2007–08 Reading F.C. season

The 2007–08 Reading F.C. season was only the second top-flight campaign in the club's history. The team suffered an extremely poor run of form in January and February 2008, losing a club-record eight league games in a row. The club was relegated on the final day of the season after Fulham's victory at Portsmouth saw Reading finish in 18th place.

Reading
2007–08 season
ChairmanJohn Madejski
ManagerSteve Coppell
StadiumMadejski Stadium
Premier League18th (relegated)
FA CupThird round
League CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: Dave Kitson (10)
All: Dave Kitson (10)
Highest home attendance24,135 (19 January vs Manchester United)
Lowest home attendance21,379 (22 September vs Wigan Athletic)

Review and events

Pre-season

Reading travelled to South Korea to play in the 2007 Peace Cup. Reading lost to River Plate,[1] won against Lyon[2] and Shimizu S-Pulse,[3] and came second in Group B on goal difference.

In Didcot, a Reading XI won 2–0,[4] followed by a 6–1 hammering of Brentford.[5] Reading went away to Brighton & Hove Albion and won 3–1,[6] then a Reading XI drew 1–1 at a rescheduled game at Tooting & Mitcham United.[7] Reading's final pre-season game was against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, which Reading won 3–2.[8]

August

A tough start to the Premier League season saw Reading travel to Old Trafford to play Manchester United. Reading secured a creditable 0–0 draw, despite losing Dave Kitson to a red card just seconds after the player had entered the game as a substitute; Kitson was dismissed for a lunge on Patrice Evra.[9]

Reading's first home game of the season was a midweek fixture against reigning Premier League champions Chelsea. Reading dominated the first half and led at half-time through André Bikey's first goal for the club, smashed home after Petr Čech and Steve Sidwell collided in the Chelsea penalty area. Chelsea scored two quick goals, however, in the second half, to win the game 2–1, and Reading again had a player sent off, Kalifa Cissé, this time for two yellow cards.[10]

The following Saturday, Reading gained a badly-needed win against Everton. Stephen Hunt converted from a looping throw-in in the first-half, and Reading secured a 1–0 victory.[11] In their final league fixture of the month, an injury-hit Reading, without Nicky Shorey and Graeme Murty in defence, lost 3–0 at Bolton Wanderers.[12]

On 28 August, Reading began their League Cup campaign with a 1–0 victory away to League One Swansea City. Reading again played some of the match with only ten men, after Sam Sodje was red-carded in the 58th minute, but Leroy Lita struck the winning goal in extra-time, converting a Dave Kitson cross.[13]

September

Reading fans could have been forgiven for expecting a victory from the opening league fixture in the month at home to West Ham United, having won last season's corresponding fixture 6–0. Two goals from Matthew Etherington, however, helped West Ham to a 3–0 victory, as Reading's defence continued to struggle.[14] Another defeat followed at newly promoted Sunderland, Dave Kitson scoring a late consolation from a Nicky Shorey cross, as Sunderland won 2–1.[15]

Reading returned to winning ways on 22 September, and moved out of the relegation places with a 2–1 home victory over Wigan Athletic, Dave Kitson becoming the first Royal to score multiple times in the season, and James Harper with a late winner.[16] The next league match was an away loss to Portsmouth in an 11-goal thriller, the highest goal scoring game in the history of the Premier League to date.[17] While the two sides were equal at 2–2 early in the second half, Pompey went on to a decisive 7–4 victory. Benjani scored a hat-trick for the home squad in this wild match, which included a missed penalty by Nicky Shorey and scoring by Dave Kitson, Liam Rosinor, Shane Long and Nicky Shorey (later given as a Sol Campbell own goal).[18]

Again, Reading played one cup fixture in the month. Despite a spirited showing by a number of reserves, they lost 4–2 to Liverpool at home in the Carling Cup third round, with Fernando Torres scoring a hat-trick.[19] John Halls and Bobby Convey scored Reading's goals.

