Reading 2 - West Bromwich Albion 2

Reading win 3-2 after extra time

Date:	Tuesday 17th January 2006
Competition:	FA Cup (R3 Replay)
Reading: 6.8
WBA: 4.3	Kirkland 5.0, Hodgkiss 6.1, Davies 7.1, Albrechtsen 5.8, Carter 3.5, Chaplow 6.8, Wallwork 6.4 (Nicholson, 107 5.9), Inamoto 5.9 (Davies, 90+1 5.5), Greening 5.5 (Dyer, 81 4.8), Earnshaw 2.3, Ellington 3.1 Unused subs: Kuszczak, Elvins Manager: Bryan Robson 5.2
Scorers:	Chaplow (31, 9)
Referee:	P Taylor (Hertfordshire) 4.4
Attendance:	16,737   Home Fans 5.3   Away Fans 6.4

Dave Watkin:

Albion were beaten by three goals to two following extra time, despite holding a two goal advantage after the opening forty five minutes. We entered the game missing ten first team players, with only one of our regular defensive unit, Curtis Davies, playing in his true position. By the end of the match only Davies and Nathan Ellington, from the starting eleven at Wigan, were on the pitch in their normal roles.

This either indicates how much we're suffering from injuries or our attitude to the F A Cup, probably a combination of both. Certainly, taking off three experienced midfield players from an already seriously weakened side cannot be the best recipe for a comeback, even if, in common with others who played on Sunday, they were perhaps dead on their feet.

There were two bright spots. Nineteen year old Jared Hodgkiss on his debut played very well at right back, keeping his concentration throughout, rarely wasting a pass and growing in confidence as the game progressed. Richard Chaplow, in a rare starting role, showed no little skill, took his chances well and worked hard. I hope he keeps his place on Saturday. The downside was the ineffectiveness of the strike force, particularly the lack of enthusiasm and effort shown by Earnshaw. He got the chance he asked for, but on that form will not have impressed any potential buyers.

I sense complacency amongst supporters, "don't worry, we'll stay up". I hope that's not the attitude at Boardroom level. We've not yet made any transfer window signings, but last night shows how desperately we need defensive and midfield cover, plus as a top priority a striker.

TEAM NEWS

Albion restored Chris Kirkland in goal instead of Thomasz Kuszczak. Darren Moore was suspended and we're told that Steve Watson, Paul Robinson and Kevin Campbell all picked up knocks on Sunday. Into their places came young Jared Hodgkiss making his debut, Martin Albrechtsen, Richard Chaplow and Rob Earnshaw. With TEN first team players missing in total, three more untried youngsters were included on the bench.

HIGHLIGHTS

Albion took the lead in the 9th minute when Ronnie Wallwork played a perfectly weighted lofted pass to RICHARD CHAPLOW, who controlled the ball with one touch, before placing a left footed cross shot just inside the far post.

In a remarkably low key cup tie Albion were dealing competently with the home side's pressure before, in the 32nd minute, they struck again. Darren Carter floated a left wing cross into the area which Nathan Ellington met on the volley. The shot was too hot for the keeper to hold and RICHARD CHAPLOW following up, had the simple task of tapping the ball home.

We reached half time with Albion looking very comfortable indeed.

Five minutes into the second half came the moment that Baggies fans were dreading. The ball was driven into the box from out on the right and LEROY LITA did very well to not only control the ball, but turn and hammer a low shot past the keeper.

There was an immediate change in atmosphere, as the hitherto silent home fans got behind their team. Albion were finding it more and more difficult to keep possession with neither of our two strikers seeming capable of holding the ball up when it was played forward.

The pressure from Reading paid off in the 65th minute when they scored a glorious goal. The ball was fed to LEROY LITA, fully thirty yards out, from where he let fly with an unstoppable shot which flew into the top left hand corner of the net.

The Baggies brought on Lloyd Dyer for Greening as we entered the last ten minutes and then at the start of extra time, introduced Rob Davies for Inamoto.

Reading had earned their two second half goals, but three minutes into extra time they were gifted what turned out to be the winner. There was plenty of opportunity to clear the ball when it ran loose just inside the Baggies penalty area, but LEROY LITA reacted quicker than the defenders and from twelve yards smashed a shot home.

Minutes into the second period of extra time Albion brought on a third forward, young Stuart Nicholson, for Wallwork, but despite now playing with three up front we rarely threatened and tamely surrendered the match.

ALBION FORMRATE : FAIR

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH : RICHARD CHAPLOW

Zoltans Fan Club:

Crap.

2-0 up.

?6 mill (Earn and Ell) up front

?3 mill (Chap and Cart) in midfield

Premiership players my ass. They rested 7 first teamers and we still couldn't win.

Unbelievable.

