Writer: Steve Guscott 
Date:Saturday January 30 2010
Time: 8:47PM
Madejski Stadium
30th January 2010
Attendance: 15,580
Shane Long scored the only goal in a drab game at the Madejski Stadium but the Royals fans won`t be complaining as Brian McDermott masterminded his first league win in charge.
In his first full game in charge, McDermott opted to drop Kalifa Cisse and bring in Brynjar Gunnarsson, and there was a change upfront as Simon Church returned in place of Gunnar Thorvaldsson. There was also a place on the bench for Nicholas Bignall alongside a number of other attacking players.
As we have come to expect, the Royals dominated the opening half but those who travelled to Sheffield on Tuesday night might have been thinking that we would suffer the same fate after missing a host of chances in the opening half hour. Ivar Ingimarsson hooked over early on, and the returning Church also failed to get his shot on target after good work from Gylfi Sigurdsson. Shane Long forced Barnsley keeper Luke Steele into a save with our first shot on target whilst at the other end the Tykes Adam Hammill saw his effort cleared off the line by Ryan Bertrand.
On the half hour the opening goal did arrive and it was to be Long`s first league goal of the season. No one will forget his winner at Anfield but this goal may well be far more important come the end of the season. The impressive Bertrand put the ball back into the area from a deep right wing cross and our Irish number 9 was on hand to lash into the net.
Jem Karacan had a chance before the break after good work from Church and McAnuff but he could only fire wide. After the interval the game continued in much the same fashion with the Royals having the better of the play, although sub Daniel Bogdanovic did fire one effort goal wards soon after his half time entrance.
Long was buzzing from his earlier goal and his confidence looked sky high when he tested Steele from long range after a neat turn. McAnuff went closest to adding a second goal after he smashed Bertrand`s low cross against the inside of the post.
The final stages became scrappy, despite Bignall`s introduction, but we managed to hold out for a long overdue three points. It was very pleasing to keep a clean sheet and McDermott got his full time reign as manager off to a great start - let`s hope there is more to come!
Mackail-Smith was mystery man (Sunday September 5 2010)
Church can't stop Wales defeat (Sunday September 5 2010)
Ingi and Armstrong set for comebacks (Sunday September 5 2010)
Hendrie joins on trial (Wednesday September 1 2010)
Transfer window round up (Tuesday August 31 2010)
Harte signs! (Tuesday August 31 2010)
Zurab is back! (Tuesday August 31 2010)
Sigurdsson completes Hoffenheim move (Tuesday August 31 2010)
Harte on his way? (Tuesday August 31 2010)
Bid accepted for Sigurdsson (Monday August 30 2010)
Reading's Number 1! (Monday August 30 2010)
Sigurdsson to Hoffenheim? (Sunday August 29 2010)
McDermott - 'We've done ourselves justice now' (Sunday August 29 2010)
Stats: Leicester v Reading 28th August 2010 (Sunday August 29 2010)
Mills gives Royals first win (Sunday August 29 2010)
Leicester (A) Match Preview (Friday August 27 2010)
Fridays Rant (1) (Friday August 27 2010)
Armstrong set for return (Friday August 27 2010)
View from Northampton (Wednesday August 25 2010)
How about these two? (Wednesday August 25 2010)
Ingi comeback delayed again (Wednesday August 25 2010)
Stats: Reading v Northampton 24th August 2010 (Wednesday August 25 2010)
Royals out on Pens (Wednesday August 25 2010)
Northampton (H) Match Preview (Tuesday August 24 2010)
Reading Match Parking For Cancer Research (Monday August 23 2010)
Tabb set for surgery (Sunday August 22 2010)
Stats: Reading v Notts Forest 21st August 2010 (Saturday August 21 2010)
Federici error costs Royals (Saturday August 21 2010)
Vital Reading meets Forest (Saturday August 21 2010)
Nottingham Forest (H) Match Preview (Friday August 20 2010)
Rasiak departs (Friday August 20 2010)
McCarthy - 'I cocked up!' (Thursday August 19 2010)
Injury crisis easing? (Thursday August 19 2010)
Hunt continues comeback as reserves draw (Thursday August 19 2010)
Stats: Portsmouth v Reading 14th August 2010 (Sunday August 15 2010)
Royals leave it late at Pompey (Sunday August 15 2010)
Portsmouth (A) Match Preview (Friday August 13 2010)
Vital Reading meets.... Portsmouth (Friday August 13 2010)
Big travelling crowd for Pompey (Thursday August 12 2010)
Coppell resigns from Bristol City (Thursday August 12 2010)
Stats: Torquay v Reading 11th August 2010 (Thursday August 12 2010)
Cobblers..... (Wednesday August 11 2010)
Torquay 0-1 Royals (AET) (Wednesday August 11 2010)
