Rovers Win At Reading

Blackburn came from behind to beat Reading at home in a game that saw David Bentley snatch a crucial winner with a fantastic goal.

Reading`s James Harper opened the scoring in the first half, but Benni McCarthy levelled netting his fourth of the game after being ruled offside for his first three.

It was an exasperating day at the Madejski Stadium; Reading had looked the better team over the first forty-five minutes but were denied the result by a fantastic rallied performance from Blackburn and a lacklustre showing of their own in the second half.

It was just like watching the Ashes; they build you up just to let you down. Reading were in complete control of the game and had enough chances to score more then the one they led by at half time.

But Blackburn did start the game with promise, Benni McCarthy found a long ball forward and played through Michael Gray who pulled his shot well wide of goal.

From then out Reading took control of the game, Kevin Doyle made the most of aflick on from Seol Ki-Hyeon, but under the pressure of the pursuing Andre Ooijer he fired his shot wide and over the crossbar.

Morten Gamst Pedersen turned on the edge of the Reading box to blast a fiery shot at the Reading goal, Marcus Hahnemann did well to parry it away and Benni McCarthy who had been in an offside position before the shot was taken put the ball in the back of the net only to be ruled, quite rightly, offside.

The early scare made Reading aware of the task in hand and they soon set about taking the lead. Kevin Doyle spurned a chance on 20minutes; he turned but sent the ball fractionally wide of the left post from 25yards out.

Reading were knocking on the door moments later, Nicky Shorey skipped down the wing and delivered a cross into the box from the by-line, after some confusion, Harper found the ball at his feet ten yards out, the central midfielder struck the ball at goal and the downed Brad Friedel went to great lengths to stop the ball going past him. The ball then rebound back out but ricocheted off Harper for a goal kick, and a lucky escape for Blackburn.

Down the other end, a Pedersen free-kick did little to trouble Marcus Hahnemann, who was always level to the Norwegian`s effort.

The first corner of the match fell to Reading in the 28th minute. It was deflected out almost instantly for another corner that was distributed into the box better from Glen Little. It fell to Ivar Ingimarsson but the ball was blocked after the player turned, again the ball came to Ingimarsson who took it on the volley first time and put it way high from such a tight angle.

Reading continued to pile on the pressure; Stephen Hunt won a free-kick on the left of the box, Glen Little`s delivery of which found Steve Sidwell`s head. The midfielder nutted the ball goal bound and past the well-beaten Friedel but the ball bounced off the bar.

Hunt played an inch perfect ball over the top to find Harper in the most forward position, the midfielder rushed at goal and made no mistake in slotting it past the on-coming Friedel to put the Ryals ahead after 41 minutes.

Doyle almost doubled the Reading tally on the stroke of half time, the nippy Irishman beat Andy Todd on the left wing and hurried on at goal from such a narrow angle the striker was never going to beat Friedel however and the American keeper pushed away Doyle`s low effort.

Mark Hughes must have gave his team quite an ear bashing at half time as the non existent Blackburn came back out to play some football. Shabani Nonda entered the frame to give Balckburn more potency goig forward in a 4-4-2 formation.

Blackburn scored almost immediately, just to have it ruled offside again, this time a bit more speculatively, McCarthy was on the end of a Pedersen through ball and chipped the ball over Hahnemann, the whole Reading team breathed a sigh of relief as the linesman ruled McCarthy offside. Although it was a tight call, a replay showed that McCarthy wasn`t.

Despite that lifeline Reading`s, second half performance was disappointing at best. The Royals played second fiddle to the Rovers throughout the next forty-five minutes.

Bentley hit the crossbar and McCarthy completed his hat trick of offside goals. This time the South African flicked the ball past Hahnemann but for the third time in the day he was frustrated by the flag going up, this time it was however correct.

Moments before McCarthy should have been booked for a spectacular dive in the area, the stirker went down very late as he tried to avoid Ibrahima Sonko and Graham Poll was in a perfect position to see it was not a penalty.

Blackburn were finally reworded for their persistence on 64 minutes. Lucas Neill`s cross found McCarthy in the centre and this time the striker`s run was timed perfectly to beat Hahnemann who raised in hand in vain hope of the goal being disallowed.

Blackburn would not let up from then out, Reading found themselves on the back foot clinging on to the point.

Leroy Lita came on for Seol Ki-Hyeon but the young striker failed to inject any vision into the Reading side, John Oster also came on for Glen Little and had a nightmare first touch.

The winger ran upfield the ball and tried to play it across the line to Shorey, but somehow his pass was well off amrk and the eager Bentley appreciatively snatched it and ran down field.

What ensued was poor play on everyone`s behalf, Ingimarssson failed to close in on his man and allowed Bentley to let off a strike from way out, and Hahnemann was just not going to save it.

Robbe Savage could of made it three before the end as Reading appeared as deflated as an old tyre in the last moments.

Shane Long came on for Hunt to give Reading a final chance but it was far too late. In the end it was a game of two halves, Reading dominated the first and Balckburn the second, the difference was that Balckburn scored more goals and secured a much needed win and three points on the board.

Reading boss Steve Coppell:
‘All the signs in the first 45 minutes were good as we scrapped and fought hard.

‘I thought once we took the lead that we would be strong enough to withstand them.

‘We lost our way after the break and it is the first half this season in which we have let ourselves down.

‘Blackburn improved their game and they took advantage of our frailties and I was disappointed by our response.’

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes:

‘We had a real go in the second half – we were 1-0 down so we needed a reaction and we got it.
‘The way we were playing and the attitude we had in the second half, we weren’t to be denied.’

‘David’s scored quality goals this season, but he’ll be very pleased because that one won us the game.’