Match Preview

Live Coverage

Match Report

English League Championship

Wednesday, 22 April 2015,

Reading
0
-
Full Time
Live
-
1
Birmingham
  • Kickoff: 20:00 BST
  • Stadium: Madejski Stadium
  • Referee: -
  • Stadium: Madejski Stadium
  • Attendance: 14,604
    • 83' Clayton Donaldson

    Reading

    Half time

    Full time

    Birmingham City

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    • Live Commentary
    • Stats
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    • Teams
    • Report

    Duo back for Reading

    Reading can add Nathan Ake and Kwesi Appiah to their squad for the visit of Birmingham on Wednesday night.

    On-loan Chelsea defender Ake and Crystal Palace loanee Appiah missed Saturday's agonising FA Cup semi-final defeat by Arsenal as they were cup-tied.

    Boss Steve Clarke is likely to freshen up his side following their Wembley exertions with Oliver Norwood, Simon Cox and club captain Jem Karacan pushing for starts.

    Defenders Anton Ferdinand (calf) and Jure Travner (groin) are the only injury absentees.

    Diego Fabbrini and Lloyd Dyer are available for Birmingham after being ineligible to face parent club Watford.

    The duo missed Saturday's 1-0 defeat but will be in the squad for Wednesday's trip.

    Nikola Zigic is also back for Gary Rowett after what has been described as a "niggle" with the striker having missed the last three games.

    Rowett could look to experiment with Blues 14th in the Sky Bet Championship with three matches left.

    91'+2

    Jonathan Grounds (Birmingham City) Free Kick at 93'

    91'+2

    Andrija Novakovich commits a foul on Andrew Shinnie resulting on a free kick for Birmingham City

    91'+1

    Adam Federici makes the save (Parry)

    91'+1

    Clayton Donaldson hits a good right footed shot. Outcome: save

    91'+1

    Michael Morrison clears the ball from danger.

    91'

    Adam Federici (Reading) Free Kick at 91'

    91'

    Andrew Shinnie commits a foul on Jordan Obita resulting on a free kick for Reading

    91'

    Jake Cooper clears the ball from danger.

    91'

    Throw-in: Jonathan Spector takes it (Attacking)

    91'

    End of the game

    91'

    The referee has signaled the end of the second half

    90'

    Throw-in: Jonathan Spector takes it (Attacking)

    90'

    Throw-in: Demarai Gray takes it (Attacking)

    89'

    Throw-in: Jonathan Spector takes it (Attacking)

    88'

    Darren Randolph makes the save (Catch)

    88'

    Jordan Obita hits a header. Outcome: save

    88'

    Chris Gunter crosses the ball.

    88'

    Throw-in: Chris Gunter takes it (Attacking)

    88'

    Robert Kiernan clears the ball from danger.

    88'

    Throw-in: Chris Gunter takes it (Attacking)

    88'

    Jordan Obita crosses the ball.

    87'

    Throw-in: Jordan Obita takes it (Attacking)

    86'

    Throw-in: Jordan Obita takes it (Defending)

    85'

    Throw-in: Jonathan Spector takes it (Attacking)

    85'

    Jake Cooper clears the ball from danger.

    83'

    0 - 1

    Goal!! Clayton Donaldson hits a header to the lower right corner from the centre 6 yard and scores!! Birmingham City now leads 1 - 0

    83'

    Clayton Donaldson hits a good header. Outcome: goal

    83'

    That last goal was assisted by Stephen Gleeson

    83'

    Stephen Gleeson crosses the ball.

    83'

    Chris Gunter blocks the shot

    83'

    Lloyd Dyer hits a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: blocked

    83'

    Adam Federici makes the save (Fumble)

    83'

    Andrew Shinnie hits a good right footed shot. Outcome: save

    82'

    Chris Gunter (Reading) Free Kick at 82'

    82'

    Demarai Gray commits a foul on Jem Karacan resulting on a free kick for Reading

    82'

    Throw-in: Jonathan Grounds takes it (Attacking)

    82'

    Throw-in: Jonathan Spector takes it (Attacking)

    81'

    Darren Randolph (Birmingham City) Free Kick at 81'

    81'

    Reading makes a sub: Andrija Novakovich enters for Nick Blackman. Reason: Tactical

    81'

    Jack Stacey commits a foul on Jonathan Spector resulting on a free kick for Birmingham City

    80'

    Throw-in: Chris Gunter takes it (Defending)

    80'

    Chris Gunter clears the ball from danger.

