• Date: Sat 01 December 2007
  • Venue: Madejski Stadium
  • Ref: Wiley, A
  • Attendance: 22,262
Reading

Reading

Kitson (54)

1 - 1
Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough

Tuncay (83)

Reading vs Middlesbrough

Team Lineups

Reading

Marcus Hahnemann
Ivar Ingimarsson
Graeme Murty
Ibrahima Sonko
Nicky Shorey
Stephen Hunt
Brynjar Gunnarsson (Shane Long, 86)
Bobby Convey (Andre Bikey, 77)
James Harper
Kevin Doyle
Dave Kitson

Middlesbrough

Ross Turnbull
Jonathan Woodgate (Robert Huth, 69)
Luke Young, L
Emanuel Pogatetz
David Wheater
Fabio Rochemback
Adam Johnson, A (Lee Cattermole, 89)
George Boateng
Stewart Downing
Dong-Gook Lee (Sanli Tuncay, 70)
Jeremie Aliadiere


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

A draw is probably a fair result with Tuncay levelling the game for Boro after Kitson's opener.

90

But Boro nearly snatch the win as Hahnemann is forced to save from Aliadiere.

90

Could be the final chance of the game as Kitson heads wide Shorey's decent cross.

89
Substitution
 

Lee Cattermole replaces Johnson as Boro look to safeguard a point.

87

Goalscorer Tuncay turns defender to head clear a fine inswinging cross from Harper.

84
Substitution
 

Reading throw on striker Stacey Long for Gunnarsson

82
Goal
 

Boro get a deserved equaliser as Young swings over a great cross that Tuncay can't fail to head home.

79

Tuncay manages to wriggle into the box but Bikey does well to get in a block.

77
Substitution
 

Steve Coppell looks to close the game out by replacing winger Convey with defensive midfielder Bikey.

75

Aliadiere gets another shot in from 12 yards but he can't get enough power behind it and Hahnemann saves.

72

Great cross by Convey is just punched away by Turnbull as Doyle waited to prod home.

69
Substitution
 

A double change by Gareth Southgate as Huth and Tuncay replace Woodgate and Lee.

67

Hahnemann and Sonko are at each others throats now after the defender let Aliadiere sneak in at the far post.

65

Boro look shell-shocked after going one down. They had dominated the game but could be in danger of conceding again unless they up the tempo.

64

Woodgate and Hunt square up to one another after a 50-50 challenge but the referee dishes out just a telling off to both players.

62

Reading have got their tails up and force a corner after good work by Kitson

60

Wheater hacks the ball clear from Convey as Reading look for a second.

57

The game has sparked into life now. Good work by Convey who plays in Doyle and his shot is pushed around the post by Turnbull.

54
Yellow Card
 

Ingimarsson goes into the book for pulling back Downing.

53
Goal
 

Reading take the lead against the run of play as Kitson chips the advancing Boro kepper Turnbull. Good finish.

51

Kitson tries to work the ball into Convey but Young cuts it out.

48
Yellow Card
 

Boro's Johnson gets booked for kicking the ball away at a Reading free kick

48

Once again Middlesbrough look the livlier of the two sides as Pogatetz cuts inside and drills a shot at Hahnemann

46

Reading kick off the second half looking for a marked improvement in their poor first half showing.

Half time
 

0-0 at the break but Middlesbrough will feel they should be leading after forcing Hahnemann into several fine saves and hitting the Reading post.

45
Yellow Card
 

Murty goes into the book for a late challenge on Lee.

42

Middlesbrough should be one up. Lee and Aliadiere both test Hahnemann in a goal mouth scramble but the best they can do is hit the post.

40

A great ball by Rochemback looks destined for Lee but Hahnemann does well to snatch it away from the Boro forward.

38

Middlesbrough again look impressive going forward. It's Boateng who provides the cross this time but Lee can't quite reach it.

37

Turnball does well again as he gathers a 25 yard snapshot from Kitson.

35

Rochemback slams the ball past Hahnemann but as the Boro fans celebrate referee Wiley signals an offside.

34

Boro respond well with a three against three break away but Aliadiere plays the ball to Johnson when Lee seemed the better option and Reading clear.

32

Best chance of the game as Doyle and Kitson combine well with the latter forcing a good stop from Turnball.

30

Hunt hits an aimless ball over the Boro defence and the ball runs straight to Turnball. Boro's number two goalkeeper hasn't really been tested by Reading yet

28

Neither side seem to be able to take hold of the game in a stop-start match

26

Former Arsenal hitman Aliadiere makes a great run across the Reading defence but can't get his shot off and instead throws himself to the floor looking for the foul. Ref Wiley isn't fooled and waves play on.

24

Despite their lowly league position, Middlesbrough are looking dangerous in attack and strong at the back. This could be a long afternoon for Reading.

22

Harper nearly catches Boro out with a quick free kick but Woodgate eases Kitson off the ball to clear the danger.

20

Lee and Aliadiere combine well on the edge of the Reading box but the final shot doesn't trouble Hahnemann

18

Kitson leads the break away for Reading and finds winger Convey but the American drives his shot at Turnbull who collects at the second attempt.

15

Rookie 'keeper Turnbull dives at the feet of Doyle as the striker closes in on the Boro goal.

13

Aliadiere turns Ingimarsson but fires his shot straight at Hahnemann.

10

Excellent play by Hunt who takes on the Boro defence but the Irishman's cross drifts out for a goal kick.

9

The Reading fans are furious with referee Mike Riley after he blew for a free kick to the home side. Doyle had skipped away from Woodgate and the advantage would have left the Irish striker one-on-one with Turnbull.

6

Reading defender Sonko brings down the lively Johnson but the free kick is chipped straight at Hahnemann

4

A Boro corner comes to nothing but it's a fine start by the away side.

2

Middlesbrough make a positive start as Downing bombs down the right hand touchline but Ingimarsson clears the danger.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate must do without goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer but Julio Arca returns after a long-term knee problem.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Defender Michael Duberry misses out again having not recovered from the rib injury suffered at Fulham in early November.