I couldn't make it to the Madejski Stadium, so here is a guest match report by ALEX TILSLEY.


After taking a 2-0 lead into half time, a makeshift Albion team managed to blow their chances of facing local rivals Birmingham City at home in the next round as they succumbed to a very capable Reading side.

Albion lined up in a 4-4-2 formation but with a few surprises, particularly in defence. Midfielder Darren Carter started the game at left back, full back Martin Albrechtsen moved into the centre to partner Curtis Davies, and young Jared Hodgkiss made his debut at right back.

In front of the defence was a midfield and strike force that many would of thought were good enough to win the game. Chaplow, Wallwork, Inamoto and Greening across the midfield, with Ellington and want away Earnshaw up front.

Albion opened the scoring through Richard Chaplow. Wallwork played an excellent ball from the centre of the park to the forward running Chaplow who proceeded to beat Stack with a first time effort into the far corner. Things got even better later in the half when Carter played a hopeful cross into the middle, Ellington escaped his marker to fire a wicked volley which Stack could only parry to Chaplow who tapped in his second senior goal for the club. Reading never really threatened the Albion goal and, at half time, it looked as if the fat lady was getting warmed up!!

The second half started in the worst possible way for Albion as Lita neatly turned his marker in the area to fire past Kirkland to bring Reading back into the game. The goal of the night came midway through the second half as Reading came level. A neat attacking move down the Reading right saw the ball end up on its way to Lita who fired a delightfully curled shot over Kirkland into the top corner of the Albion goal from about 25 yards. From here on in there was only one winner as Reading took control.

Between the second Reading goal and the start of extra time, the visitors made two changes with youngsters Rob Davies (making his debut) and Lloyd Dyer coming on to replace Greening and Inamoto. This gave the side an even more youthful look. Unfortunately, it didn't help as Lita completed his hat-trick at the beginning as extra time after a scrappy bit of play in the Albion area.

That was that, Albion never came close to grabbing an equaliser. Another debut in the second period of extra time from Nicholson (replacing Wallwork) couldn't do the trick. He did however he looked more lively in 10 minutes than Earnie and Ellington managed in 120!

It's not the end of the world, but it was disappointing to blow a two goal lead. I'm sure we're all using the phrase "we'll concentrate on the league!".

Marks

Chris Kirkland - 7 - Not at fault for any of the goals.
Jared Hodgkiss - 7 - Solid debut, targeted by Reading in the early stages but held his own.
Darren Carter - 7 - Up against the impressive Oster but coped in an unfamiliar position
Martin Albrechtsen - 7 - Possibly a better option than Moore, Gaardsoe and arguably Clem in this position, but we missed his pace on the wing.
Curtis Davies - 9 - MOM. Gets better and better; really enjoying watching him develop into one of the country's best central defenders. He's definitely going places.
Richard Chaplow - 8 - Well taken goals; would like to see him given a run in the team.
Ronnie Wallwork - 7 - Looked the best player on the park in the first half, but faded in the second.
Junichi Inamoto - 6 - Disappointing compared with form before Christmas.
Jonathan Greening - 6 - Needs to do more considering his senior/reliable status tag.
Nathan Ellington - 5 - Didn't look up for the fight & lacked in confidence.
Robert Earnshaw - 3 - Didn't look interested. Tried to do too many things on his own - not a team player. Enraged the fans when he walked over to talk a corner in the final minutes; he then couldn't beat the first man. The sooner he goes & we get a replacement the better.

R Davies - 7 - busy, but with no end product
Dyer - 6 - expected more when he was on the ball, didn't attack the full backs as we've seen in the past
Nicholson - 7 - enthusiastic, but didn't have enough time to get involved.

Robson - 7 - couldn't really have picked any other team, he would have thought ,like all the fans, that the team were good enough to hold onto a 2 goal lead.



Alex Tilsley, 19th January 2006.