Derby County 0 - 4 Reading

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Sunday May 11 2008 03:00

Reading's party in the Pride Park sunshine ended in tears despite their team's impressive victory over the worst side in Premier League history.

The 3,000 travelling fans who had sung and cheered throughout a one-sided game fell silent when the news that Fulham had scored at Portsmouth came through.

There was nothing Reading could do but hope that Portsmouth could reply, but when Mike Riley blew the final whistle, Steve Coppell's team were Championship bound along with Birmingham and Derby.

At least Reading can take consolation in the fact they look far better equipped to come back than Derby, who now share the record with Loughborough Town as the only team in the history of the Football League to win only one game in a season.

Derby were second best by a country mile in this match and could have been four down by half-time if Leroy Lita had not been so lacking in confidence in front of goal.

At the end, the home fans summed it up when they sang "you're not fit to wear the shirt" and "we want our money back" and it is painfully clear that manager Paul Jewell has a huge job ahead of him.

Although Reading were only two places above them in the table, the gulf between the teams was massive and this latest shambolic performance showed why the supporters voted for themselves as Player of the Year.Marek Matejovsky ran the midfield and created two early chances for Lita that the striker failed to put away.

But a goal was also coming and it arrived in the fifth minute when Dave Kitson broke into the area, played the ball to his right and James Harper curled a left foot shot into the top corner.

Lita missed another good chance before David Jones had Derby's first effort at goal in the 40th minute which Marcus Hahnemann turned away for a corner.

It was his only save of the game as the second half turned into yet another embarrassment for Jewell and his players.Robbie Savage and Mile Sterjovski were replaced but Derby were no better and Reading increased their lead on the hour when Roy Carroll could only parry a low drive from Nicky Shorey and Lita turned the ball back across for Kitson to score.Kevin Doyle came off the bench to score the third in the 69th minute following more defensive chaos from Derby and the sea of white and blue shirts in the visiting end celebrated until Fulham condemned their team to relegation.

The players knew from the silence that descended on the fans that Fulham were leading, but Reading ended a two-year stay in the Premier League with another goal when Stephen Hunt crossed from the right and Lita dived full length at the near post to score.

Derby fans spilled onto the pitch at the end and a planned lap of the ground by Jewell and his team was cancelled.