October

Reading began the month with a home game against Derby County on 7 October. In what proved to be a scrappy affair, Reading came out with a 1–0 victory through a Kevin Doyle goal; Derby did not manage a shot on target the whole game.[20]

Next followed an away game against Blackburn Rovers on 20 October after the international break. Reading's defensive frailties away from home showed once again as they went down 4–2. Kevin Doyle netted twice after coming on as a substitute while Benni McCarthy scored twice with Roque Santa Cruz and Tugay Kerimoğlu getting the other two goals for Blackburn.[21]

Reading finished October with a home game against Newcastle United. Reading took the lead courtesy of a 53rd minute Dave Kitson goal but a clumsy Michael Duberry own goal in the 76th minute looked to have rescued a point for the Magpies, however a moment of tactical brilliance by Steve Coppell resulted in the winning goal. Shane Long was brought on in the 84th minute to promptly score the winning goal on his second touch of the ball.[22]

November

Following its victory over Newcastle, Reading travelled to Craven Cottage with hopes of a second consecutive league win for the first time in the season. A laboured performance, however, saw Fulham win the game 3–1, after Kevin Doyle's second-half equaliser had put the Royals back in it.[23]

On 12 November, Reading hosted unbeaten Arsenal under the Madejski Stadium floodlights, and were soundly beaten 3–1, Nicky Shorey slotting home a late consolation after substitute Shane Long had headed against the bar. The result ended a run of three consecutive home victories, and cemented the five-point gap in the table between Newcastle in 11th (on 18 points), and Reading in 12th (on 13 points).[24]

Reading rounded up November with an away trip to Manchester City, many saw this game as a certain victory for the home team considering both City's home record and Reading's away record. City took the lead thanks to an 11th-minute goal by Martin Petrov only to be cancelled out just before half time by a well struck James Harper goal in the 43rd minute. Reading looked set to earn a hard-fought point but their hopes were dashed by a 94th minute Stephen Ireland strike. This result was Reading's sixth consecutive away defeat as they remained winless on the road.[25]

December

The month of December saw an improvement for Reading. They met Middlesbrough at home on 1 December; after an entirely forgettable first half, Dave Kitson gave Reading the lead, superbly lobbing Ross Turnbull. But with seven minutes remaining, Middlesbrough's Tuncay headed home Luke Young's cross for his first goal for Boro. The game concluded with a 1–1, just enough for Reading to stay out of the relegation zone.[26]

8 December saw an impressive and unexpected win for Reading over Liverpool. With a controversial penalty after Jamie Carragher fouled Brynjar Gunnarsson in the corner of the box, Stephen Hunt put the ball into the back of the goal, with Pepe Reina not standing a chance. Steven Gerrard eventually equalised after many failed Liverpool attacks before and after from Fernando Torres. A free kick was eventually awarded to Reading following an unsuccessful tackle by Gerrard, which Nicky Shorey floated into the area, and Kevin Doyle headed in. James Harper scored a fine third and Reading, with the help of the post, kept the Reds at bay for the remainder of the match.[27]

Following a 1–1 draw away to Birmingham City, in which Stephen Hunt earned Reading a point with his second goal from the penalty spot in two games.[28] Reading scraped a controversial victory over Sunderland at the Madejski Stadium. Leading through an Ívar Ingimarsson goal, Reading conceded a penalty when Ibrahima Sonko appeared to trip Kenwyne Jones. In the final minute, Stephen Hunt poked a Shane Long cross towards goal, and Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon appeared to palm the ball away. The assistant referee gave a goal, however, and Reading celebrated a 2–1 victory.[29]

On Boxing Day, Reading travelled to West Ham, leaving Upton Park with a creditable 1–1 draw. Dave Kitson equalized Nolberto Solano's opener after Brynjar Gunnarsson had been sent off for a two-footed challenge on West Ham's Hayden Mullins.[30]

Reading's final game of 2007 was against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, where the teams threatened to eclipse the 11 goals in Reading's match at Portsmouth earlier in the season. Tottenham won the match 6–4, although Reading led three times in the second half with goals from Kalifa Cissé and Ívar Ingimarsson and two from Dave Kitson. Tottenham controversially regained the lead after Jermain Defoe headed home Robbie Keane's saved penalty, Defoe having been two yards inside the penalty area when the kick was taken.[31]

