BACK TO ARCHIVE INDEX © All written site content is copyright ComeOnBoro.com 2004-2007, unless otherwise stated, and is not to be used without prior permission.	READING v MIDDLESBROUGH, PREMIER LEAGUE, 19th AUGUST 2006 The long wait is over and it's time to stop the talking and start the action. A massive Boro contingent travelled to Reading to see Gareth Southgate's first game as Boro manager. Would his team put on a magnificent performance and get the rub of the green? Schwarzer, Parnaby, Pogatetz, Riggott, Arca (Davies 45), Morrison (Johnson 84), Rochemback (Mendieta 68), Boateng, Downing, Viduka, Yakubu Turnbull, Maccarone THE FIRST HALF The game started at a fast and furious pace and Boro looked to attack from early on but after George Boateng had ballooned one over the bar, it was Reading who nearly opened the scoring when Kitson forced Skippy into a diving save within the first few minutes. But Boro recovered well and began to keep more possession and were looking far too sharp for Reading by now. After eleven minutes, Stewart Downing picked up a pass from George Boateng, ghosted past his marker and sent the perfect shot into the back of the net from outside the box to send Boro (temporarily) top of the Premier League. READING 0 MIDDLESBROUGH 1 (Downing 11) Boro were working incredibly well as a unit and always looked dangerous when attacking and solid when defending. On twenty minutes, Boro won a free-kick just outside the area and flush with the goal. Fabio Rochemback stepped up and cracked it and keeper Hahnemann could only fumble it. The Yak was there to double the scoreline and keep Boro at the top of the table. READING 0 MIDDLESBROUGH 2 (Yakubu 21) Boro were in complete control now, despite Reading becoming much more positive after going two down. Despite Boro's dominance, Reading were trying hard enough to get back into it to stop Boro pushing on and storming into a three goal lead. The Royals nearly pulled one back through the lively Dave Kitson on twenty-six minutes and if he had passed to one of his two unmarked team-mates instead of trying to do it all himself, Reading woudl have been back in it. Julio Arca was off receiving treatment at the time and Boro's defence was looking incredibly stretched whilst the Argentinian was out of action and Skippy was called into action once again. It was Kitson again who was the master-craftsman and another long-range effort forced a third great save of the afternoon from Schwarzer. Boro's dominance was gone now and Reading were hell-bent on getting back into the match. Reading continued to press for the rest of the first-half and Boro could contain them no longer as Bobby Convey worked the byline well and got in a well aimed cross which Kitson managed got on the end of and pull one back. READING 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 2 (Kitson 43) Reading were not behind for much longer as they immediately won possession again and drove forward, putting Boro onto the back foot and remarkably grabbing an equaliser through Steve Sidwell, who was booked for his over exuberant celebration. READING 2 MIDDLESBROUGH 2 (Sidwell 44) Chris Riggott was booked two minutes after the half-time whistle had blown. Granted, it was a bad tackle that floored Dave Kitson but why did the referee take so long to book him and only do so after he had noticed how bad the injury was to Kitson? THE SECOND HALF Julio Arca, who picked up the blame from large sections of the travelling contingent, was taken off at half-time and replaced by Andrew Davies. Dave Kitson did not recover in time to come out for the second half and was replaced by Leroy Lita. It was a scrappy opening to the second half and Boro appeared to be finding it difficult to settle, mainly due to the endeavours of Leroy Lita. A scramble ensued in the Boro box when a long cross was sent in by Sidwell and Lita picked up the scrambled clearance and drove the ball home to give Reading the lead and send Boro (temporarily) to the bottom of the table. READING 3 MIDDLESBROUGH 2 (Lita 56) Despite being a goal down, Boro were looking solid in the middle of eth defence, Pogatetz particularly being on top of his game but Reading were skinning us down the flanks by now and Boro were starting to crumble. On sixty-two minutes, Fabio Rochemback was booked for failing to control a stray elbow and this was a sure sign that Boro were perhaps about to capitulate. On seventy minutes, Boro took off Fabio Rochemback and introduced Gaizka Mendieta who took up a position on the wing with Morrison moving into the centre. Reading continued to press and were easily the stronger side by this stage with Boro on the backfoot and making little headway with the scant few attacking movements that were in evidence up until the final fifteen minutes when Boro finally woke up. Stewart Downing had a long distance effort easily saved by Hahnemann and the resulting corner provided an opportunity for Mendieta but the shot was weak and easily collected. A defensive error by Murty allowed Viduka in for an opportunity that he may well have buried on any other day. But Boro had the bit between their teeth now and an Andrew Davies led attack saw James Morrison send in a low and hard cross which found Mark Viduka who banged the ball into the back of the net. It was a terrible decision by the linesman as Viduka was never offside but it had become evident some time ago that this was not going to be our day. With six minutes to play, Adam Johnson replaced Morrison and was instrumental in producing a corner which Chris Riggott was very unlucky not to equalise from as his shot drifted just wide. That was Boro's last meaningful effort as Reading successfully ran the clock down to chalk up the first win of their Premiership existence. You have to say that they deserved it but if Boro's defence had not capitulated late in the first half, the whole story could have been so very different. Let's hope the rest of the season is. Full-time whistle: 1656 - Report online - 1702 READING FANS WELCOME IN THE NEW HOLGATE MESSAGE BOARD READING v BORO MATCH PROGRAMME INDEX
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