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  • Date:2008-03-29
  • Kick-off:15:00
  • Venue:Madejski Stadium
  • Attendance:23374
  • Referee:Clattenburg, M

Live Commentary

93mins

The final whistle goes and the sides share the points. Both sides had their chances to take all three points but they couldn't take them. A vital point for Reading in their fight for survival.

93mins

Yellow card for the Georgian Zurab Khizanishvili for an obvious foul in a dangerous area but nothing comes from the free-kick.

92mins

Bentley picks the ball up in a central area and twists and turns Bikey to gain half a yard to hit a shot goalbound but it's confortable for Hahnemann.

91mins

Reading have everyone back here as Pedersen plays it in to the danger area but a generous free-kick is given in Reading's favour and nothing comes of the attack.

90mins

There are three minutes of stoppage time to be played here. Still time for either side to pinch the points.

88mins

Blackburn free-kick is angled into the box, Bikey flicks it on and Santa Cruz was waiting for it and strikes on the half volley and forces another good save from Hahnemann. What a chance to win it for the striker.

86mins

More strikers thrown on by Mark Hughes as Matt Derbyshire comes on for David Dunn.

86mins

Shorey bends a ball into the box and Bikey rises above all others and heads down brilliantly but it is cleared away off the line. The ten men looking dangerous here.

86mins

Stephen Warnock making a mess of it at the back and Doyle takes the ball away from him and Warnock races back and gives away a free-kick. He could have been booked again for that.

84mins

Shane Long robs the ball off Steven Reid and he races to the byline and centres for Stephen Hunt but he completely misses his kick and a great chance to take the lead goes begging. What a miss!

82mins

An attacking move from Mark Hughes as defender Andre Ooijer is replaced by South African striker Benni McCarthy.

81mins

The game is getting very heated now with tackles flying in. Mark Clattenberg will have to keep a lid on this.

80mins

The Reading coaches are still livid with some of the officiating today and the fourth official is having to calm them down. Roy Keane's comments in the week about coaches not being respectful all the more accurate after today.

77mins

Nicky Shorey is booked for his complaints to the assistant over his decision earlier.

76mins

John Oster also makes way for Kalifa Cisse here. Coppell looks to bolster his midfield after the red card.

76mins

Dave Kitson comes off for Shane Long as Reading are trying to change the game.

76mins

A corner for Blackburn results in a shot from Pedersen and Hahnemann spills it but manages to gather it quickly to rescue the ball.

74mins

A dangerous position for a free-kick for Blackburn here. Bentley fires it across the box and the Reading defenders charge out and the attackers are a good five yards offside but no flag. Controversy here.

73mins

Blackburn looking to make the man advantage count straight away as Bentley fires the ball across the box and Hahnemann does well to turn it wide.

72mins

Marek Matejovsky is sent for an early bath after his second yellow card. He can have no complaints after that late foul on Roberts.

70mins

David Dunn lofts the ball over the defense with a fabulous pass over Bikey and Santa Cruz was in behind but Hahnemann did just enough to put the striker off and he puts it wide.

69mins

Another great strike from Matejovsky as the ball breaks to him on the edge of the box, the shot rifles just over the angle. Matejovksy looks like he may have got his eye in now.

69mins

Kevin Doyle sparks the home fans back into life as he breaks into the area down the right but he delayed the pass and allowed Reid a chance to get back.

66mins

John Oster hangs the ball up to the back stick for Kitson who heads it down for Hunt who struck it right footed fractionally wide. Good play from the Royals.

62mins

Good delivery from the free-kick, Harper heads it out but Bentley brings it down brilliantly on his chest and drives it goalbound and Hahnemann is forced into a fantastic save.

61mins

Marek Matejovsky is the second Reading player to be cautioned after a quite blatent foul preventing Blackburn from breaking.

60mins

Patient build up from reading down the right hand side, Rosenior played a quality ball across the box but on his weaker right foot Stephen Hunt couldn't keep his right footed volley down from seven yards out.

58mins

Stephen Reid is cautioned for a cynical foul as Reading looked to break away. No complaints from the midfielder.

56mins

When Blackburn are coming forward, Reading are very deep and it could cost them as Bentley and Pedersen are finding space infront of the backline.

53mins

Marek Matejovsky gets on the end of a wonderful Reading move as Oster rolled him in but his strike was well blocked. The Reading fans sparked into life by that one.

52mins

Jason Roberts becomes the fourth player to be cautioned by Mark Clattenberg. This time i feel the officials may have got that one wrong.

