Royals Rumble Warnock & Co

In a highly eventful encounter, a makeshift Reading team recorded a further victory over fellow Championship promotees Sheffield United to move to within one league place of a European berth.

Influential left back Nicky Shorey and returning striker Dave Kitson were taken absent moments before kick-off, forcing Steve Coppell to make some last minutes alterations to his starting line-up. This didn`t appear to hinder the Royals` chances however, as they romped home in commanding fashion.

Another winning performance was slightly tarred due to the touchline antics of Neil Warnock and the immediate dismissal of Blades substitute Keith Gillespie, which sparked a mass brawl between the two sides and lead to coach Wally Downes being sent from the dugout.

19-year old Irishman Shane Long netted his first Premiership strike as he deputised in place of his compatriot Kevin Doyle in the Royals attack. Ulises De La Cruz and Stephen Hunt were also on target before Christian Nade hit a late consolation for the travelling Yorkshire contingent.

A bobbly and uneven pitch proved a hindrance to the home side`s passing style of play, and a very scrappy opening to the game ensued. Ivar Ingimarsson had the game`s first notable chance, as he rose well to meet Glen Little`s inswinging corner in the forth minute. The Icelandic defender made a good connection but was unfortunate to see his effort sail over the bar.

With the majority of possession taking place in the middle of the field, Sheffield United`s Rob Hulse had his side`s first opportunity on the 25-minute mark. Chris Armstrong`s lofted free kick from was met by Hulse who stabbed a half-chance towards goal. Ecuadorian full-back Ulises De La Cruz, who was promoted into the starting line-up in place of Nicky Shorey, was on hand to apply a block that forced the ball over the top.

It wasn`t until eight minutes before the interval that either goalkeeper was tested, and that test was provided by perhaps the unlikeliest of sources. Reading skipper Graeme Murty found himself with oceans of space to run into as he received a pass from James Harper. The determined right-back took a touch to set himself before rifling a spectacular shot from 25 yards, which Blades stopper Paddy Kenny did well to save, diving acrobatically to his left.

Moments later, Leroy Lita worked himself an excellent opportunity to open the day`s scoring. A fortunate deflection put the Royals striker through on goal, and his first touch took him beyond the advancing Kenny in the Sheffield goal. With the goalkeeper stranded, Lita had only the retreating Claude Davis to beat, but the angle was tight and his shot was fired into the side netting.

The Royal`s central defensive hero, Ibrahima Sonko, was withdrawn in the 43rd minute after battling on bravely from an injury picked up ten minutes earlier. The towering defender suffered a painful knee injury following an innocuous challenge with Jon Stead, and was eventually replaced by Andre Bikey.

It was the Cameroon international who started the move that led to his side`s opening goal just a minute later. Bikey`s long ball picked out Stephen Hunt, who found the advancing Steve Sidwell with a neat through-ball on the volley. Sidwell raced through on goal, but was crowded out by the numerous Blades defenders, but Chris Lucketti`s attempted clearance cannoned off him.

The loose ball was picked up by an alert Shane Long, who tucked it away with the help of the left-hand upright to secure his maiden Premiership goal. The moment sparked a jubilant celebration in which Reading`s mascot, the mighty Kinglsey, was flattened at the bottom of a dog pile of rejoicing players.

There was still enough time left in the half for the Royals to come close to extending the deficit. The tricky Glen Little, whose delivery was consistently threatening on the day, got to the byline and stood an inviting ball up to the far post. Stephen Hunt was on hand to apply a headed finish, but Paddy Kenny saved his effort brilliantly with his fingertips.

The loose ball fell to Leroy Lita, who drilled a powerful low cross back into the area. Long, and then Hunt, came close to connecting after sticking out a leg. The ball whizzed out of play, and a largely uneventful first half was brought to a close. Little did we know that the second half`s proceedings would more than make up for the sometimes patchy action of the opening 45-minutes.

The second half began with a remarkable second from De La Cruz. The Ecuador international began the move himself with a powerful run from his own half, and having given the ball to James Harper, continued his diagonal run forwards.

Sheffield United failed to track his menacing run, and when Harper returned the ball into his path, De La Cruz was able to continue more-or-less unchallenged and slot calmly past Paddy Kenny, marking his surprising start with an unforgettable goal.

The points were now Reading’s but the drama was only just beginning as the game lurched into bad-tempered controversy, thanks largely to the attitude of a few in the visiting camp.

Keith Gillespie was introduced as a substitute in the 53rd minute, but unfortunately for him, his afternoon would be ended prematurely just a minute later. Without having touched the ball, Gillespie was given his marching orders by referee Mark Halsey after he had consulted his assistant.

The decision was made as Gillespie and Stephen Hunt jostled for position awaiting a Sheffield United throw in. A forearm to the face felled the Reading man and a straight red card was shown to the game`s newcomer.

After receiving the card, Gillespie again raised a hand to Hunt`s face on his way off of the pitch, and the Irishman showed integrity to stay on his feet and not make a three-course meal out of the incident. Players from both teams were on hand as they tried to clam matters down.

From the touchline, the man everybody loves to hate, the thoroughly irritating Neil Warnock, applauded Hunt`s involvement in the matter somewhat sarcastically. He then made a gesture in which he raised his leg and stomped back down again in a vicious manner, ranting away to himself as he did.

Within seconds a brawl broke out on the touchline as coaching staff and substitutes alike, clashed. Reading coach Wally Downes, a self-confessed Warnock loather and a brilliant bloke in my book, sparked the affair by lunging at the Blades boss, pushing him in the process.

Once the melee had ended, both Neil Warnock and Wally Downes were sent from their respective dugouts.

Play restarted with a somewhat newly acquired edge following the fracas, and Phil Jagielka was booked for a late challenge on Leroy Lita, who this time had a genuine reason to go to ground after doing so fairly easily earlier in the game.

Their opponents now having only ten men on the field, Reading continued to press forward, and a third goal of the day was to be had on 70-minutes.

Steve Sidwell broke from deep and found Shane Long outside him. The Irishman passed the ball back, and Sidwell unleashed a thunderous drive past Paddy Kenny. Rob Kozluk cleared off the line right on queue, but could only bounce the ball towards Hunt. The talked-about Irishman still had a lot to do, but readjusted excellently to hook an acrobatic volley into the top of an open net.

Blades substitute Christian Nade gave United a very slight lifeline in the 77th, when he cleverly broke our trademark offside trap from a free kick to fire under Marcus Hahnemann in the Reading goal.

Little then fired over following good work by late substitute Seol Ki-Hyeon, and the South Korean almost scored himself after a great turn, but his shot was pushed wide from Paddy Kenny`s foot.

Another Royals substitute and fan favourite, Bobby Convey, twice went close with his weaker right foot before the final whistle brought an end to a game with some real talking points.