January

2008 started badly for Reading, as Ibrahima Sonko was sent off after only four minutes of a home match against Portsmouth on 1 January, for fouling Benjani in the penalty area. Niko Kranjčar missed the resultant penalty, but Sol Campbell bundled the ball over the line a few minutes later after a mistake from Marcus Hahnemann. Reading failed to make much impact against Portsmouth after that, and the extra work-rate required due to being a man down showed in the second half when John Utaka outpaced Nicky Shorey for a second goal after 66 minutes to give the visitors a 2–0 victory.[32]

Just a week after losing 6–4 to Tottenham Hotspur in the league, Reading had an opportunity to give a better account of themselves in a FA Cup Third Round match at White Hart Lane. Fielding effectively a reserve team, Reading earned a replay at Madejski Stadium through a 2–2 draw and another two goals for Stephen Hunt.[33]

Reading returned to league action at Villa Park, and despite an injury to Michael Duberry, and the absence of Ibrahima Sonko and André Bikey to the African Cup of Nations, Steve Coppell opted to play Brynjar Gunnarsson in defence in first half, and Kalifa Cissé in the second half, despite the availability of reserves team captain Alex Pearce. Reading fell to a disappointing 3–1 defeat to Villa, James Harper scoring a late consolation goal for the Royals.[34]

Soon Reading played Tottenham again in the third round replay at home. Robbie Keane scored the only goal as Tottenham Hotspur went to win 1–0 and go into the hat in the fourth round draw.

Next, Reading played Manchester United at the Madejski Stadium. Despite a spirited performance, Manchester United broke the deadlock on 77 minutes with a goal from Wayne Rooney. In injury time, Cristiano Ronaldo wrapped up the points after a second goal, condemning Reading to their fifth-straight defeat.

Reading then played Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea dominated the match and took a deserved 1–0 lead on a 33rd-minute goal from Michael Ballack, despite numerous chances, that was the final score.

February

February started miserably for the Royals. First, they lost against fellow strugglers Bolton Wanderers at home 0–2 with the goals coming from Kevin Nolan and Heiðar Helguson. After a seventh-straight Premier League loss to Everton, Reading dropped into the relegation zone.

Reading went to Everton trying to get a win. Everton proved too strong and beat Reading 1–0 through a Phil Jagielka goal just after the hour mark.

Reading's next game was at home to Aston Villa. Shorey scored Reading's first goal in five matches in the 90th minute for the Royals, but it was all too late—Villa had scored two goals earlier on in the match through Ashley Young and Marlon Harewood, condemning Reading to 2–1 defeat.

March

March began well for Reading, making a complete turn-around. Their first match was against Middlesbrough at the Riverside, a hard-fought match that seeming looked to finish in a draw. In injury time, however, James Harper scored the winner, making the final score 1–0. The victory took Reading out of the relegation zone and into 14th place.

Reading beat Manchester City 2–0, at home, to make it six points out of six. Shane Long and substitute Dave Kitson scored for Reading.

Reading then travelled to Liverpool, going up 1–0 up after a screamer from Marek Matějovský. Liverpool, however, won the game 2–1 in the end. In their next game, Reading beat Birmingham 2–1, as Bikey scored both goals for Reading, making Mauro Zárate's equaliser trivial. Reading then drew against Blackburn in their final game in March, with Matějovský being controversially sent off for two yellow cards.

April

Reading went to St James' Park to play Newcastle in the Premier League. The Royals were beaten 3–0 with goals from Obafemi Martins in the 18th minute, Michael Owen in the 43rd and Mark Viduka in the 57th. This was only the start of a bad month for the Royals. Reading played fellow relegation rivals Fulham at home. 24,221 fans saw a 2–0 defeat as Brian McBride scored within 25 minutes. The Royals' day was over after Fulham substitute Erik Nevland scored a 90th-minute goal to see the Reading's hopes of staying up getting harder by the game.

Arsenal away was next. The Royals were not on form on the road and it showed. Reading lost 2–0 to the Gunners, with Emmanuel Adebayor and Gilberto Silva scoring. Wigan away was next for the Royals, which finished in a fair 0–0 draw. If Reading lost their next game, they could have been in the drop zone.