51mins

Kevin Doyle makes a good run in behind the Rovers backline but Nelsen comes across to put in a very good challenge.

49mins

Stephen Warnock is booked after a foul on Dave Kitson. Good refereeing as he played the advantage but after play had broken down he went back to caution the defender.

48mins

Jason Roberts does well as he ran to the byline, turning it back across the box looking for Bentley but he couldn't quite pick out the England international.

46mins

Doyle wins an early corner off Georgian defender Zurab Khizanishvili, but the corner comes to nothing.

46mins

The seond period is underway with neither manager making changes.

45mins

The half time whistle goes here. Both sides will be content, and both will look to improve in the second half.

45mins

Matejovsky slides a fabulous ball into Dave Kitson but Friedel just nicks the ball away first and it goes for a throw. Wonderful play from Marek Matejovsky.

43mins

Two Blackburn corners in succession at the end of the half here, the second is delivered by Pedersen but a free-kick is given to Reading for pushing in the box.

42mins

Oster wastes another good opportunity from a free-kick. He attempts the quick one but no-one reacts and Friedel gathers.

38mins

Ryan Nelsen is also cautioned after that incident. Mark Clattenberg gets that one right there.

38mins

Marcus Hahnemann is booked for his part in that scuffle. The keeper gave the referee no choice there.

37mins

Some handbags here after Hahnemann tried to move the ball out clearly when Nelsen flicks it out of his hands. The keeper reacted agressively and could have been punished there.

36mins

Jason Roberts steams forward with Bikey out of position but he was brought down by Matejovsky. The free-kick was well driven by Gamst and Hahnemann tips it over somewhat awkwardly.

34mins

Marek Matejovsky brings the ball forward with Kitson and Doyle running either side, he plays it to Doyle early but the defence deal with it comfortably. Matejovsky needed to drive on there.

31mins

Reading on the back foot here but Santa Cruz was tackled well by Bikey and Pedersen's strike is blocked early by Ingimarsson.

30mins

Roque Santa Cruz puts his keeper under pressure there with a poor backpass but Blackburn scramble it clear.

27mins

An opportunity for Reading to threaten here with a free-kick, Shorey's delivery hits the first man - Good chance to threaten is wasted.

26mins

Once again Blackburn lose possession and Reading break but John Oster's final ball is not accurate again and in the end the visistors clear.

25mins

David Bentley is finding the ball at his feet frequently and running at Shorey looking to create an opening but nothing coming of yet but Rovers looking very relaxed here.

23mins

An interesting battle taking place here between Reading's Andre Bikey and Rovers' Jason Roberts - Bikey taking the better of it at the moment.

22mins

Both sides are struggling to put anything together going forward. The final touch or final pass not quite on target as of yet.

19mins

A rapid break from Reading should have resulted in a chance but John Oster's final ball to Kitson is not accurate enough and between Nelsen and Friedel Blackburn clear.

17mins

Kitson almost creates a chance with a back header flick on into space on the edge of the box but none of the midfielders were taking a gamble and making the run and the ball is cleared all the way to Hahnemann.

15mins

A well worked move down the left hand side almost results in a chance to cross for Hunt but the ball just beats him to the byline. More promising there for Reading though.

14mins

Blackburn have slowed down the pace of the game and are controlling the tempo. The Royals have tried to go forward quickly but Rovers are stifling their progress effectively.

9mins

David Bentley hangs a cross up to the back post, Pedersen heads it back across the goal and Roberts was there but his header is comfortably saved by Hahnemann.

8mins

Both sides are trying to attack rapidly but their urgency has resulted in neither side being able to string together a good passing move.

5mins

Kevin Doyle hits a wondeful cross across the box, Zurab Khizanishvili heads it away but not clearly and another ball comes in from Oster almost sends the ball into the path of Hunt but he couldn't apply the finishing touch.

3mins

John Oster's cross is blocked by David Dunn and goes for an early corner - Stephen Hunt swings it across but Ingimarsson's header goes well wide.

2mins

The first shot comes from David Bentley but it flies comfortably into the midrift of Hahnemann.

0mins

The referee today is Mark Clattenberg and he gets this one underway.

0mins

Blackburn's only change sees Ryan Nelsen come into the defence for the suspended Samba and it is no suprise to see in-form Santa Cruz up top. No doubt he will cause Reading some problems today.

0mins

Steve Coppell names an unchanged Reading side today after their impressive and crucial win over Birmingham last time out. Another result like that will do their hopes of survival a world of good.

