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  • Petrov (11), Ireland (90)
  • Harper (43)
  • Date:2007-11-24
  • Kick-off:15:00
  • Venue:City of Manchester Stadium
  • Attendance:43813
  • Referee:Tanner, S

Live Commentary

90mins

FT: Man City 2-1 Reading: City maintain their 100% home record thanks to Ireland's injury time wonder strike which was very cruel on a Reading side who were good value for a point.

90mins

Man City 2-1 Reading (IRELAND): What a goal from IRELAND! He unleashes a superb strike into the back of the net from outside the box to win the game for City.

90mins

Geovanni, this is the chance for City surely, but no he has blazed it over the bar from 8 yards out and wasted the chance.

89mins

Geovanni slips at the decisive moment in his own half and Graeme Murty is able to run in behind and everntually he manages to win a corner.

86mins

And Long's first action is to viciously scythe down Sun Jihai and he is awarded a yellow card.

85mins

Shane Long is replacing Kevin Doyle who has run his socks off for the Royals today.

83mins

Reading are now enjoying the bulk of the possession and are keeping it very well but they don't have the creative spark to cause the Man City defence too many problems.

80mins

Still no real goalmouth action to speak of as both side struggle to break through the back fours.

77mins

City are enjoying the better of the possession but they cannot breach the Royals defence, in fact both sides look more dangerous on the break than anywhere else.

73mins

Petrov has been City's dangerman today as he cuts in a delivers a superb through ball into Samaras' run and only brave goalkeeping from Hahnemann stops him putting City ahead.

70mins

Either side could go on to win this game in the final 20 minutes as both have had chances but in all fairness, a draw is looking most likely.

66mins

Geovanni drops a shoulder to manoevre the ball onto his favoured right foot and lets fly from 25 yards and it is only a fraction wide of the post.

64mins

Just like the first period the half has started brightly but both sides are now playing slowly once more, which is not uncommon with games after the international break.

60mins

Elano - who looks absolutely knackered - is coming off now to be replaced by Geovanni in attack.

58mins

Another lull in proceedings as both sides are happy to pass the ball around between the midfield and defence.

54mins

Javier Garrido advances down the left and he puts in a superb cross into the centre of the area and Samaras is a fraction away from getting his head on it.

53mins

A little more lively at the start of the second half and that is arguably down to Reading coming out to attack the City backline which is stretching the play.

50mins

Stephen Hunt dives in wrecklessly on Gelson Fernandes and is very lucky to get away with a yellow card because that was a horrendous challenge.

48mins

Nice interplay between Kitson and Doyle in the final third and the Irishman tries to feed his strike partner with a delicate low cross but Kitson can't quite reach to prod home.

46mins

The second half is underway and lets hope for a little more action this time.

46mins

Emile Mpenza is making way at the break for Georgios Samaras in the City attack.

45mins

HT:Man City 1-1 Reading: What was actually a very dull first half has ended level after Reading fought back as City relaxed too much as half time approached.

43mins

Man City 1-1 Reading (HARPER): James HARPER places one into the top corner to draw the Royals level and City have paid the price for relaxing too much.

42mins

Vedran Corluka has been feeling his hamstring for a few minutes now and he is going to have to exit the play with Sun Jihai coming on in his place at right back.

39mins

Wonderful play by City again with Elano - as usual - at the heart of it but Mpenza strays a fraction offside and Reading are let off the hook.

36mins

There are a number of players falling to the floor with minor knocks including Corluka, Hamann and most recently Harper.

32mins

Sadly there is still no action to speak of, only a small knock for Elano who is trying to run it off, and the crowd has fallen deafly silent.

28mins

Convey is the only Reading player that looks like causing the City defence any problems but another twisting run ends in a backward pass as the American is given no options centrally.

24mins

The game has gone very flat with no goalmouth action at either end to speak of, someone needs to do something soon to liven this one up.

21mins

Reading began well but they have shown nothing since Petrov struck and at the moment City are bossing it in all areas.

18mins

Emile Mpenza typifies City's effort as he breaks away down the right wing before whipping a low ball in for Ireland to try and get on the end of, but Reading clear.

15mins

That goal has really relaxed the City players and they look much more comfortable on the ball now as the try to plot their next assault on the Reading goal.

11mins

Man City 1-0 Reading (PETROV): After an almighty goalmouth scramble, PETROV lashes the ball past a stricken Hahnemann to give the home side the lead.

9mins

The game has settled slightly as City try to get Elano and Hamann on the ball but they are second best so far with Reading piling on the pressure in the midfield.

7mins

Kevin Doyle is Reading's dangerman and he outsprints Dunne but the big defender gets back to bundle it behind for a corner but that was close to being a great chance.