May

Reading's goal drought continued into May, as the club slipped into the relegation places following a 1–0 home defeat to Tottenham. Robbie Keane's first-half goal was enough to seal all three points for Spurs, for whom Radek Černý made an important late save from a Liam Rosenior shot.

Reading were officially relegated to the Championship on the final day of the season, despite securing a 4–0 victory away to Derby. Reading's strikers found their form a little too late, as Dave Kitson, Kevin Doyle and Leroy Lita all added to James Harper's first-half goal. Fulham beat Portsmouth 1–0 in their final game of the season to condemn Reading to relegation.

Squad

First-team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  USA Marcus Hahnemann
2 DF  SCO Graeme Murty[note 1]
3 DF  ENG Nicky Shorey
4 MF  MLI Kalifa Cissé[note 2]
5 DF  SEN Ibrahima Sonko
6 MF  ISL Brynjar Gunnarsson
7 MF  ENG Glen Little
8 FW  ENG Leroy Lita
9 FW  IRL Kevin Doyle
10 MF  IRL Stephen Hunt
11 MF  WAL John Oster[note 3]
12 FW  ENG Dave Kitson
14 DF  ENG John Halls
15 MF  ENG James Harper
16 DF  ISL Ívar Ingimarsson
17 MF  USA Bobby Convey
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 DF  NGA Sam Sodje[note 4]
19 DF  ENG Liam Rosenior
20 MF  CIV Emerse Faé[note 5]
21 GK  IRL Graham Stack[note 6]
22 DF  CMR André Bikey
23 DF  ECU Ulises de la Cruz
24 FW  IRL Shane Long
25 DF  IRL Alan Bennett
28 MF  CZE Marek Matějovský
29 DF  ENG Michael Duberry
30 MF  MLI Jimmy Kébé[note 7]
32 GK  AUS Adam Federici
33 DF  ENG Scott Golbourne
34 MF  ENG James Henry[note 8]
35 DF  SCO Alex Pearce[note 9]

Reserve/Academy squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
26 DF  KEN Curtis Osano
27 DF  ENG Aaron Brown
36 GK  DEN Mikkel Andersen
37 MF  ENG Hal Robson-Kanu[35]
38 DF  ENG Adam Bygrave
39 FW  WAL Simon Church[36]
No. Pos. Nation Player
40 MF  TUR Jem Karacan[37]
41 GK  ENG Ben Hamer
42 MF  AUS Oliver Bozanic
43 FW  ISL Viktor Illugason
44 MF  IRL Scott Davies[38]

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
19 MF  KOR Seol Ki-Hyeon (to Fulham)
31 FW  ENG Simon Cox[note 10] (to Swindon Town)
No. Pos. Nation Player
47 DF  HUN Péter Máté (loan return to Debrecen)

Transfers

In

Date Position Nationality Name From Fee
16 May 2007 DM Kalifa Cissé Boavista €1,000,000[39][40]
2 August 2007 DM Emerse Faé Nantes £2,500,000[41]
31 August 2007 DF Liam Rosenior Fulham Undisclosed[42]
12 December 2007 DF Radoslav Vasilev Slavia Sofia Undisclosed[43]
7 January 2008 MF Marek Matějovský Mladá Boleslav Undisclosed[44]
28 January 2008 MF Jimmy Kébé Lens Undisclosed[44]

Out

Date Position Nationality Name To Fee
31 August 2007 MF Seol Ki-Hyeon Fulham Undisclosed[45]
31 January 2008 FW Simon Cox Swindon Town Undisclosed[46]

