Big Match Review - Nottingham Forest 3 Reading 4

Nottingham Forest 3-4 Reading

Saturday April 9, City Ground, (Att: 22,495)

An goal in injury time from Simon Church handed Reading a crucial victory over top six rivals Nottingham Forest as they edged an enthralling encounter at the City Ground.

The visitors took the lead on 19 minutes - Ian Harte once again showing his skill from a dead ball situation to swerve a free kick past Forest's Lee Camp and into the net.

However, Billy Davies's side drew level just before the interval when Kris Boyd converted a penalty after Lewis McGugan was tripped in the box by Mikele Leigertwood.

And six minutes into the second period Forest were ahead. Rob Earnshaw's shot across goal beat Alex McCarthy and went in off the post.

Reading's riposte was almost immediate though, with Jem Karacan looping a header over Camp from a corner to restore parity.

Just past the hour mark, the Royals were back in front courtesy of Jimmy Kebe pouncing on a loose ball in the box after Camp could only parry an earlier shot.

It seemed like the East Midlands side had saved a point with two minutes of normal time remaining though. This time McGugan netting from the spot after a foul on Chris Gunter in the area.

Brian McDermott's team were to have the last say though, when Church got in front of Luke Chambers to knock home a cross from the right during added on time.

There was still enough time, too, for Shane Long to see a penalty for the Berkshire side saved by Camp after Gunter had handled inside the area.

It lifted Reading up to 5th, now six points ahead of a Forest side whose nine game winless streak leaves them 8th and in danger of missing out on the play offs.

Big Match Preview - Nottingham Forest vs. Reading

Nottingham Forest vs. Reading
Saturday April 9, 15:00, City Ground

There's a critical game in the race for the Championship play offs this weekend as Reading make the trip to the East Midlands to face top six rivals Nottingham Forest.

It's a clash between two sides who, despite sharing a common goal, are in vastly contrasting runs of form as the season reaches its all important climax.

For Forest, now eight matches without a win after their 4-1 loss at Leeds last weekend, they have hit their poorest spell of the season at the worst moment.

Given they're managed by the wily Billy Davies - who has an enviable track record of getting teams into the play offs - their loss of form has been a surprise as they have slipped out of the top six.

However, the Scot will take great heart from his side's first half performance at Elland Road where they were comfortably the better team before a shocking refereeing decision arguably cost them the game.

He will also be encouraged by the fact that, although no longer unbeaten at home this term, Forest are still formidable opponents on their own turf and sure to provide difficulties for any visitors.

Just one defeat from 18 matches is an indication of their superiority at the City Ground, although they're without a win there since mid-February's success against fellow top six candidates Cardiff.

With striking talent of the likes of Lewis McGugan, Rob Earnshaw, Marcus Tudgay, and Radoslaw Mawjeski too, Davies will know he has a side who, while famed for their organisation, are packed with match winners.

Brian McDermott's Reading have hit form at just the right time of the season

While Forest come into the game off form however, their opponents from Berkshire have propelled themselves into the top six off a great unbeaten nine match unbeaten run.

Once again, they have used a run to the last eight of the FA Cup to help generate momentum in the league and have won their last five matches.

That's helped them hit a season high of 6th place with just seven games remaining, and they will hope to claim a place off spot in order to reclaim the top flight status they lost in 2009.

With only five losses on the road all term and 28 goals notched away from the Madejski Stadium, McDermott's men are one of the most dangerous opponents to host in the second tier.

Much of their recent good form has been aided the goalscoring exploits of Shane Long, with the Irishman finding some long-awaited consistency to accrue over 20 strikes to his name this term.

With the likes of Noel Hunt and set piece wizard Ian Harte in the Royals' ranks too, McDermott will be confident he has enough in his arsenal to extend their season in the end of season lottery.

The Championship is a notoriously tight division with sides very evenly matched. This game is one of sides in hugely contrasting form, but both teams are laced with great quality.

