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Tottenham 1-0 Reading

Reading were beaten at White Hart Lane by a dodgy penalty decision. However, a host of missed chances in the 2nd half meant that Tottenham could only win 1-0.

Poor Greg Halford. His starting debut on live on Sky was marred as the ball bounced of Robbie Keane’s knee onto his hand. When this normally happens the commentator usually remarks that “he has seen them given” when usually they are not. Well, this one was, unlike the two ball to hand non-penalties that the ref correctly didn’t give in the 2nd half.

Halford actually had a good game in the end. He did look a bit slow but he was up against speedy wingers, particularly Lennon and was caught up field a lot when Reading were chasing the game in the 2nd half. Murty is still first choice, but Halford is one for the future.

Hahnemann played well until he got a hip injury and was replaced by Federici at half-time. Federici also made a couple of good saves. The defence was fairly good, despite being exposed by the midfield which was where we lost the game. Little and Hunt contributed little despite some earnest ball hunting. Harper and Sidwell lost the centre midfield battle and Gunnarson should be given a run in the middle.

Up front, Leta and Kitson played fairly well but only created two (excellent) chances. Leta hit the post with a powerful header, and Kitson hit a snap shot straight at Robinson. Doyle couldn’t get into the game when he came on.

The season looks like it will petter out unless we can pick it up. Perhaps a good win against a distracted Liverpool on the 7th will do the trick. Putting one over on Pardew at Charlton will do nicely too.

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Lawro in “predicts Reading to win” shock

Oh dear, we’re doomed. Mark Lawrenson has predicted Reading will beat Portsmouth this weekend.

Lawro says :-

It’s a measure of how far Reading have come, that perhaps they are the only team outside of the top four who you just assume will win at home.

Well, you haven’t assumed that very often this season have you?

Record signing, Greg Halford may make his debut if regular right-back, Graham Murty fails to get over an injury. I’d like to see Leta and Kitson upfront, with Doyle coming on later on. Little and Hunt to provide the width and Reading to really go at Pompey to make up for their most disappointing performance of the season when they lost 3-1 at Fratton Park.

Meanwhile, it was remiss of me to fail to mention that three of the Irish players made the squad, Doyle, Long and Hunt and the two icemen, Gunnarsson and Ingarmarsson also got call ups.

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