    80'

    Darren Randolph takes a long goal kick

    79'

    Jack Stacey hits a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: miss right

    78'

    Throw-in: Jonathan Grounds takes it (Attacking)

    78'

    Adam Federici makes the save (Fumble)

    78'

    Demarai Gray hits a good right footed shot. Outcome: save

    77'

    Darren Randolph takes a long goal kick

    77'

    Birmingham City makes a sub: Demarai Gray enters for Wesley Thomas. Reason: Tactical

    76'

    Nathan Ake hits a good left footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: over bar

    75'

    Throw-in: Jonathan Spector takes it (Attacking)

    74'

    Darren Randolph makes the save (Parry)

    74'

    Jack Stacey hits a good right footed shot. Outcome: save

    74'

    Darren Randolph makes the save (Parry)

    74'

    Nathaniel Chalobah hits an impressive right footed shot. Outcome: save

    73'

    Robert Kiernan blocks the shot

    73'

    Nick Blackman hits a good left footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: blocked

    72'

    Throw-in: Jordan Obita takes it (Attacking)

    72'

    Darren Randolph takes a long goal kick

    72'

    Jem Karacan crosses the ball.

    71'

    Jack Stacey crosses the ball.

    71'

    Throw-in: Jonathan Grounds takes it (Defending)

    70'

    Adam Federici takes a short goal kick

    70'

    Andrew Shinnie hits a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: miss right

    70'

    Michael Hector clears the ball from danger.

    69'

    Stephen Gleeson crosses the ball.

    69'

    Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City) Free Kick at 69'

    69'

    Jordan Obita

    69'

    Jordan Obita commits a foul on Clayton Donaldson resulting on a free kick for Birmingham City

    69'

    Throw-in: Jonathan Spector takes it (Attacking)

    68'

    Darren Randolph (Birmingham City) Free Kick at 68'

    68'

    Handball called on Kwesi Appiah

    67'

    Robert Tesche clears the ball from danger.

    67'

    Michael Morrison clears the ball from danger.

    67'

    Jonathan Spector clears the ball from danger.

    67'

    Jordan Obita crosses the ball.

    66'

    Robert Tesche (Birmingham City) Free Kick at 66'

    66'

    Nathan Ake commits a foul on Robert Tesche resulting on a free kick for Birmingham City

    66'

    Throw-in: Jonathan Grounds takes it (Defending)

    65'

    Jordan Obita crosses the ball.

    64'

    Robert Tesche clears the ball from danger.

    63'

    Jordan Obita clears the ball from danger.

    63'

    Robert Tesche crosses the ball.

    63'

    Darren Randolph takes a long goal kick

    63'

    Reading makes a sub: Kwesi Appiah enters for Garath McCleary. Reason: Tactical

    63'

    Reading makes a sub: Jack Stacey enters for Jamie Mackie. Reason: Tactical

    62'

    Birmingham City makes a sub: Lloyd Dyer enters for Paul Caddis. Reason: Tactical

    61'

    Jordan Obita hits a good left footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: miss left

    61'

    Nathan Ake (Reading) Free Kick at 61'

    61'

    Jonathan Grounds commits a foul on Nathan Ake resulting on a free kick for Reading

    59'

    Jake Cooper clears the ball from danger.

    59'

    Darren Randolph takes a long goal kick

    59'

    Paul Caddis clears the ball from danger.

    59'

    Jordan Obita crosses the ball.

    58'

    Throw-in: Robert Kiernan takes it (Defending)

    57'

    Throw-in: Paul Caddis takes it (Defending)

    57'

    Garath McCleary crosses the ball.

    57'

    Jordan Obita crosses the ball.

    57'

    Jordan Obita (Reading) Free Kick at 57'

    56'

    Robert Tesche commits a foul on Nick Blackman resulting on a free kick for Reading

    56'

    Throw-in: Robert Kiernan takes it (Defending)

    55'

    Michael Morrison clears the ball from danger.

    55'

    Paul Caddis clears the ball from danger.

    55'

    Jordan Obita crosses the ball.

    53'

    Throw-in: Chris Gunter takes it (Attacking)

    53'

    Garath McCleary crosses the ball.

    53'

    Darren Randolph takes a long goal kick

    53'

    Jamie Mackie hits a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: miss right

    53'

    Chris Gunter crosses the ball.

