13th September 2000   

Reading reaction

THE problems are mounting up for beleaguered Athletic, who have two new injuries to add to their crushing 5-0 defeat at Reading last night. Defender Shaun Garnett missed the match with a broken hand is likely to be ruled out for three weeks. Goalkeeper Gary Kelly, meanwhile, has a shin problem which makes him doubtful for Saturday’s visit of Bristol City. The double blow is the last thing Athletic need after plummeting into the relegation zone by taking one point from six games. Manager Andy Ritchie blasted his defence last night for playing “schoolboy stuff” and could well shore up his backline by signing a centre-half on loan. “None of the defenders did their jobs,” Ritchie groaned. “I’m just non-plussed at some of the stupid things we are doing at the back. They didn’t mark people, they allowed Reading players to get into space and they were coming out for offside when we don’t even play that way. 

“You can’t legislate for losing someone as important as Shaun Garnett, but the lads who are there have to be stronger. After we let in two early goals, we outplayed them and had five or six chances which we didn’t stick away. Then we allowed them an amateurish goal before half-time and, although you have to take your chances, the defence gets the brunt of the blame.” Kelly’s shin injury occurred last night when he collided with an opponent as Reading scored their first goal. He played on before being replaced at half-time by David Miskelly and Athletic are now waiting to assess the damage. 

Garnett hurt his hand in a fall at Wrexham on Saturday, but club staff hoped he had only suffered bruising. Hospital checks showed a fracture and he must wait until next month to return, probably with a light protective cast. Said Ritchie: “Shaun will have an operation tomorrow and be able to play with support once it settles down. He is suspended anyway during that time, but we could have done without him getting injured.” One-match bans for Garnett and Mark Hotte come into effect at Bournemouth a week on Saturday. Both were sent off at Wrexham and, unless Ritchie brings in reinforcements, he will be desperately short of defensive cover.

STILL can’t find a gallon of unleaded for love nor money? Well, at least you aren’t in charge of a football team enduring its very own version of a fuel crisis. After last night’s humiliation at Reading, Athletic — who were already spluttering badly after five games without a win — are now running on an empty tank. This was their worst league defeat since a similar hammering at Tottenham almost seven years ago to the day. And it could have been much, much worse. After seeing their goals-against column race round to 18 in only seven games, it’s screamingly obvious where the problem lies. Andy Ritchie, who even in defeat is often philosophical or constructive, was absolutely livid. Blame was laid squarely at the feet of his hapless defenders. It was “amateurish”, it was “schoolboy stuff”. And it’s hard to disagree with the manager’s scathing assessment. After haemorrhaging two goals in the first five minutes, Athletic actually played some decent attacking football. Danny Boshell used the wide open spaces to good effect in midfield and, for the 20 minutes Athletic were on top, he was the best player on the pitch. For what it’s worth — and it’s debatable that it’s worth anything at all in the wake of this debacle — the visitors weren’t three goals inferior during a first half in which the points drained quicker than a petrol pump. But, yet again, they were all at sea in defence and have already conceded more goals than they did in the final 14 games of last season.

Last night, they were blatantly missing the experience and know-how of the injured Shaun Garnett. Although Garnett may not be the world’s finest technician, he brings steel and bristling aggression to a backline which can otherwise look raw. Paul Jones was asked to direct operations from the centre, but he is still a rookie at Football League level. Nor is he the greatest of on-field talkers. Nor is Mark Hotte. Nor is Scott McNiven. And with those three players making up their back three, Athletic were woefully short of leadership. Reading went into the match on a high and are an exciting, inventive side who will be right up there at the end of the season. That was supposed to be the plan for Athletic. But, if they keep playing as cluelessly as this, their only means of escape will be from the other end of the table. Athletic hadn’t been out of their own half by the time Reading had the first close shave through Lee Hodges’ 25-yard curler. And there were still only three minutes on the clock when The Royals swept into the lead after a neat build-up. The cross arrived from Ricky Newman on the right, Hodges headed it back and £800,000 striker Martin Butler reacted first to volley in from close range. It was a nightmare start for Athletic — but it got even worse when only 4mins 29secs had ticked away on the Madejski Stadium clock.