I'm going to go for Forest in this one though. They outplayed Leeds until the referee robbed them and, back on home soil looking to right the wrong of last week, I'll back them for all three points.

Nobes' Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2 Reading 1

Big Match Review - Derby 1 Reading 2

Derby County 1-2 Reading

Saturday December 18, Pride Park, (Att: 24,514)

Derby suffered a fourth successive loss as Shane Long's goal two minutes from time helped Reading leap above their hosts in the Championship standings.

In an open game, the home side began strongly with only the post denying Alberto Bueno an opening goal.

Then, Royals keeper Adam Federici made his first of a number of fine saves - pushing away Stephen Pearson's shot after a Kris Commons's free kick had deflected kindly into his path.

However, it was the visitors who came closest to going in front with County indebted to Dean Moxey's goal line clearance after they failed to deal with Ian Harte's free kick into the box.

Federici was then called into action once more as he turned away a stinging shot from Luke Moore. It was to prove crucial, as minutes later Brian McDermott's men found themselves in front.

Jobi McAnuff seized upon some sloppy midfield play and, after a marauding run up field, he slipped the ball through for Shane Long.

The Irish striker was tugged back by Shaun Barker and referee Darren Deadman had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.

Long stepped up to convert the spot kick himself and send Reading into the break 1-0 up.

Nigel Clough's side brought influential midfielder Robbie Savage on after the interval as they looked to restore parity, but once again were thwarted by Federici. This time the Australian making a fine save to keep out a Bueno free kick.

Reading responded, with Rams custodian Stephen Bywater doing well to turn a Noel Hunt shot wide for a corner and deny the Royals a second. He was a virtual spectator though when a Long header from another dangerous free kick struck the woodwork.

Off the hook, Derby got back on level terms just after the hour mark. Top scorer Commons with a glancing header at the back post from Paul Green's deep cross.

Neither side were settling for a point and County were once more denied by heroics from Federici as he pulled off a point blank save to prevent Moore from finding the back of the net.

However, with time running out, it was the side from Berkshire who returned home with all three points. McAnuff's driven ball into the box caught out Bywater and Long beat him to the ball to head into an unguarded net.

It ensured Reading ended their seven game winless streak and move up to 7th in the table - just four points off the play offs with a game in hand.

For Nigel Clough and Derby though, a worrying run of results needs to be urgently stemmed if they are to remain in the top six hunt.

Big Match Preview

Derby County vs. Reading

Saturday December 18, 15:00, Pride Park

Two teams with hopes of a top six place in the Championship clash in the East Midlands this weekend as Derby and Reading look to end respective poor runs and return to winning ways.

Despite those runs, the Rams sit just three points off the play offs and their visitors from Berkshire are a further three behind - albeit with a game in hand still to play.

County head into the game off the back of three successive defeats. Last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Bristol City followed 2-1 reverses at home to Norwich and away at Burnley.

Boss Nigel Clough will be confident of a positive result on Saturday though, with his side's tally of 24 goals at Pride Park the division's best home scoring record.

Indeed, the Rams had won six successive home matches seeing off Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough, Preston, Watford, Portsmouth, and Scunthorpe before their loss to Norwich.

The Canaries are one of three teams to have taken maximum spoils back with them from Derbyshire, with Cardiff and Sheffield United also victorious earlier in the campaign.

Pivotal to County's fortunes this term has been experienced midfielder Robbie Savage, who is key in the centre of midfield in dictating the attractive passing game Clough has implemented.

However, it's talented midfielder Kris Commons, with 11 goals already, who has been by far Derby's best source of goals and he will once again be looked upon for inspiration against the Royals.

Derby are making good progress under Nigel Clough this season

For their part, Reading make the trip north hoping to avoid a sixth draw to extend the newly established club record of five.

Brian McDermott's men have played out 0-0 stalemates in recent home matches with Coventry and Leeds, which followed 1-1 draws with Cardiff and Watford and a stunning comeback which ensured a 3-3 draw against Norwich.