    52'

    Michael Morrison blocks the shot

    52'

    Nathan Ake hits a good left footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: blocked

    51'

    Throw-in: Jordan Obita takes it (Attacking)

    51'

    Jonathan Spector blocks the shot

    51'

    Nick Blackman hits a good left footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: blocked

    51'

    Jake Cooper (Reading) Free Kick at 51'

    51'

    Wesley Thomas commits a foul on Jake Cooper resulting on a free kick for Reading

    50'

    Jem Karacan crosses the ball.

    50'

    Darren Randolph takes a long goal kick

    48'

    Chris Gunter (Reading) Free Kick at 48'

    48'

    Wesley Thomas commits a foul on Michael Hector resulting on a free kick for Reading

    48'

    Darren Randolph (Birmingham City) Free Kick at 48'

    48'

    Garath McCleary commits a foul on Robert Tesche resulting on a free kick for Birmingham City

    48'

    Robert Kiernan clears the ball from danger.

    47'

    Jonathan Spector clears the ball from danger.

    47'

    Garath McCleary crosses the ball.

    47'

    Jake Cooper clears the ball from danger.

    46'

    Throw-in: Jordan Obita takes it (Attacking)

    46'

    The second half is under way

    46'

    Throw-in: Jordan Obita takes it (Attacking)

    46'

    Darren Randolph takes a long goal kick

    46'

    The referee has signaled the end of the first half

    45'

    Adam Federici (Reading) Free Kick at 45'

    45'

    Andrew Shinnie commits a foul on Jordan Obita resulting on a free kick for Reading

    45'

    Throw-in: Paul Caddis takes it (Attacking)

    45'

    Jordan Obita clears the ball from danger.

    45'

    Paul Caddis crosses the ball.

    45'

    Throw-in: Paul Caddis takes it (Attacking)

    44'

    Throw-in: Chris Gunter takes it (Defending)

    43'

    Darren Randolph takes a long goal kick

    43'

    Michael Hector crosses the ball.

    41'

    Throw-in: Paul Caddis takes it (Defending)

    40'

    Chris Gunter crosses the ball.

    40'

    Throw-in: Chris Gunter takes it (Defending)

    40'

    Darren Randolph takes a long goal kick

    39'

    Robert Tesche clears the ball from danger.

    39'

    Chris Gunter crosses the ball.

    39'

    Throw-in: Chris Gunter takes it (Attacking)

    39'

    Robert Tesche clears the ball from danger.

    39'

    Jem Karacan crosses the ball.

    39'

    Throw-in: Chris Gunter takes it (Attacking)

    37'

    Jake Cooper (Reading) Free Kick at 37'

    37'

    Offside called on Clayton Donaldson

    36'

    Adam Federici makes the save (Other)

    36'

    Jonathan Grounds hits a good header. Outcome: save

    36'

    Nathaniel Chalobah clears the ball from danger.

    36'

    Paul Caddis crosses the ball.

    36'

    Throw-in: Paul Caddis takes it (Attacking)

    35'

    Throw-in: Robert Kiernan takes it (Defending)

    35'

    Throw-in: Chris Gunter takes it (Attacking)

    34'

    Darren Randolph (Birmingham City) Free Kick at 34'

    34'

    Birmingham City makes a sub: Andrew Shinnie enters for Diego Fabbrini. Reason: Injury

    33'

    Jamie Mackie commits a foul on Darren Randolph resulting on a free kick for Birmingham City

    32'

    Darren Randolph makes the save (Other)

    32'

    Nathaniel Chalobah hits a good right footed shot. Outcome: save

    31'

    Paul Caddis clears the ball from danger.

    31'

    Chris Gunter crosses the ball.

    31'

    Darren Randolph makes the save (Parry)

    31'

    Nathaniel Chalobah hits a good right footed shot. Outcome: save

    29'

    Jonathan Spector blocks the shot

    29'

    Nathan Ake hits a good left footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: blocked

    29'

    Throw-in: Robert Kiernan takes it (Defending)

    28'

    Adam Federici takes a long goal kick

    28'

    Paul Caddis hits a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: over bar

    28'

    Throw-in: Jonathan Grounds takes it (Attacking)

    27'

    Throw-in: Chris Gunter takes it (Attacking)

    27'

    Michael Hector (Reading) Free Kick at 27'

    27'

    Wesley Thomas commits a foul on Michael Hector resulting on a free kick for Reading

    27'

    Darren Randolph takes a long goal kick

    26'

    Michael Morrison blocks the shot

    26'

    Jake Cooper hits a good left footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: blocked

    26'

    Michael Morrison clears the ball from danger.

