Reading moved back into 7th place (and the dreaded/earned for UEFA cup spot) with a good win over Newcastle. It was a fairly comfortable victory and was the tail of two returning strikers.
Michael Owen played his first game since that night in the World Cup against Sweden and it was good to see him. He got a round of applause from Reading and Newcastle fans alike when his name was announced. He looked sharp early on, putting the ball into the back of the net, but was called offside. After an early good start, Newcastle faded and Owen didn’t get many more chances. He ended up playing the whole 90 minutes probably due to injuries to other Newcastle players. Has any other team been so cursed? Siberski broke his arm mearly colliding with Kitson’s foot.
As Reading grew in dominance of the game, Newcastle were being pegged back and started giving the ball away easily. Carr was dispossess and the ball came to Soel, who despite having another relativly poor game, put a good ball into the box. Oster dummed the ball and it fooled the Newcastle defence leaving Kitson 1-1 with the keeper. A fierce shot hit the back of the net and Kitson was away; his first goal since the opening day of the season. He dived into the East stand in joy. Of course he was booked, silly ref Reilly having already sent off the Reading mascot Kingsley in the first half.
It was a great moment for Dave, a season of frustration for the big striker was over. He was the player I thought would set the Premiership alight with his goals as of the three main strikers, he was the one I thought was best adapted for the top flight. As it was, Doyle came to promience early on and Lita took over once Doyle was hamstrung. Now Kitson is back to nearing his best and he will be our main weapon for next season as the other teams will have seen so little of him.
In tonights game Shorey and Ingarmasson were the standout players and they will probably be competing for Player of the Season too. My vote goes to Nicky Shorey, great defending combined with good forward running at keys times that turned our season round.
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