It means that the Royals haven't won a match since the end of October, a statistic they will be keen to change as they aim to keep up pace in an increasingly congested group of play off chasers.

Their away form has been a mixed affair, with wins gained at Leicester and via a 4-0 romp at Burnley. However, they have also tasted defeat at Bristol City, Middlesbrough, and QPR.

Finding a reliable goalscorer seems to be at the heart of Reading's inconsistency so far this term. McDermott's side includes four players all with four goals to their name.

That includes defender and set piece specialist Ian Harte, centre half Matt Mills, midfielder Jimmy Kebe, and striker Shane Long. Evidence of a goalscoring threat they offer from all over the pitch.

In such a competitive division, it's incredibly difficult to know how these games are going to go. Both Derby and Reading are not on form and both will know the importance of a win on Saturday.

It's not always the way, but home advantage can sometimes make the difference, and that could be enough to help free-scoring Derby get back to winning ways at Pride Park.

Nobes' Prediction: Derby County 2 Reading 1

A Right Royal Mess

After Reading part company with Brendan Rodgers, Nobes rants about the high sacking rate of managers this season.

Like the chain of dominoes knocking one down after the other, the departure of Brendan Rodgers and Jim Magilton from Reading and QPR respectively continued what has been a destructive week for managers.

It began with Plymouth moving Paul Sturrock upstairs before the chairmen at Sheffield Wednesday and now at Loftus Road and the Madejski felt the urge to pull the trigger.

Of course, with reports of an altercation with a player, there may well be reasons other than results for Magilton leaving after just half a season.

However, in the week that football remembers the 50th anniversary of Bill Shankly taking over at Liverpool, you'd think he would have done the same sort of thing many a time in his career - it's what happens, or happened, in football.

The general point though is that there have been 22 managerial changes in the Football League this season. Four of those have been resignations - Hans Backe decided to leave troubled Notts County, and Mark Robins, Gary Waddock and Paul Lambert all left to join other clubs.

Eighteen managers been sacked by their club before Christmas this season therefore. How many of them were truly justified though?

How many of them were managers who had had the time and resources, the backing of their chairman, and the patience to try and achieve results?

How many of the situations really deserved the manager getting the boot? How many were the result of the men who appointed them, who never get called into account, deciding a change was the only way for things to improve?

And, most damning of all, how many of the changes have actually worked?

Are Lincoln City any better off with Chris Sutton in charge than they would have been with Peter Jackson? No, in fact, they are worse off. Imps chairman Steff Wright should resign for his continued mis-handling of the club.

Are Northampton doing any better now Stuart Gray has been replaced by club playing legend Ian Sampson? Not at all. The fans might have a hero at the helm, but he cannot match his playing career with his managerial performance.

Ferguson and Rodgers - promising young managers both sacked this season

Has rookie Steve Staunton done any better than the experienced Colin Todd at crisis club Darlington? Was the manager really to blame for the Quakers being marrooned at the bottom of the table and staring relegation to the Conference squarely in the face?

I could go on. The sacking of Rodgers in particular was a complete betrayl of the club's policy of building a new team, playing a new style, with the former manager of the club's Academy in charge of the first team.

Chairman Sir John Madejski, not known for sacking managers easily, has completely failed his man - not the other way around.

And what about Peterborough? The disgraceful sacking of Darren Ferguson was laughable enough. To replace him with a Non League boss in Mark Cooper was even worse.

In medieval times the town Cooper used to make barrels. Posh owner Darragh MacAnthony appeared to be scraping one when choosing Ferguson's successor. The Cambridgeshire outfit will pay with relegation to League One next spring playing ugly, long-ball football.

The hope of a club, just one club, once, having the decency and foresight to implement a plan, appoint a manager, and give him season after season after season to build and get it right is, for me, now dead.

Shankly must be turning in his grave.