    25'

    Darren Randolph makes the save (Parry)

    25'

    Garath McCleary hits a good left footed shot. Outcome: save

    25'

    Robert Kiernan blocks the shot

    25'

    Nick Blackman hits a good left footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: blocked

    25'

    Darren Randolph makes the save (Fumble)

    25'

    Jamie Mackie hits a good right footed shot. Outcome: save

    24'

    Jordan Obita crosses the ball.

    24'

    Jordan Obita (Reading) Free Kick at 24'

    24'

    Paul Caddis commits a foul on Jordan Obita resulting on a free kick for Reading

    24'

    Throw-in: Jordan Obita takes it (Attacking)

    23'

    Jonathan Spector clears the ball from danger.

    23'

    Jake Cooper clears the ball from danger.

    22'

    Jordan Obita clears the ball from danger.

    22'

    Paul Caddis crosses the ball.

    22'

    Throw-in: Jonathan Grounds takes it (Attacking)

    22'

    Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City) Free Kick at 22'

    21'

    Nathan Ake commits a foul on Diego Fabbrini resulting on a free kick for Birmingham City

    21'

    Throw-in: Chris Gunter takes it (Attacking)

    21'

    Darren Randolph takes a long goal kick

    20'

    Jamie Mackie hits a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: miss left

    20'

    Garath McCleary hits a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: blocked

    19'

    Paul Caddis crosses the ball.

    19'

    Throw-in: Paul Caddis takes it (Attacking)

    19'

    Jake Cooper clears the ball from danger.

    19'

    Paul Caddis crosses the ball.

    18'

    Throw-in: Chris Gunter takes it (Defending)

    17'

    Throw-in: Chris Gunter takes it (Attacking)

    16'

    Wesley Thomas clears the ball from danger.

    16'

    Stephen Gleeson clears the ball from danger.

    15'

    Throw-in: Jordan Obita takes it (Defending)

    14'

    Michael Hector blocks the shot

    14'

    Diego Fabbrini hits a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: blocked

    14'

    Throw-in: Robert Kiernan takes it (Attacking)

    13'

    Darren Randolph takes a long goal kick

    12'

    Garath McCleary hits a good left footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: miss right

    12'

    Adam Federici takes a long goal kick

    10'

    Adam Federici makes the save (Other)

    10'

    Wesley Thomas hits a good right footed shot. Outcome: save

    10'

    Darren Randolph (Birmingham City) Free Kick at 10'

    10'

    Nathan Ake commits a foul on Jonathan Spector resulting on a free kick for Birmingham City

    10'

    Throw-in: Paul Caddis takes it (Attacking)

    8'

    Throw-in: Jonathan Grounds takes it (Attacking)

    7'

    Robert Tesche crosses the ball.

    7'

    Nathan Ake clears the ball from danger.

    7'

    Nathan Ake clears the ball from danger.

    7'

    Robert Tesche crosses the ball.

    7'

    Throw-in: Paul Caddis takes it (Attacking)

    7'

    Jake Cooper clears the ball from danger.

    6'

    Darren Randolph takes a long goal kick

    5'

    Garath McCleary (Reading) Free Kick at 5'

    5'

    Robert Kiernan commits a foul on Jamie Mackie resulting on a free kick for Reading

    4'

    Throw-in: Jordan Obita takes it (Defending)

    3'

    Throw-in: Jonathan Spector takes it (Attacking)

    3'

    Darren Randolph (Birmingham City) Free Kick at 3'

    2'

    Offside called on Jamie Mackie

    2'

    Darren Randolph makes the save (Parry)

    2'

    Michael Hector hits a good header. Outcome: save

    2'

    Garath McCleary crosses the ball.

    2'

    Garath McCleary (Reading) Free Kick at 2'

    2'

    Robert Tesche commits a foul on Nathaniel Chalobah resulting on a free kick for Reading

    2'

    Throw-in: Chris Gunter takes it (Attacking)

    1'

    Throw-in: Chris Gunter takes it (Attacking)

    1'

    Game on!

