SM
Liverpool vs. Real Madrid: 22 hrs 17 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
RL
Championship
Sep 15, 2013 at 1.15pm UK
 
BL

0-0

 
FT

Match Analysis: Reading 0-0 Brighton & Hove Albion

:Headline: Match Analysis: Reading 0-0 Brighton & Hove Albion: ID:105041: from db_amp
Sports Mole picks the bones out of Reading and Brighton's 10-a-side goalless draw in the Championship.

The final match of the sixth round of fixtures in the Championship saw Reading and Brighton & Hove Albion play out a goalless draw at the Madejski Stadium.

It wasn't a match without incident, though, as both sides saw a striker sent off in the first half.

Pavel Pogrebnyak was the first go for two bookable offences, one a late tackle and the other an adjudged dive.

Minutes later Brighton's star forward Leonardo Ulloa was given a straight red for a kung-fu kick on Reading defender Alex Pearce.

In the second 45 minutes, both sides had chances to win it but could not take them. Here, Sports Mole dissects an action-packed 90 minutes.

Match statistics:

Reading:
Shots 10
On target 4
Possession 44%
Corners 5
Fouls 12

Brighton:
Shots 20
On target 5
Possession 56%
Corners 8
Fouls 14

Was the result fair?

Just about, yes. If one side deserved to win it more, then it would be Brighton, who had the better chances in a surprisingly good second half after all those cards in the first. Manager Oscar Garcia will be gutted that his side could not take those opportunities, but he would have definitely taken a point before kickoff.

Reading's performance

Nigel Adkins's men haven't had the most convincing of starts since relegation and it was not great at home today. Yes, Pogrebnyak's dismissal was a little harsh, but there was not much going forward from the hosts. The fact that their best player was keeper Alex McCarthy says it all. Second-half substitute Wayne Bridge was excellent from the left and should start the next game.

Brighton's performance

It should have been much easier for Brighton after Pogrebnyak's dismissal but they shot themselves in the foot when Ulloa stupidly went in with a karate kick on Pearce. At the back, Gordon Greer and Matthew Upson were excellent, while Kazenga LuaLua took on a lot of the attacking responsibility after Ulloa's red. Plenty of encouraging signs for Garcia.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Kazenga LuaLua: LuaLua was a threat all afternoon down the left side of the visitors' attack and was unlucky not to set up or score the winner.

Biggest gaffe

Easy winner here and that's Ulloa for his crazy decision to go in with a high foot. If he had stayed on the pitch, it would have given Brighton a great chance to take three points, not just one.

Referee performance

Not an easy game for Graham Scott to officiate, especially in a heated first half. Ulloa's sending-off was an easy decision to make but Pogrebnyak's two yellows could certainly be considered harsh. The first, in particular, seemed cruel as Kazenga LuaLua went down ever so late after the Russian's lunge.

What next?

Reading: It does not get any easier for the Royals as former manager Brian McDermott brings his Leeds United side to Berkshire on Wednesday evening.

Brighton: The Seagulls, meanwhile, also face a tough midweek opponent in second-placed Queens Park Rangers.

amp_article__105041 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2013-09-16 02:45:36:
html db last update - 2013-09-16 02:45:36 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Wycombe WanderersWycombe16122236181838
2Wrexham17104326111534
3Birmingham CityBirmingham15103228151333
4Stockport CountyStockport1786329171230
5Barnsley177642622427
6Reading168352624227
7Bolton WanderersBolton168352526-127
8Huddersfield TownHuddersfield158252315826
9Lincoln CityLincoln177552321226
10Mansfield TownMansfield157352017324
11Exeter CityExeter167271415-123
12Charlton AthleticCharlton166461717022
13Peterborough UnitedPeterborough166373229321
14Bristol Rovers176381723-621
15Wigan AthleticWigan165561513220
16Blackpool175572430-620
17Stevenage165471116-519
18Northampton TownNorthampton174671923-418
19Rotherham UnitedRotherham164571419-517
20Crawley TownCrawley174491527-1216
21Leyton Orient154381418-415
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge163491425-1113
23Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury1632111629-1311
24Burton Albion1615101529-148
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .