Match Report 2002-2003 by Roland Harris and Michael Wood
Tuesday 29 October, 2002, Division One
Reading away
Level pegging except for the odd goal
If we were a Reading website we would be fairly pleased with this result.
We would worry that our team struggled to beat a rival but ultimately we would forget the performance and remember the game just as very few City fans ever think about the quality of the display against, for example Everton in the Premiership when we won 2-0.
We would worry about our centreforward. Reading's Nicky Forster missed scores of chances just as Ashley Ward misses so often. I'm not sure that City fans would, or Reading fans should, be as generous with the appuase as home fans were to Forster when he withdrew with a few minutes left. The guy missed enough chances to finish City including a penalty.
A penalty that was saved by Steve Banks just as the City stopper stopped a 12 yarder against Norwich. This was typical of the resistance that City showed tonight. If we were a Reading site we would say that the visitors came for a point and almost got it.
Almost got it when Danny Cadamarteri flashed one over in stoppage time, or when Andy Gray almost got a header in the last seconds of normal time. This was City trying to smash a grab and although this is the fourth straight loss for the travelling Bantams they game plan is not bad.
What City need is a touch more creation. Paul Evans had stopped doing it so enter Paul Reid. It was a worry on Saturday that Reid seemed to have trouble holding the ball. The pace is a bit frenetic for the Aussie and he lacked effectiveness in the nine player wide midfield tonight.
Andy Gray does not provide that much creation but is worth his place in the side, Wayne Jacobs is a fine left back and it's typical of Wayne that he would play out of position for the good of the team. He is not a left winger. City need a left winger, City need a Peter Beagrie.
Tonight that was the difference between the teams. City needed a Beagrie-ball to free Ward or Cadamarteri and nick the odd goal. If you don't do that in a game like this, you lose.
City lost to a lashed goal by someone called Nicholas Shorey after Gus Uhlenbeek has swiped at the ball instead of lashing it away. It was a shame but if this were a Reading site we would say it was just deserts for the lions share of the game.
City got to Brighton on Saturday and the way Brighton play and the way City play I don't think we will be getting a fifth straight defeat.
Man of the Match
Steve Banks
Nicky Forster "missed" ten chances including a penalty. Don't you believe it. Banks is looking good.