Loans out

Date from Date to Position Nationality Name To
Season-long loan[47] DF Sam Sodje Charlton Athletic
Season-long loan[48][49][50] GK Graham Stack Wolverhampton Wanderers
31 July 2007 January 2008[51] DF Alan Bennett Southampton
Season-long loan[52] DF Curtis Osano Rushden & Diamonds
31 August 2007 January 2008[53] FW Simon Cox Swindon Town
11 August 2007 14 October 2007[54][55] GK Ben Hamer Brentford
24 July 2007 Season-long loan[56] MF Scott Davies Aldershot Town
18 October 2007 6 January 2008[57][58] MF Jem Karacan[note 11] Bournemouth
19 October 2007 19 January 2008[59][60] FW Simon Church[note 12] Crewe Alexandra
[61] DF John Halls Preston North End
2 November 2007 3 January 2008[62][63] MF James Henry Bournemouth
2 November 2007 3 January 2008[62][63] DF Alex Pearce Bournemouth
November 2007 12 January 2008[64][63] DF Scott Golbourne Bournemouth
20 November 2007
[65][66][67][68][69]
22 April 2008 DF Adam Bygrave Gillingham
1 January 2008 End of season[70][71] GK Ben Hamer Brentford
[72] DF John Halls Crystal Palace
29 January 2008 End of season[73] FW Simon Church[note 12] Yeovil Town
30 January 2008 End of season[74] FW Hal Robson-Kanu[note 13] Southend United
31 January 2008[75] 17 March 2008[76] MF James Henry Norwich City
31 January 2008 End of season[75] DF Alex Pearce Norwich City
5 March 2008[77] 19 April 2008[78][79] FW Leroy Lita Charlton Athletic
7 March 2008 End of Season[80] DF Alan Bennett Brentford
20 March 2008 End of Season[81][82] MF Jem Karacan Millwall
27 March 2008 End of Season[83] DF Aaron Brown Walsall

Released

Date Position Nationality Name Joined Date
16 May 2008[84] DF Aaron Brown Yeovil Town 11 August 2008[85]
16 May 2008[84] DF Adam Bygrave Weymouth 25 May 2008[86]
16 May 2008[84] DF Ulises de la Cruz Birmingham City 3 March 2009
16 May 2008[84] DF John Halls Brentford 25 September 2008
16 May 2008[84] MF John Oster Crystal Palace 11 August 2008
16 May 2008[84] GK Graham Stack Plymouth Argyle 18 July 2008[87]
3 July 2008 DF Curtis Osano Rushden & Diamonds July 2008[88]

Trial

Date from Date to Position Nationality Name
17 January 2008[89] 27 January 2008[89] GK Wojciech Kowalewski

Competitions

Competition Started roundCurrent
position / round
Final
position / round
First match Last match
Premier League 18th 12 August 200711 May 2008
Football League Cup 2nd round 3rd round 28 August 200725 September 2007
FA Cup 3rd round 3R 5 January 200815 January 2008

Source: Competitions

Premier League

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
38 10 6 22 41 66  −25 36 8 2 9 19 25  −6 2 4 13 22 41  −19

Results by round

Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHA
ResultDLWLLLWLWLWLLLDWDWDLLLLLLLLWWLWDLLLDLW
Position121571318181617121212121212121213121213131314161718181813141514161617171818
Source:
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Fixtures and results

