News Update

Reading Reserves climbed to the top of the Premiership Reserve League after a 2-1 win against Chelsea away from home.

Shane Long scored the two goals to defeat the blues and put the Royals clear at the top of the table.

Reading Reserves fielded a team that was similar to the one that defeated Darlington in the League Cup last Tuesday. However, Stephen Hunt joined Shane Long upfront instead of Leroy Lita, and Jonathan Hayes took his place on the left. Meanwhile John Halls and Ulises De La Cruz swapped positions to take left back and right back respectively.

Shane Long scored after 27minutes lifting the ball over Chelsea keeper Yves Ma-Kalambay. The Irish whiz hit his second in the second half after meeting a Glenn Little cross in the air and putting it over the line with his head.

Phil Younghusband netted for Chelsea with 14minutes left to play, but the Royals Reserves hung tight for a consecutive third out of three league victory.

Captain Brynar Gunnarsson performed exceptionally well as did Hunt, Oster and Little, all pushing for a first team place in front of a crowd that included Reading manager, Steve Coppell.

In other news, Ivar Ingimarssson is to sign a new deal with the blue and white hoops according to the Sun newspaper.

The Iceland international defender has been in superb form in his season in the Premie League to date, expelling all fears from fans and parts of the club that he may not succeed.

The Sun states that Ingimarsson, 29, can expect a wage increase of 3,000pounds a week in addition to his £5,000pw.

The news comes just 11months after Ingy`s last contract negotitions when the club were still in the Championship.

As yet no confirmation has been given by the club to the validity of these reports.
Meanwhile Reading has sold their entire allocation of seats for the Portsmouth away game in October.

An extra 484 seats are to be made available tomorrow adding to the 1,600 already sold.

The fixture is being regarded as a must-see for fans as Portsmouth is regarded as one of the clubs ‘geographically closer` rivals.

But first Reading looks forward to being entertained by West Ham at Upton Park this weekend. The fixture takes place before the Chelsea home fixture and Pompey away respectively.

The club are hoping to secure their first ever away win at West Ham against a team that has suffered from bad form since the Argentinian internationals Mascherano and Tevez joined the squad. More news on the West Ham story will follow.