Matchday 17 ~ Birmingham vs Reading - Page 4

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:23 AM

That cancelled out Mikael Forssell's first-half strike but City had enough chances to have collected points with Royals goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann producing some crucial saves and Ibrahima Sonko making a spectacular clearance off the goal-line with the help of the underside of the crossbar.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:23 AM

It was Reading's first away point in four months since they drew with Manchester United at Old Trafford on the opening day of the campaign.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:23 AM

They enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening 45 minutes and looked full of confidence after their 3-1 home success over Liverpool last weekend.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:23 AM

But Hahnemann was the busier of the two goalkeepers with Forssell looking sharp in his first start under Blues manager Alex McLeish and Damien Johnson adding some steel in the centre of the park.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:23 AM

Reading made a positive start but after four minutes the Blues went ahead through Forssell in their first meaningful attack.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:23 AM

Gary McSheffrey's corner was flicked across the face of goal by Fabrice Muamba and, although Nicky Shorey blocked the recalled Forssell's initial header, the Finn bundled the rebound over the line for his third goal of the campaign.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:24 AM

similar fashion

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:24 AM

The goal seemed to lift the home side and the confident Forssell twisted and turned to create an opening before having his eventual shot blocked.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:24 AM

Fabrice Muamba made some good breaks forward and McSheffrey should have done better when he was found in space just inside the box as he sliced his shot across the face of goal.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:24 AM

Hahnemann came to Reading's rescue after 40 minutes when he blocked a low close-range effort from Forssell with his feet.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:24 AM

But it needed Taylor to ensure the Blues maintained their advantage at the interval when saving in similar fashion from James Harper.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:24 AM

After 50 minutes Hunt put the Royals level from the penalty spot after a mistake by City defender Sadler.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:24 AM

The left-back did not put enough power into his attempted back-pass towards Taylor, who brought down Hunt after he had seized on to the loose ball.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:24 AM

the spot

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:24 AM

Up stepped Hunt to send the Northern Ireland number one the wrong way from the spot.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:24 AM

Birmingham tried to retaliate and a deep cross from Sebastian Larsson was met by Jerome but he sent his header over the crossbar.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:24 AM

Hahnemann produced a reflex save to keep out Jerome's close-range header from a McSheffrey centre and fisted away a curling Larsson free-kick.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:24 AM

Blues skipper Liam Ridgewell was yellow-carded for bringing down Bobby Convey and his fifth booking of the campaign will rule him out of next weekend's match at Bolton Wanderers through suspension.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:25 AM

McSheffrey was unfortunate when a 30-yard free-kick rattled against the Reading crossbar. The rebound fell to Larsson whose header was cleared off the line by Sonko, who directed the ball up on to the underside of the crossbar and out.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:25 AM

Reading substitute Shane Long could have snatched victory in the closing stages but he mis-hit his volley when completely unmarked as Steve Coppell's side finished in the ascendancy, with Hunt side-footing a late chance for a second goal wide.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:25 AM

"It was a decent performance but I think we know that we should have taken the three points. We made a great start but despite how many chances we created we just couldn't get the ball in the net after our first goal."
- Alex McLeish

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:25 AM

"The goal we gave away in the first half was a nonsense goal as far as we were concerned. But it's another point on the board. I thought the commitment of both sides was terrific. The purist might say the game could have been more pleasing on the eye."
- Steve Coppell

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:25 AM

Stephen Hunt
(Reading)
The winger rescued a point for the away side with a penalty.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:25 AM

Birmingham City 1-1 Reading

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:25 AM

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish's first match at St Andrews ended in a 1-1 draw against Reading. Birmingham went ahead after just four minutes as Mikael Forssell scrambled home. Reading secured a share of the spoils five minutes after the break through Stephen Hunt's penalty after the Irishman had been hauled down by Maik Taylor.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:25 AM

To view the full match report click here.

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12-16-2007, 04:23 AM	#92 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	It was Reading's first away point in four months since they drew with Manchester United at Old Trafford on the opening day of the campaign.

12-16-2007, 04:23 AM	#93 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	They enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening 45 minutes and looked full of confidence after their 3-1 home success over Liverpool last weekend.