Don't tell me as long as we win on Sat it'll be alright.

Shite. Just tell that to the people who travelled and some of us who value the FA Cup more highly than a chance to try the second team. The first team aren't up to it - let alone the 2nd.

It's a kick in the face for the fans.

Easters:

Some players did OK. Little Dave, Wallwork and Chaplow looked up for the game. Chaplow's first goal was very good.

The young right back, Hodgkiss, deserves to be congratulated for a good debut against a decent left-sided opponent.

BUT

Earnshaw and Ellington were woeful. They look to be like "specialist scorers" who might put it away if if it was laid on for them but as for being involved in general play, holding the ball up etc, no chance.

I can understand Earnshaw as he patently does not want to be at the club but Ellington?? Six months into a contract after a big money move? He gave the impression that trying hard in a game is an option he can decide upon as the mood takes him and yesterday he wasn't in the mood. This saddens me as he is so lucky and well paid in his lifestyle. It is widely reported that he didn't want to come to West Brom and it this shows.

And

An ability to keep the game tight from a position of being two up was criminal. This wasn't Reading's first team by a long way.

Overall

There are some good things there. Some of the younger players will make it through but some brutal (and loss-making)clearance work needs to be done. We need players who realise that trying hard is compulsory not optional and who want to play for West Brom.

Tom:

Really poor performance, didn't even deserve to be 2 up so certainly no surprises that we lost. I just wish they'd scored the winner 5 minutes earlier so we could all go home. We didn't pose any attacking threat, couldn't pass, couldn't control the ball, no movement off the ball. Two good moves for two goals, that's it.

I don't think Robson had much choice about selection today, although it might have been interesting to see Lloyd Dyer start. As it was he made an odd subs appearance at left back from what I could see and didn't really shine.

With only one defender in his first choice position we were always going to struggle at the back but the tepid strikers I felt were what really lost it. Earnshaw was awful, Ellington not far behind. They posed no threat until extra time and by then it was way too late.

Midfield gave the ball away too often, our first touch compared with theirs was woeful. Inamoto particularly culpable but others too. Wallwork was excellent I thought but can't carry it alone. Greeing ok in bursts, Chappo fairly anonymous after his goals (great finish for the first).

Alby did ok in central defence but it's clearly not his best position, Curtis gets better and better and is the only player on our side who can read the game (Robbie, that means knowing where the ball is likely to go and getting there first). Good debut from Hodgkis but Carter really got the runaround from their no 11. As a unit they were all over the place and Reading ran them ragged.

Reading played really well (especially 11 on the right wing and 15 in centre mid) and easily deserved their win. Great ground, great fans, I look forward to seeing them in the Prem (I know I know).

Asbourne Exile:

Re Zoltans comments... couldn't agree more. There are only three trophies to win and the Premiership will never again be attainable so the F A Cup is hugely important to me as a fan.

To those of you out there who are Earnie fans, the guy is a waste of space. The "dream pairing" was a shambles.

kev may:

HAVE TO AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS FROM ZOLTANS FAN CLUB. NO EXCUSE FOR THIS INEPT PIN BALL TEAM PERFORMANCE. PLAYING 2 GAMES IN 3 DAYS DIDN'T BOTHER WIGAN WHO SEEM FITTER AND SHARPER THAN US. WE WILL NEED A LOT OF LUCK IF WE ARE GOING TO RECORD BACK TO BACK WINS. LETS HOPE THAT THE POINTS CUSHION WE HAVE DOES NOT MAKE THE TEAM COMPLACENT LIKE IT DID AGAINST THE CHEATING VILLANS.

John Branson:

Their fans were singing at the end "you were two goals up & you mucked it up", which just about sums it up. On top for the whole of the first half with Reading looking well out of it, Chaplow looking sharp, Hogkiss the kid looking very good & them, what on earth happened?

We came out in the second half slow & sluggish Reading ran rings round us passed better wanted it more & deserved to win. I know the pitch was a disgrace but you have to put in the effort, Earnshaw & Ellington were diabolical never looked interested or seemed to try although they moaned a lot did not ever look like getting anything, sell Earnshaw now as he is obviously not interested & no where near good enough. Effort was there from Chaplow, Davies, Ronnie, Ina & the kid - but the rest!

Lita took the goals well but where was the marking? he dropped into space & no-one was near him, Carter was beaten all ends up by Ostler it was quite embarrassing I don`t really know what Carter is but he is no defender, he is the new AJ for me a mystery as to why he is in the team. The new kids who came on late did OK so I suppose that is something although Dyer has gone backwards & his control is terrible, another for the bullet?

We expected the worse & were not too disappointed with the loss as we thought it would happen, but is it not typical for them to get us all excited again only to bring us back to earth with a bump, Reading are a good team but we did half shoot ourselves in the foot.