Rampant Royals Romp Home

Kevin Doyle scored after just 16 seconds on the way to securing Reading`s first away win of their maiden Premiership campaign.

The Irish international latched onto Bobby Convey`s lofted through-ball before neatly netting one of the fastest goals in Premiership history much to the disgust of a stunned Bramall Lane crowd. The Royals wrapped up the points when the continuously impressive Seol Ki-Hyeon added what would turn out to be his side`s winner after 25 minutes.

Sheffield United kicked the game off with David Unsworth punting the ball deep into the Reading half. Ivar Ingimarsson rose well to head into the path of Royal`s midfielder Bobby Convey who quickly turned his marker before spotting the run of Doyle and playing an inch-perfect pass into the path of the forward. Leaving United captain Chris Morgan for dead, Doyle took two quick touches before lifting the ball over the advancing Ian Bennett and into the centre of the debut goalkeeper`s net.

The Blades tried to force their way back into the game after going behind at such an early stage but Marcus Hahnemann was equal to a long range effort from Chris Armstrong and Paul Ifill fired high and wide from an Unsworth corner.

It was the away team who came closest to adding to the score-line, but this time Bennett pulled off an excellent diving save to keep United chasing just the one goal deficit. Bobby Convey was again the architect as his corner found Seol Ki-Hyeon. The midfielder skipped past a challenge and unleashed an angled drive towards the top corner. Bennett flung himself across his goal and managed to push the ball behind and leave Seol still searching for his first Royals goal.

At the opposite end Ingimarsson was lucky to escape without putting the ball into his own net, as his attempted back pass was inaccurate and forced his goalkeeper to scramble across his goal to collect the loose ball.

Some quick and intricate passing from the visitors put James Harper through on goal, and from a tight angle the tireless midfielder saw his low placed effort come crashing back off the upright with Bennett once again left sprawling.

Minutes later Reading were rewarded for their perseverance as Seol doubled the lead and sent the travelling fans into joyous celebration. Nicky Shorey`s forward ball was met by Leroy Lita, who showed good control and vision to find the Korean on the edge of the Sheffield United area. With a drop of the shoulder Ki-Hyeon shifted from one foot to the other and hit a sweet left-foot shot arrowing into the corner of the net.

Now two goals behind, the home team rallied and Armstrong had a shot well blocked by Ingimarsson. Mikele Leigertwood then shot well wide from distance as the Reading defence stood strong and in control.

The half time whistle was met by a rowdy reception from the Bramall Lane crowd as the home team were booed off the field. Neil Warnock responded by making two substitutions and opted for an attacking 3-5-2 formation after the interval.

Warnock replaced veteran defender Unsworth with attacking midfielder Keith Gillespie, and the lively Alan Quinn was introduced in place of the disappointing Phil Ifill.

Encouraged by their side`s attacking commitment to the second half, the Sheffield United fans got behind the team in full voice as the home advantage seemed to come into effect.

The Blades were a changed team and certainly looked more likely than in the previous 45 minutes. For all their possession though, it was Kevin Doyle who had the half`s first real shot on goal as he created a chance for himself and shot narrowly wide from 20 yards.

From a set piece on the right hand side, Leroy Lita met a whipped cross but saw his flicked header tipped away by Bennett and the rebound squirm out of the on-rushing Ingimarsson`s reach.

After weathering another storm of Reading attacks, United finally ended their six-hour goal drought that spans back to the opening day of the season in their score draw against Liverpool.

Similar to that day it was new signing Rob Hulse, a £2million summer signing from Yorkshire rivals Leeds, who broke his side`s deadlock. With 61 minutes on the clock, Chris Armstrong`s cross was flicked on by Ade Akinbiyi and into the path of Hulse. Despite appeals for offside from the away end, the striker held off Ibrahima Sonko`s challenge before turning and hitting a firm right-foot shot past Hahnemann from what seemed the tightest of angles.

With a way back into the game now apparent, United began bombarding the Reading area with cross after cross, but the visiting defence stood tall with Sonko impressing in particular.

A mix-up between Royals captain Graeme Murty and his goalkeeper almost gifted Akinbiyi an open goal, but Hahnemann managed to smother the loose ball at the last moment.

Reading were starting to tire as the Blades hunted for an equaliser, so manager Steve Coppell made a double substitution and introduced both Glen Little and Brynjar Gunnarsson. Shortly after Irishman Stephen Hunt was brought on as Reading looked to shut up shop by changing to a 4-5-1 formation.

United had Reading on the back foot but were unable to fashion a clear shot at goal. The addition of Brynjar Gunnarsson in midfield gave the Royals another option at holding up the ball as they looked to dampen the pressure on Hahnemann`s goal, and a series of set pieces provided some much needed relief.

In a scrappy close to the game Doyle had a penalty appeal waved away, and with time running out United finally created a decent opening.

Keith Gillespie picked up a pass 10 yards into the Reading half and advanced with the ball at his feet. With a clear sight at goal, Gillespie hit a low shot from 20 yards that looked to be heading into the same corner that Seol had found in the first half. Marcus Hahnemann threw himself to his right and got enough on the ball to turn it around the post for a Sheffield corner.

Late substitute Christian Nade had a late half chance with a header, but saw his aerial effort float into the arms of a grateful Hahnemann. Deep into stoppage time Alan Quinn had another headed opportunity, but again Hahnemann gathered comfortably.

Special thanks to Tom L’Heureux for providing the match report.

Player Ratings

Marcus Hahnemann 7
Graeme Murty 7
Ibrahima Sonko 6
Ivar Ingimarsson 7
Nicky Shorey 7
Seol Ki-Hyeon 8
Steve Sidwell 7
James Harper 6
Bobby Convey 8
Leroy Lita 6
Kevin Doyle 8