12 August 2007 1 Manchester United 0–0 Reading Old Trafford
16:00 BST (UTC+1) Report Kitson  73' Attendance: 75,655
15 August 2007 2 Reading 1–2 Chelsea Madejski Stadium
20:00 BST (UTC+1) Bikey  30'
Cissé  53'  71'
Report Lampard  47'
Drogba  50'
Attendance: 24,031
18 August 2007 3 Reading 1–0 Everton Madejski Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Hunt  44' Report Attendance: 22,813
25 August 2007 4 Bolton Wanderers 3–0 Reading Reebok Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Speed  31'
Anelka  54'
Braaten  90+1'
Report Attendance: 20,023
1 September 2007 5 Reading 0–3 West Ham United Madejski Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Report Bellamy  6'
Etherington  49', 90+4'
Attendance: 23,533
15 September 2007 6 Sunderland 2–1 Reading Stadium of Light
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Jones  29'
Wallace  47',  48'
Report Gunnarsson  51'
Bikey  67'
Kitson  85'
Attendance: 39,272
Referee: Steve Tanner
22 September 2007 7 Reading 2–1 Wigan Athletic Madejski Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Kitson  29'
Harper  90'
Report Bent  50' Attendance: 21,379
29 September 2007 8 Portsmouth 7–4 Reading Fratton Park
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Benjani  7', 37', 70'
Hreiðarsson  55'
Kranjčar  75'
Imgimarsson  81' (o.g.)
Muntari  90+2' (pen.)
Report
Wiki Report
Hunt  45'
Kitson  48'
Long  79'
Campbell  90+4' (o.g.)
Attendance: 20,102
7 October 2007 9 Reading 1–0 Derby County Madejski Stadium
14:00 BST (UTC+1) Doyle  63' Report Attendance: 23,091
20 October 2007 10 Blackburn Rovers 4–2 Reading Ewood Park
15:00 BST (UTC+1) McCarthy  18', 82' (pen.)
Santa Cruz  22'
Kerimoğlu  32'
Report Doyle  80', 90+1' Attendance: 19,425
27 October 2007 11 Reading 2–1 Newcastle United Madejski Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Kitson  53'
Long  84'
Report Duberry  76' (o.g.) Attendance: 24,119
3 November 2007 12 Fulham 3–1 Reading Craven Cottage
15:00 GMT Davies  16'
Dempsey  72'
Healy  90'
Report Doyle  54' Attendance: 22,086
12 November 2007 13 Reading 1–3 Arsenal Madejski Stadium
20:00 GMT Shorey  87' Report Flamini  43'
Adebayor  52'
Hleb  77'
Attendance: 24,024
24 November 2007 14 Manchester City 2–1 Reading City of Manchester Stadium
15:00 GMT Petrov  11'
Ireland  90+4'
Report Harper  43' Attendance: 43,813
1 December 2007 15 Reading 1–1 Middlesbrough Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Kitson  54' Report Tuncay  83' Attendance: 22,262
8 December 2007 16 Reading 3–1 Liverpool Madejski Stadium
17:15 GMT Hunt  16' (pen.)
Doyle  59'
Harper  67'
Report Gerrard  28',  59' Attendance: 24,022
15 December 2007 17 Birmingham City 1–1 Reading St. Andrews
15:00 GMT Forssell  4' Report Hunt  51' (pen.) Attendance: 27,300
22 December 2007 18 Reading 2–1 Sunderland Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Ingimarsson  69'
Hunt  90+2'
Report Chopra  82' (pen.) Attendance: 24,082
26 December 2007 19 West Ham United 1–1 Reading Upton Park
13:00 GMT Solano  42' Report Gunnarsson
Kitson  60'
Attendance: 34,277
29 December 2007 20 Tottenham Hotspur 6–4 Reading White Hart Lane
15:00 GMT Berbatov  7', 63', 73', 83'
Malbranque  76'
Defoe  79'
Report Cissé  16'
Ingimarsson  53'
Kitson  69', 74'
Attendance: 36,178
1 January 2008 21 Reading 0–2 Portsmouth Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Sonko  3' Report Campbell  9'
Utaka  66'
Attendance: 24,084
12 January 2008 22 Aston Villa 3–1 Reading Villa Park
15:00 GMT Carew  22', 87'
Laursen  55'
Report Harper  90+2' Attendance: 38,288
19 January 2008 23 Reading 0–2 Manchester United Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Report Rooney  77'
Ronaldo  90+3'
Attendance: 24,135
30 January 2008 24 Chelsea 1–0 Reading Stamford Bridge
19:45 GMT Ballack  33' Report Attendance: 41,171
2 February 2008 25 Reading 0–2 Bolton Wanderers Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Report Nolan  33'
Helguson  58'
Attendance: 21,893
9 February 2008 26 Everton 1–0 Reading Goodison Park
15:00 GMT Jagielka  62' Report Attendance: 36,582
24 February 2008 27 Reading 1–2 Aston Villa Madejski Stadium
12:30 GMT Shorey  90+4' Report Young  45'
Harewood  83'
Attendance: 23,889
1 March 2008 28 Middlesbrough 0–1 Reading Riverside Stadium
15:00 GMT Report Harper  90+1' Attendance: 23,273
8 March 2008 29 Reading 2–0 Manchester City Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Long  61'
Kitson  88'
Report Attendance: 24,062
15 March 2008 30 Liverpool 2–1 Reading Anfield
15:00 GMT Mascherano  19'
Torres  48'
Report Matějovský  5' Attendance: 43,524
22 March 2008 31 Reading 2–1 Birmingham City Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Bikey  31', 79' Report Zárate  64' Attendance: 24,085
29 March 2008 32 Reading 0–0 Blackburn Rovers Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Matějovský  61'  72' Report Attendance: 23,374
5 April 2008 33 Newcastle United 3–0 Reading St James' Park
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Martins  18'
Owen  43'
Viduka  57'
Report Attendance: 52,179
12 April 2008 34 Reading 0–2 Fulham Madejski Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Report McBride  24'
Nevland  90'
Attendance: 24,112
19 April 2008 35 Arsenal 2–0 Reading Emirates Stadium
12:45 BST (UTC+1) Adebayor  30'
Gilberto  39'
Report Attendance: 60,109
26 April 2008 36 Wigan Athletic 0–0 Reading JJB Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Report Attendance: 19,043
3 May 2008 37 Reading 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur Madejski Stadium
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Report Keane  16' Attendance: 24,125
11 May 2008 38 Derby County 0–4 Reading Pride Park
15:00 BST (UTC+1) Report Harper  14'
Kitson  60'
Doyle  68'
Lita  90'
Attendance: 33,087