6mins

Convey is involved a fair bit early on here as he attempts a half volley from 25 yards that he miscues slightly and it screws wide.

3mins

Murty now has the ball on the right wing and delivers a superb cross and Bobby Convey arrives to force a save from Isaksson.

2mins

Stephen Ireland picks up the ball and is allowed to move forward, but, as he looks for Martin Petrov coming in around the back, Graeme Murty concedes a corner.

0mins

Steve Tanner blows his whistle to get the game underway in front of an expectant crowd at Eastlands, it will be interesting to see if Reading can handle Elano today.

0mins

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt, Gunnarsson, Harper, Convey, Doyle, Kitson

0mins

Man City: Isaksson, Corluka, Richards, Dunne, Garrido, Gelson, Hamann, Ireland, Petrov, Elano, Mpenza

0mins

Steve Coppell's side have been suffering the famous second season syndrome so far this campaign but their form has lifted thanks to the goals of Kevin Doyle lately and he will be looking to hit the back of the net again this afternoon.

0mins

Sven-Goran Eriksson's stock has risen with England's demise and he has worked wonders with City this season, today he gives Andreas Isaksson his first start of the season in goal.

0mins

Steve Tanner is the official for today's match at the City of Manchester Stadium as Manchester City take on Reading.

Match Preview

Manchester City will be hoping to maintain their surprise place among the Premier League pacesetters when Reading are the visitors to Eastlands.

The Citizens have made a stunning start to life under Sven-Goran Eriksson, although last time out they needed a superb display by goalkeeper Joe Hart to secure a goalless draw at Portsmouth.

However, overall, City have been in fine form, winning eight of their eight league games so far this term and losing just three.

A number of Eriksson's summer signings have impressed, but it is Brazil playmaker Elano who has been the undoubted star, scoring four times and prompting much of City's fine attacking play.

Eriksson said of the South American: "You can call him a playmaker. He's not a striker and he's not a midfielder - I think his best position is behind the strikers.

"He is very good at finding space, he can bring in players, he can shoot. He sees things very quickly, sometimes I wonder if he has got eyes in his back."

Eriksson will be hoping that midfielder Michael Johnson has recovered from a groin problem in time to feature.

Reading have lost three of their last four games, having been swept aside 3-1 at home by league leaders Arsenal last time out.

The Royals have conceded 29 goals in 13 league games so far this term, with boss Steve Coppell aware that his side need to tighten up to avoid being dragged into a relegation fight.

Reading are also on the lookout for several new players in the January transfer window, with director of football Nick Hammond telling the club's official website: "We would like to add some new faces in January to provide some impetus.

"We have the resources available to sign four or five established players if the right ones are available."

Coppell should be boosted by the return of Ibrahima Sonko, but Michael Duberry misses the trip north as he continues to struggle to shake off a rib injury.


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Match Report

Manchester City maintained their 100 per cent home Premier League record, but only after a last-gasp goal from Stephen Ireland.

The match-winning strike from Ireland, which made it eight League wins in a row at Eastlands, came in the 94th minute after it looked as though City would be held by battling Reading.

But with virtually the last kick of the game, City lumped a long ball forward, which was headed on by Geovanni for Ireland to score with a spectacular volley into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.

There was no repeat of the over-zealous celebrations when Ireland dropped his shorts after scoring the winner in the previous home game, against Sunderland.

It looked as though it was destined not to be City's day when, in stoppage time, Geovanni, clean through on goal, blasted over from ten yards, with only keeper Marcus Hahnemann to beat.

Reading had made the brighter start, though it was City who took an 11th minute lead through Martin Petrov.

A well-worked move saw Elano strike an upright, before Emile Mpenza's follow-up shot was blocked by Hahnemann. Bulgarian winger Petrov was on hand though to rifle home the rebound for his fourth goal of the season.

City produced some delightful, flowing football in the opening period, only to be let down by a lack of a cutting-edge in front of goal.

The Royals kept plugging away and were rewarded with an equaliser shortly before half-time.

Kevin Doyle and Bobby Convey linked up well to set up James Harper, who walloped home a shot into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area, a spectacular second goal of the season for the midfield player.

City were forced to make a change late in the first half when Vedran Corluka was injured, while at half-time Georgios Samaras replaced Mpenza. Just short of the hour Geovanni was brought on for the travel-weary Elano.

City huffed and puffed, but seldom looked like blowing their way through the Royals defence until the dramatic finish to the match.

Geovanni saw a long-range drive dip narrowly over the crossbar, while Samaras was denied by Hahnemann, who raced off his line to block the shot from the Greek striker.

But with time running out, midfield-man Ireland again showed he had the knack of scoring important goals as he found the net for a fourth time this season.

Manchester City

Reading

Corners

27

Fouls

1215

Goal attempts

135

Shots off target

32

Offsides

12

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