This time, Sammy Igoe picked up a bouncing ball 25 yards from goal and just to the right of centre. Without hesitation, the midfielder spotted Gary Kelly straying off his line and lifted a superb lob over the goalkeeper’s head with unerring accuracy. Athletic had managed no meaningful possession whatsoever and, already, they needed a major comeback to salvage anything from their long trip to Berkshire. “What a waste of petrol,” sang the gloating Reading supporters. And an apoplectic Ritchie must have been thinking just the same. The visitors finally made their presence felt after 12 minutes when Boshell hit a long-range drive which was turned round the post by ‘keeper Phil Whitehead. Mark Allott headed wide shortly after, while Kelly saved well from Darren Caskey and Boshell fired narrowly over from a 20-yard free-kick. Carlo Corazzin also went close and, as Athletic began to look increasingly dangerous, Paul Rickers missed a clear chance from Boshell’s terrific chipped pass.

It was crucial that they didn’t allow the match to slip away completely before the break but, two minutes before that watershed, it was game, set and match. In another flowing move from Reading, Hodges sent Butler charging away down the left for a low cross to Jamie Cureton. Cureton’s shot was blocked on the line by Hotte, and Igoe was ready and waiting to tuck away the rebound. Athletic made an unexpected change at half-time, the injured Kelly being replaced by David Miskelly. The young substitute, however, soon knew exactly what his predecessor had felt like in that horrendous first period. Miskelly’s first job was to pick the ball out of his net after Hodges teed it up on his chest and crashed a stunning long-range volley which dipped over the stranded ‘keeper. It was another tremendous goal from an impressive-looking team. But the only crumb of comfort in Athletic’s camp was for Barry Prenderville, who was brought on for a 36-minute debut. Some introduction.

Miskelly made no fewer than four high-quality saves before, very unusually, rampant Reading also changed their goalkeeper. By that stage, they were ripping Athletic to shreds and looked likely to score every time they poured forward — which was often. The fifth arrived 10 minutes from time when Cureton crossed from the right and substitute Jim McIntyre scored at the second attempt after his close-range shot was blocked. Ritchie stormed afterwards: “I looked at them in the dressing room and was so angry I couldn’t speak. I’m seething — it was like watching a bunch of amateurs.”

Sport.com

Sam Igoe hit his first goals for Reading to steer the Royals to a third successive victory. Igoe opened his account for the club that he joined last season with a sublime 25-yard lob after just five minutes, by which time the home side were already a goal to the good. Martin Butler had swept Reading in front in the fourth minute and Igoe doubled the advantage within 60 seconds, before making the points safe with his second on the stroke of half -time. Midfielder Lee Hodges and substitute James McIntyre added gloss to the result with second-half strikes to complete the rout and extend a remarkable run of home goal scoring for Reading. Having opened the season with two against Swindon they have since chalked up three, four and now five in consecutive games. Lee Hodges had already gone close with a third minute shot when he claimed an assist in Martin Butler's opening goal, heading Ricky Newman's cross back into the danger zone for Butler to sweep home in clinical fashion.

Within seconds Reading doubled their advantage as Ricky Newman sent Igoe clear with a quick throw and, spotting goalkeeper Gary Kelly way off his line, the former Portsmouth player despatched a delightful lob to stun the visitors. Oldham responded well and, had Reading keeper Phil Whitehead not blocked a stinging drive from Danny Boshell on 14 minutes, the outcome could have been far closer. The visitors had other chances to find their way back into the game. Boshell again going close with a free-kick from the edge of the area on 32 minutes before the Latics' best move of the game ended with Mark Hotte teeing up Carlo Corazzin for a curling shot that flew inches wide of a post. But they must have known it was not going to be their night when Boshell 's chip over the Readings defence left Paul Rickers in the clear only for the midfielder to fire woefully wide with only the keeper to beat. Two minutes before the break that miss was punished as Lee Hodges defence-splitting pass picked out Butler and though his pass saw Jamie Cureton fire in a shot which was blocked by Paul Jones, Igoe was on hand to rattle home the loose ball.

Reading twisted the knife four minutes after the break with a stunning strike from the impressive Lee Hodges , who picked up an Oldham clearance 30-yards out and send the ball flying back past substitute goalkeeper David Miskelly , whose first touch of the ball saw him pick it out of the back of the net. From then on the home fans were treated to wave after wave of Reading pressure, Igoe denied his hat-trick by Miskelly , whose brilliance also denied Cureton on no fewer than three occasions. But Reading supporters were treated to a 5th goal 10 minutes from time when Cureton turned provider for substitute James McIntyre to fire into the roof of the net after the brave Miskelly had blocked his initial efforts