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    Possession

    65%
    35%
    • Reading
    • Birmingham City

    Shots

    21
    9

    Shots on target

    8
    5

    Fouls

    8
    11

    Corners

    0
    0

    Yellow Cards

    1
    0

    Red Cards

    0
    0

    Head to Head

    Reading0 - 1Birmingham
    Reading0 - 0Birmingham
    Birmingham6 - 1Reading
    Birmingham1 - 2Reading
    Reading2 - 0Birmingham
    Birmingham2 - 0Reading

    Reading

    • 1Adam Federici
    • 15Michael Hector
    • 43Nathan Ake
    • 2Chris Gunter
    • 35Jake Cooper
    • 14Nathaniel Chalobah
    • 12Garath McCleary
    • -> Kwesi Appiah
    • 11Jordan Obita
    • 21Jem Karacan
    • 19Jamie Mackie
    • -> Jack Stacey
    • 22Nick Blackman
    • -> Andrija Novakovich
    • Subs
    • 16Hope Akpan
    • 3Stephen Kelly
    • 6Oliver Norwood
    • 31Mikkel Andersen

    Birmingham

    • 1Darren Randolph
    • 15Robert Kiernan
    • 23Jonathan Spector
    • 28Michael Morrison
    • 31Paul Caddis
    • -> Lloyd Dyer
    • 13Robert Tesche
    • 36Diego Fabbrini
    • -> Andrew Shinnie
    • 3Jonathan Grounds
    • 8Stephen Gleeson
    • 9Clayton Donaldson
    • 10Wesley Thomas
    • -> Demarai Gray
    • Subs
    • 11David Cotterill
    • 21Colin Doyle
    • 26David Davis
    • 12Lee Novak

    Donaldson fires Blues to victory

    Beaten FA Cup semi-finalists Reading lost again as they were defeated 1-0 by Birmingham in a scrappy Sky Bet Championship game at the Madejski Stadium on Wednesday night.

    Although Reading dominated most of the match, they wasted several chances in the closing stages of the first half.

    Birmingham held firm and grabbed the winner seven minutes from the end, when Clayton Donaldson nodded in his 16th goal of the season.

    Reading were involved in a dramatic 2-1 defeat against Arsenal, after extra-time, in the last four of the Cup at Wembley on Saturday.

    Goalkeeper Adam Federici, whose fumble led to Alexis Sanchez's winning goal, was retained against Birmingham - as were six of his fellow starters from Wembley.

    At least Reading had no pressure on them, the last lingering doubts of relegation having been removed when Millwall lost 2-0 at Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night.

    Birmingham had little to play for either, apart from trying to improve on a poor recent record of just two wins in eight league matches.

    A predictably dour opening, with neither side keen to force the pace, ended when Wes Thomas aimed at Federici. But it was a weak effort that did not trouble the Australian goalkeeper.

    Reading, with only two wins in 13 league games behind them and no wins in six, responded swiftly as the game warmed up.

    Garath McCleary, scorer of Reading's equaliser against Arsenal, fired wide after a long pass from Jake Cooper.

    A Cooper header lacked the power to test Birmingham keeper Darren Randolph, Jamie Mackie shot wide after Jem Karacan had been blocked out, and Mackie and Nick Blackman had close-range efforts cleared to safety.

    Randolph made a flying save to keep out a fierce McCleary shot and the keeper also had to stop two decent long-range attempts from Nathaniel Chalobah.

    Birmingham threatened only rarely, Paul Caddis blazing over from a Diego Fabbrini cross, which Donaldson had missed, and Jonathan Grounds heading straight at Federici from a Caddis corner.

    Reading kept up the momentum after the interval but, as Birmingham defended stubbornly, the home side spoiled good approach work with poor final touches.

    Nathan Ake did manage to fashion a chance when wriggling clear of his markers but drove straight at Randolph.

    Birmingham continued to sit back, inviting the pressure. Jordan Obita missed with a powerful drive and then drilled over a low cross that no team-mate was able to reach.

    Andrew Shinnie was off target from distance but Reading regained the upper hand with efforts from Chalobah, a 20-yard shot saved by Randolph, substitute Jack Stacey and Ake.

    Birmingham rallied late on, with Federici having to make two smart saves to deny substitute Demarai Gray.

    And the visitors broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute. Stephen Gleeson delivered a corner from the left and Donaldson rose unchallenged to glance a header past the helpless Federici.




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