Reading Football Club News

• Nickname:Royals
• Founded:1871
• Manager:Brian McDermott

• Ground:Madejski Stadium
• Capacity:24,200

Coppell hails brave Ivar

12 Sep 2006 - 07:57:44

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Reading manager Steve Coppell praised match-winnerIvar Ingimarsson as the Royals moved up to eighth in the Premiership table with a 1-0 win against Manchester City.

The 29-year-old Iceland international clashed heads with City's Sylvain Distin as he headed home the winner and seemed dazed before being allowed to continue.

Coppell hailed the former Brentford star's bravery after the match, saying: "He's always had an eye for goal.

"I converted him from midfield to a central defender but he's still sharp in the box and was great at both ends today.

"He suffered migraines and the bang on the head he received was just beginning to get to him at the end, but he made some good clearing headers in the second half and I understand he was made man of the match which he deserved.

"We've shown we can compete and that's been our target since the summer.

"The back four were terrific and have been together for 20 months. Once a group of players are together for that long it creates a certain amount of telepathy.

"The defence was tested and City had chances but this performance gives us something to work on. City have got some good international players and their deep-lying shape gave us problems but it also offered us opportunities."