0mins

Blackburn: Friedel, Ooijer, Nelsen, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Bentley, Reid, Dunn, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, Roberts

0mins

Reading: Hahnemann, Rosenior, Ingimarsson, Bikey, Shorey, Oster, Harper, Matejovsky, Hunt, Doyle, Kitson

0mins

Welcome to the Madejski Stadium, home to Reading. Today's visitors are the inform Blackburn who will be looking to continue their good form and continue their push for European football next season.

Match Preview

Reading will be looking to secure their first win over Blackburn for more than 20 years on Saturday as they strive to break free from the relegation struggle.

The Royals enter the weekend tied on 31 points with Wigan, five points above Bolton in 18th and just a couple of wins short of ending the season in a comfortable mid-table position.

Blackburn have a battle of their own, sandwiched as they are between Aston Villa and Manchester City with all three sides level on 49 points.

They were impressive in the 3-1 victory over Wigan last weekend and manager Mark Hughes was clear that the performance showed that his side are ready for the season run-in.

"It was really important we won and I said beforehand the players had to understand the significance of the game and as a consequence we got a really good performance," Hughes said after the match.

He had striker Roque Santa Cruz to thank for the three points after the Paraguayan bagged his 13th and 14th goals of the season, his first for five matches.

"I miss it when I don't score that much but I am wishing to score every game now. Twenty is seen as the magic number but who knows? Let's just see how far I can I go before the end of the season," Santa Cruz told the Lancashire Telegraph this week.

Praise too came from Hughes, who said: "You only have to look at the amount of goals he's scored in his first season in English football to see he's been different class.

"I think the only problem he's had in the past has been injuries but it looks like he's going to go through this season fit, and if he does that then it will be a big step for him," Hughes said of the £3.8million signing.

Christopher Samba was the one casualty of the win over Wigan, the Congo international seeing red for a professional foul.

His suspension and injuries to Ryan Nelsen and Martin Olsson is likely to give Aaron Mokoena a chance to start his first Premier League game for almost three months.

Reading left-back Graeme Murty had aimed to be back in competitive action by this weekend but the Scottish defender is unlikely to be risked as he recovers from a knee injury.


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Match Report

Reading held on for a vital point after being reduced to ten men for the final 18 minutes at home to Blackburn Rovers.

Czech international midfielder Marek Matejovsky was sent off by referee Mark Clattenburg when he collected a second yellow card for a trip on Jason Roberts.

In addition to dismissing Matejovsky, Clattenburg booked seven other players, a remarkable total in a game that was never as unpleasant as the tally suggests.

The result was a small step forward in Reading's attempt to pull clear of relegation and a step backwards in Blackburn's hopes of gaining a UEFA Cup place.

Despite their ten men, Reading could have snatched a winner seven minutes from time. Shane Long fired in a right-wing cross and with the goal at his mercy Stephen Hunt completely miskicked.

With two minutes to go Blackburn also came close to the winner with Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann making a point-blank save from Roque Santa Cruz.

A draw was probably the right result, as neither side was ever able to establish a real advantage over the other.

During a mediocre first half, chances were few and far between. After just three minutes Ivar Ingimarsson headed Hunt's corner wide of the upright.

Hunt was involved again when Andre Ooijer blocked a John Oster cross in the goalmouth. The ball ran loose but Hunt, at full stretch, prodded it wide.

Morten Gamst Pedersen set up Roberts for a Blackburn chance, but his header struck Ingimarsson on the shoulder and ballooned comfortably into the arms of Hahnemann.

Blackburn's Ryan Nelsen was lucky to escape a booking when he pulled Kevin Doyle to the ground. Referee Clattenburg just gave him a long lecture.

But six minutes before the break Nelsen was booked after a bizarre incident in the Reading goalmouth. As Hahnemann prepared to throw the ball clear Nelsen pushed him from behind and dislodged it.

Hahnemann then had to tackle Nelsen to win it back and also picked up a yellow card, which clearly mystified the Reading players.

Nelsen's was the first of five bookings for Blackburn, with Stephen Warnock, Roberts, Steven Reid and Zurab Khizanishvili all having their names taken as well, in addition to Hahnemann and full-back Nicky Shorey for the Royals.

The story was similar after the break, with neither side able to get on top and chances scarce.

England international David Bentley drew a fine save from Hahnemann and for Reading, Hunt fired one effort high over the bar and another one wide.

Reading

Blackburn Rovers

Corners

67

Fouls

1015

Goal attempts

89

Shots off target

63

Offsides

10

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