Reading 0-2 Portsmouth

It wasn’t quite the 7-4 thriller from earlier in the season, but it was hardly dull!

Within the first few minutes Reading’s Ibrahima Sonko was sent off for a foul on Benjani. Niko Kranjcar stepped up to take the penalty, and with the technique he has and the composure he shows on the pitch, I was already celebrating a goal! However he wasn’t his usual assured self and struck it on to the post.

Less than ten minutes later Pompey did take the lead. A slightly scrappy goal forced in by Sol Campbell on his 50th appearance for Pompey, ‘but they all count’.

You can’t say that either side particularly dominated the rest of the half in terms of opportunities, but Portsmouth did their best to take the bite out of things.

Just after the hour mark John Utaka showed why he’ll be sorely missed when he travels to Ghana to take part in the African Cup of Nations. A creative, powerful run was rounded off when he finished with aplomb. Assistant Manager Tony Adams said after the game that he wished Utaka would show his quality more often.

After the second goal you always felt that the game was beyond Reading’s grasp and that was confirmed when Mike Dean blew the final whistle.

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey (De la Cruz 71), Hunt, Harper, Cisse, Convey (Bikey 7), Doyle (Long 83), Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Federici, Lita.

Sent Off: Sonko (3).

Booked: Murty, Cisse, Bikey.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Diop, Hughes (Lauren 83), Muntari, Kranjcar (Taylor 89), Benjani (Kanu 63).
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Nugent.

Booked: Hughes.

Goals: Campbell 9, Utaka 66.

Att: 24,084

Ref: Mike Dean

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Category: Discussion, Results, Team News

Tags: Discussion, John Utaka, Portsmouth, reading, Results, Sol Campbell, Team News, the offside

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