Vital Football All Facebooked & Twittered! (Wednesday August 11 2010)
Torquay (A) Match Preview (Wednesday August 11 2010)
McDermott - 'We don't have any cash' (Tuesday August 10 2010)
Youngsters travel to Torquay (Tuesday August 10 2010)
Ref confirmed for Torquay (Tuesday August 10 2010)
Vital Reading meets Torquay! (Tuesday August 10 2010)
So who won't be available for Torquay? (Monday August 9 2010)
McCarthy signs new deal (Monday August 9 2010)
Long out of Ireland game (Monday August 9 2010)
McDermott - 'We didn't defend well' (Sunday August 8 2010)
Alex Pearce proves why we need a new centre back (Sunday August 8 2010)
Stats: Reading v Scunthorpe 7th August 2010 (Saturday August 7 2010)
Royals 1-2 Scunthorpe (Saturday August 7 2010)
Mid table finish predicted (Friday August 6 2010)
Scunthorpe (H) Match Preview (Friday August 6 2010)
Mooney loaned to Col U (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Swansea (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Watford (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Sheffield United (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Scunthorpe (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - QPR (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Preston (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Portsmouth (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Norwich (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Nottingham Forest (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Millwall (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Middlesbrough (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Leicester (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Leeds (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Ipswich (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Hull (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Doncaster (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Crystal Palace (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Derby (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Coventry (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Cardiff (Friday August 6 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Burnley (Thursday August 5 2010)
Vital Reading speaks to Vital Scunny! (Thursday August 5 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Bristol City (Thursday August 5 2010)
The Championship 2010/11 - Barnsley (Thursday August 5 2010)
Bertrand joins Forest (Thursday August 5 2010)
McCarthy in England under 21 squad (Wednesday August 4 2010)
Chairman - 'I'm expecting promotion!' (Wednesday August 4 2010)
Leicester ticket news (Wednesday August 4 2010)
Ref confirmed for Saturday (Wednesday August 4 2010)
Andersen pens new deal before heading to Bristol!! (Tuesday August 3 2010)
Andersen set for Bristol Rovers return? (Monday August 2 2010)
Rasiak back for Ressies (Monday August 2 2010)
Kebe struggling to make big kick off (Sunday August 1 2010)
Pompey fixture in doubt?! (Sunday August 1 2010)
Royals end pre-season with win (Saturday July 31 2010)
Ingi weeks away from comeback (Thursday July 29 2010)
Squad numbers confirmed (Thursday July 29 2010)
Long called up for Ireland (Thursday July 29 2010)
Henry completes Millwall move (Wednesday July 28 2010)
Antonio - 'I want to be the new Kebe' (Wednesday July 28 2010)
Royals win again! (Wednesday July 28 2010)
| 1. | South Bank | 2 |
| 2. | Sidwell | 1 |
| Latest Results | ||||
| Leicester City | 1 | - | 2 | Reading |
| Reading | 1 | - | 1 | Forest |
| Portsmouth | 1 | - | 1 | Reading |
| Reading | 1 | - | 2 | Scunthorpe |
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 10. Barnsley | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 7 |
| 11. Scunthorpe | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 12. Swansea | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 13. Reading | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 14. Watford | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 15. Derby County | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 4 |
| 16. Middlesbrough | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 4 |
| QPR Defeated In Masters
» Q.P.R. : 05/09/2010 19:46:00
|
| LUFC Grella turns down move away from Elland Road
» Leeds Utd : 05/09/2010 15:52:00
|
| Vital Burnley Prediction League Update-August
» Burnley : 05/09/2010 12:10:00
|
| Sheffield Clarets Seek New Members
» Burnley : 05/09/2010 11:43:00
|
| League clubs ready to land loan stars
» Coventry : 05/09/2010 10:42:00
|
| Pressing on against Preston!
» Burnley : 05/09/2010 10:42:00
|
| Scunthorpe Sunday Round-up : 5/9/10
» Scunthorpe : 05/09/2010 10:41:00
|