Royal Pride

Tuesday night saw an epic display by Reading and a great footballing contest between the league leaders and this years Prem surprise package.

Watching Reading battle back from a three goal deficit made me tremendously proud to call myself a Reading fan.

After that third goal went in, three quarters of the Madejski Stadium went quiet – it wasn`t fair, you don`t concede three goals in the first six minutes of a match, it just wasn`t the Reading we`ve grown accustomed to.

But even though spirits might have dropped heads didn`t – I had the belief that Reading could still turn this round that there was still hope of getting something out of this match, there had to be?

Dave Kitson solidified that dream when he eased Ingimarsson`s flick on in to the back of the net giving us the lifeline we needed. The most almighty roar went up from three quarters of the stadium and suddenly everyone knew that this game wasn`t over, the resilient Royals were not going to go quietly into the night.

From then on things started to take shape for Reading, those mistimed passes got a little more accurate, Reading`s attempts at goal looked less half-hearted and every man on the pitch sporting a blue and white shirt seemed to beam with enthusiasm.

As half time loomed Seol Ki-Hyeon rocketed a shot that almost silenced the entire stadium as his many critics shut their mouths and gaped in awe at the shot that may have changed the match.

Throughout the second half Reading continued to show that they aren`t the walkover team the first six minutes of the match would have them seem.

Andre Bikey put in an inspiring performance, saving Reading`s bacon on more then one occasion. And every other man playing on their home field played just well, their hearts firmly rested beneath their badges.

As full time approached Man Utd looked happy to run the clock down, although this kind of attitude it a bit cowardly, it was a tribute from one of the best teams in English football to the danger Reading were posing them with.

Brynjar Gunnarsson left the bar rattling in the dying moments with Reading`s last attempt at forcing extra time out of the game.

But it wasn`t meant to be, the referee blew up for full time, the Man Utd players clapped their fans but it was the Reading team who received the biggest applause.

For the best part of the game Reading had proven themselves heroes beyond a shadow of doubt, faced with adversity they simply put their heads down and got on with it, as I stood there and clapped those players from the pitch I was prouder then ever to call myself a Reading fan.