12-16-2007, 04:23 AM	#94 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	But Hahnemann was the busier of the two goalkeepers with Forssell looking sharp in his first start under Blues manager Alex McLeish and Damien Johnson adding some steel in the centre of the park.

12-16-2007, 04:23 AM	#95 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Reading made a positive start but after four minutes the Blues went ahead through Forssell in their first meaningful attack.

12-16-2007, 04:23 AM	#96 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Gary McSheffrey's corner was flicked across the face of goal by Fabrice Muamba and, although Nicky Shorey blocked the recalled Forssell's initial header, the Finn bundled the rebound over the line for his third goal of the campaign.

12-16-2007, 04:24 AM	#97 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	similar fashion

12-16-2007, 04:24 AM	#98 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	The goal seemed to lift the home side and the confident Forssell twisted and turned to create an opening before having his eventual shot blocked.

12-16-2007, 04:24 AM	#99 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Fabrice Muamba made some good breaks forward and McSheffrey should have done better when he was found in space just inside the box as he sliced his shot across the face of goal.

12-16-2007, 04:24 AM	#100 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Hahnemann came to Reading's rescue after 40 minutes when he blocked a low close-range effort from Forssell with his feet.

12-16-2007, 04:24 AM	#101 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	But it needed Taylor to ensure the Blues maintained their advantage at the interval when saving in similar fashion from James Harper.

12-16-2007, 04:24 AM	#102 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	After 50 minutes Hunt put the Royals level from the penalty spot after a mistake by City defender Sadler.

12-16-2007, 04:24 AM	#103 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	The left-back did not put enough power into his attempted back-pass towards Taylor, who brought down Hunt after he had seized on to the loose ball.

12-16-2007, 04:24 AM	#104 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	the spot

12-16-2007, 04:24 AM	#105 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Up stepped Hunt to send the Northern Ireland number one the wrong way from the spot.

12-16-2007, 04:24 AM	#106 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Birmingham tried to retaliate and a deep cross from Sebastian Larsson was met by Jerome but he sent his header over the crossbar.

12-16-2007, 04:24 AM	#107 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Hahnemann produced a reflex save to keep out Jerome's close-range header from a McSheffrey centre and fisted away a curling Larsson free-kick.

12-16-2007, 04:24 AM	#108 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Blues skipper Liam Ridgewell was yellow-carded for bringing down Bobby Convey and his fifth booking of the campaign will rule him out of next weekend's match at Bolton Wanderers through suspension.

12-16-2007, 04:25 AM	#109 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	McSheffrey was unfortunate when a 30-yard free-kick rattled against the Reading crossbar. The rebound fell to Larsson whose header was cleared off the line by Sonko, who directed the ball up on to the underside of the crossbar and out.

12-16-2007, 04:25 AM	#110 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Reading substitute Shane Long could have snatched victory in the closing stages but he mis-hit his volley when completely unmarked as Steve Coppell's side finished in the ascendancy, with Hunt side-footing a late chance for a second goal wide.

12-16-2007, 04:25 AM	#111 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	"It was a decent performance but I think we know that we should have taken the three points. We made a great start but despite how many chances we created we just couldn't get the ball in the net after our first goal." - Alex McLeish

12-16-2007, 04:25 AM	#112 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	"The goal we gave away in the first half was a nonsense goal as far as we were concerned. But it's another point on the board. I thought the commitment of both sides was terrific. The purist might say the game could have been more pleasing on the eye." - Steve Coppell

12-16-2007, 04:25 AM	#113 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Stephen Hunt (Reading) The winger rescued a point for the away side with a penalty.

12-16-2007, 04:25 AM	#114 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Birmingham City 1-1 Reading

12-16-2007, 04:25 AM	#115 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish's first match at St Andrews ended in a 1-1 draw against Reading. Birmingham went ahead after just four minutes as Mikael Forssell scrambled home. Reading secured a share of the spoils five minutes after the break through Stephen Hunt's penalty after the Irishman had been hauled down by Maik Taylor.

12-16-2007, 04:25 AM	#116 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	To view the full match report click here.