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
16 Bolton Wanderers 38 9 10 19 36 54 18 37
17 Fulham 38 8 12 18 38 60 22 36
18 Reading (R) 38 10 6 22 41 66 25 36 Relegation to the Football League Championship
19 Birmingham City (R) 38 8 11 19 46 62 16 35
20 Derby County (R) 38 1 8 29 20 89 69 11
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
For further information on European qualification see Premier League – Competition
(R) Relegated.

FA Cup

5 January 2008 Third Round Tottenham Hotspur 2–2 Reading White Hart Lane
15:00 GMT Berbatov  28', 50' (pen.)
Huddlestone  82'
Report Hunt  69', 69' Attendance: 35,243
15 January 2008 Third Round Reply Reading 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur Madejski Stadium
15:00 GMT Report Keane  15' Attendance: 22,130

Football League Cup

28 August 2007 Second Round Swansea City 0–1 (a.e.t.) Reading Liberty Stadium
19:45 BST (UTC+1) Report Lita  105' Attendance: 12,027
25 September 2007 Third Round Reading 2–4 Liverpool Madejski Stadium
19:45 BST (UTC+1) Convey  28'
Halls  64'
Report Benayoun  23'
Torres  50', 72', 86'
Attendance: 23,563

Player details

Appearances

No. Pos Nat Player TotalPremier LeagueFA CupLeague Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Marcus Hahnemann 3803800000
2 DF Graeme Murty 2802800000
3 DF Nicky Shorey 3823621010
4 MF Kalifa Cissé 25111+1112010
5 DF Ibrahima Sonko 16015+100000
6 MF Brynjar Gunnarsson 20018+200000
7 MF Glen Little 200+200000
8 FW Leroy Lita 18210+412021
9 FW Kevin Doyle 36634+260000
10 MF Stephen Hunt 4063742210
11 MF John Oster 18012+600000
12 FW Dave Kitson 361034100020
14 DF John Halls 310+100021
15 MF James Harper 4163861020
16 DF Ívar Ingimarsson 35233+121000
17 MF Bobby Convey 24112+802021
18 DF Sam Sodje 10000010
19 DF Liam Rosenior 19115+212000
20 MF Emerse Faé 1103+501020
22 DF André Bikey 24314+831010
23 DF Ulises de la Cruz 100602020
24 FW Shane Long 3232932010
28 MF Marek Matějovský 1411410000
29 DF Michael Duberry 1601301020
30 MF Jimmy Kébé 50500000
32 GK Adam Federici 40002020
33 DF Scott Golbourne 20100010
34 MF James Henry 10000010
35 DF Alex Pearce 30002010
Players who appeared for Reading no longer at the club:
19 MF Seol Ki-hyeon 30300000
31 FW Simon Cox 20001010

Starting 11

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