"You're ashamed to show your face," sang the supporters. It was hard to argue with them.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    Hardly any stoppage time here at Pride Park and as the Derby fans make to the pitch, the Reading fathful are left holding their head in their hands. Best of luck next year to Reading and Derby fans alike.
  • 89
    LITA heads low past Carroll to bring up the fourth goal of the afternoon but it doesn't look like it is going to be enough as Fulham enter injury time in the lead.
  • 88
    Doyle runs with the ball, keeps going and going and going but is eventually tackled as he makes his way into the area, fair challenge though!
  • 86
    The ball rolls to Oster who watches it onto his right foot and fires off a shot but the effort is weak and flies out for a goal kick.
  • 85
    As we head into the final five minutes of the match Fulham are still a goal to the good and Reading are heading for the Premiership trap door.
  • 83
    Harper off, Andre Bikey on for Reading. That's all the substitutions made here now at Pride Park.
  • 81
    The corner is taken but it sums up Derby' season as the ball sails out harmlessly for a goal kick.
  • 81
    Kalifa Cisse comes on for the outstanding Matejovsky who has run himself out of steam here.
  • 80
    Derby take a free kick high into the afternoon sky which Moore gets on the end of but sends his header into a Reading defender and out for a corner.
  • 78
    Murty drives a shot across the face of goal, running out for a goal kick in the end.
  • 77
    Oster tries to get a shot away but he slips as he goes to pull the trigger and Derby scramble the ball away.
  • 75
    Disaster for Reading as Fulham take the lead at Fratton Park through a Danny Murphy header! After all this good work today, Reading will be heading out of the Premier league this afternoon if the scores stay as they are.
  • 73
    Derby have given up on this match now and Reading could well be looking for a fourth here!
  • 70
    The game is all over here but Fulham are still level, what a nervous end to a Premier League season!
  • 68
    DOYLE and Matejovsky go in on a loose ball in the area and the Irishman gets the last touch, diving into the crowd as the ball nestles into the back of the net.
  • 67
    Kevin Doyle comes on for Kitson who has picked up a slight injury.
  • 65
    Hunt continues a run into the box and is onside but Carroll comes out and smothers the ball.
  • 63
    Paris Simmons comes into the fray for Villa as Derb make their third and final change of the afternoon.
  • 63
    The Reading fans are creating a deafening atmosphere here, it shows just what it means to Reading if they were to stay up.
  • 62
    Hunt takes a free kick which falls to Harper, the youngster fires in a shot, saved by Carroll only as far as Lita who pulls the ball back for KITSON who is left with a simple slotted shot from a couple of yards out.
  • 60
    Lita runs on to a through ball, cuts inside and unleashes a shot but the effort is hit straight into the side netting.
  • 59
    Reading spray the ball about in the middle of the park and are now looking more confident, Derby haven't given up just yet though and their fans are doing their best to spur them on.
  • 57
    Miller flicks the ball on but it's a poor header and Hahnemann lets the ball roll out for a goal kick.
  • 55
    The Reading support are making sure that the atmosphere adds to this match but their players need to take the game by the scruff of the neck with the match continuing to be bogged down.
  • 54
    Oster tries to find Lita with a long ball down the line but Moore comes across, using his strength to take the ball off of the Reading man.
  • 52
    Blackburn equalise against Birmingham and it's still goalless between Portsmouth and Fulham.
  • 51
    Carroll makes a very poor clearance which Hunt closes down on and the 'keeper is fortunate that Marc Edworthy is around to clear the danger for Derby.
  • 49
    The match is beginning to take on a scrappy feel here, neither side can get the ball under control.
  • 48
    It's been all Reading in the opening stages of this second half, it seems that Derby are resigned to dropping all three points once again.
  • 47
    Oster plays a ball through to Lita but Moore does his job brillianlty and removes the danger.
  • 46
    Savage is replaced by Marcus Edworthy.
  • 46
    Sterjovski comes off to be replaced by Benny Feilhaber.
  • 45
    Reading break forward from the kick off, looking for Lita but Derby stand their ground and clear the danger.
  • 45
    The visitors get the second half underway and look to attack from the off...
  • 45
    The half time whistle goes and Reading are well on the way to claiming all three points, which is more, they are also currently in the driving seat to beat the drop.
  • 45
    Jones drives in from the left hand side, weaving through the Royal's defence and curling in a shot but Hahnemann collects with ease.
  • 45
    The fourth official indicates a minimum of TWO minutes to be added on at the end of this first half.
  • 45
    Murty collects the ball and drives a ball back across goal for Hunt but the ball is overhit and sails out for a goal kick.
  • 45
    The match appears to be heading into the break without any other real bit of drama.
  • 44
    Stephen Hunt rolls a pass through to striker Lita but the ball is ever so slightly overhit and Carroll dives on the ball.
  • 43
