goal,Cardiff's Conor McAleny was given space to cut across the top of the box and curl a fine shot past Adam Federici with 10 seconds left in normal time, leaving both sides with a point.
The result leaves Reading nine points clear of the bottom three with a game in hand, and need just 10 points to ensure they'll be playing in the Championship next season. However, on a day when our FA Cup Semi-Final opponents Arsenal smashed Liverpool 4-1, this won't do much to inspire our already low confidence levels heading into our big day out on the 18th.
We'll have a full detailed report as well as player ratings and an individual look at our two debutants all up on the website over the next couple of days so keep an eye out for those.