    Kitson goes up to try the acrobatic overhead but is pulled up for high feet by referee Riley.
  • 41
    The corner comes to nothing as it drifts out into the support behind the goal for a goal kick.
  • 40
    David Jones hits a vicious effort from 30 yards out which Hahnemann has to tip over for a corner kick, where did that come from?
  • 39
    Oster tries to find Lita in the box but it is headed away by Lewin Nyatanga.
  • 38
    Reading have been a little quiet recently, perhaps they are looking to take the game into half time with a goal lead and build after the break?
  • 36
    Birmingham have taken the lead against Blackburn down at St Andrews, the results at the moment mean they are still heading for relegation but it adds pressure on Reading to get a result here.
  • 34
    Miller looks up and tries to hit a cross field pass but the ball bounces up off his foot and flies out for an embarrassing throw-in.
  • 33
    Lita goes in on goal and out comes Carroll bravely who has just received treatment for a knock, the pair collide but the referee awards a goal kick.
  • 31
    Birmingham and Pompey are still drawing nil-nil in their respective matches, many Reading fans have brought along radios to keep up to date with the results.
  • 29
    A small break in play as both sets of players race across to take a drinks break in surging heat at Pride Park, the game really does have the perfect 'end of season' feel to it.
  • 28
    Emanuel Villa battles with Michael Duberry and as the pair come together the referee favours the defender as Reading earn a free-kick, a largely unpopular decision it has to be said.
  • 26
    Tyrone Mears plays the ball forward to Mile Sterjovski but the latter leaves the ball as it rolls out of play for a goal kick, much to the discontent of the Derby faithful.
  • 25
    Reading are playing some of their best football of the season just when they need to here, this could be their day!
  • 23
    Matejovsky knocks the ball forward and looks to run onto the ball but Robbie Savage pulls him back inside the area, nothing give from Mike Riley though!
  • 21
    Hossam Ghaly tries to curl a ball into the box for Kenny Miller but his cross takes a touch off Matejovsky and spins into the arms of a grateful Marcus Hahnemann.
  • 20
    Lita looks lively here early on, he's chasing down ball after ball and you have to think that he himself has a goal in him today.
  • 18
    Lita races through on goal, chasing a through ball from Harper but Darren Moore comes across to make a strong challenge.
  • 16
    Lita is through yet again but his shot is sent wide of the Derby uprights, Reading really are on top of this match though here!
  • 14
    Matejovsky gets the ball through to Lita with a fine pass but Lita can't get the ball out of his feet and Carroll claims the ball.
  • 13
    James HARPER collects the ball on the edge of the box and unleashes a spectacular shot right into the top corner of the net to send the travelling support into raptures! Reading take a step towards survival with Birmingham and Portsmouth drawing!
  • 12
    Derby have began to calm things down here and are slowly starting to find their way into the match.
  • 10
    Flick on from Matejovsky finds Dave Kitson but he snaps at his shot sending the ball harmlessly into the arms of Carroll.
  • 9
    Matejovsky finds himsef on the end of a Graeme Murty ball and hits a cross come shot which drifts a yard wide of the Derby goal! All Reading at the moment.
  • 8
    Lita gets up well from an Oster ball and heads just inches wide of Carroll's near post, great stuff from Reading!
  • 6
    Marek Matejovsky plays a fantastic ball through to Leroy Lita who bears down on goal but Carroll manages to get to the ball just before the striker.
  • 5
    The game has become brightly and both sets of fans are doing their utmost to keep the atmosphere electric.
  • 3
    Derby try to break forward but Ivar Ingimarsson comes across to put in a challenge and force the ball out for a throw-in.
  • 2
    The ball breaks to John Oster who has acres to run into but he fails to deliver a ball towards his front men and the ball is cleared away.
  • 1
    Derby started the match and play the ball all the way back to Roy Carroll.
  • 0
    The final game of the season kicks off and as the nerves fade away and adrenaline kicks in, can Reading avoid the drop at the very last attempt?
  • 0
    Reading XI: Hahnemann, Murty, Ingimarsson, Duberry, Shorey, Oster, Harper, Matejovsky, Hunt, Lita, Kitson.
  • 0
    Derby XI: Carroll, Mears, Moore, Nyatanga, Lewis, Sterjovski, Savage, Ghaly, Jones, Villa, Miller.
  • 0
    The referee for today will be Mike Riley, in 28 matches he has handed out 103 yellow and 2 red cards.
  • 0
    Reading need to better both Birmingham and Fulham's results against Blackburn and Portsmouth respectively if they are to keep their top flight status; Steve Coppell's only injury concern is that of Glen Little who has a calf problem.
  • 0
    Derby host their final Premier League game hoping to secure some pride with only their second victory of the season whilst dumping Reading out of the top flight after just two years in the Premiershio.

Statistics

Derby County
Shots on target 2
Shots off target 4
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 17
Offsides 0
Corners 2

Reading
Shots on target 7
Shots off target 4
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 13
Offsides 3
Corners 0

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