Sat 8th Sep 2001.

Reading
Whitehead
Whitbread
Williams
Smith (Butler 57)
Robinson
Igoe
Parkinson
Harper
Murty
Rougier (Henderson 72)
Cureton

Subs not used
Jones
Viveash
Ashdown

Cardiff City
Alexander
Simpkins
Prior
Gabbidon
Weston
Hamilton (Maxwell 72)
Kavanagh
Bonner
Brayson (Low 88)
Fortune West
Earnshaw (Legg 55)

Subs not used
Nugent
Hughes

Leo scores the winner

Report from NigelBlues.
Taking a 250+ mile drive home on a cold, wet Tuesday night after City have slipped to their usual defeat at places like Blackpool, Halifax or Blackpool, Bluebird fans have often wondered why they spend so much time and money following the team. It's when you get days like today, the question gets answered.

The day was magnificent, City were magnificent, the fans were magnificent. There's nothing that beats days like today. Everything clicked on and off the pitch.

The M4 seemed to be overtaken by City fans with Bluebird filled cars, mini buses and coaches everywhere you looked. Many disappeared off the M4 before going to the Madjeski Stadium for a beer ... or ten. Just as well as Reading FC and Thames Valley Police fear of Cardiff City fans lead to the bars being closed in the away end leaving fans to admire their top value for money catering - £1 for a hot drink/soft drink, £2 for a sausage roll and £2.50 for a pastie or hot dog.

Their fears were unfounded because, yet again, the fans were out to party and support the team. We always support the team non-stop but today was special. As soon as the teams came out, it was white hot and deafening, it never stopped.

The best Reading managed to offer were two chants of "Ingerlund", "you're not singing anymore" when they had their two minutes of enjoyment after the equaliser (even though we were singing) and a lone drummer at the opposite end when they really needed a lone trumpeter to play the Last Post for them. At least they weren't playing the appalling Terry and June theme tune that they used 2 seasons ago.

When we last visited Madjeski two seasons ago, we were totally envious of their stadium because it had bars and tv screens but we now have them. We were awe-struck admiring their 25,000 all seater bowl shaped stadium but not anymore when we're going to have bigger and better. It remains very impressive though.

75% of the Reading fans were congregated to our left in a stand running alongside one touchline, they were sparsely populating their other parts of the ground. It's only Cardiff City fans who have just over 3,000 seats which nobody bothers sitting in as we stood and supported for the whole 90 minutes as only we do.

On the field, there were changes. Alan Cork opted for 4-3-3, the formation he has apparently wanted to play all season. Paul Brayson had a free licence behind Earnie and Leo, relishing playing against his previous club. In midfield, Mark Bonner had his first start of the season. The suspended Willie Boland and the out of sorts Andy Legg, also unhappy where he has been playing, was on the subs bench for the first time since his early appearances for City.

The fans were up for it so were the team as Reading showed why they have had a great start to the season and will stay at, or around, the top. However, they more than met their match today, Cardiff City were superior in all departments. And in the first 45 minutes especially, we outplayed, our fought and out thought them ... and we outsung them totally too, it was a no contest.

Before kick-off, Reading boasted that they were the only team in all four divisions not to have conceded a goal this season and would snuff Cardiff too. By half-time, City had scored twice, had a good goal disallowed, hit the post, created goalmouth scrambles and left Reading in tatters as they were bossed out of the game. Bluebird heaven.

City started the brighter and stronger by taking the game to Reading with every player giving everything for the cause. They had the goal they deserved after just 8 minutes from a free kick given wide on the right. Michael Simpkins curled a left footer to the far post and Spencer Prior headed home powerfully from close range to start a manic celebration as he ran to the side of goal and ayatollahed.

In all the mayhem, few noticed that the goal was disallowed but how/why, nobody can explain and that included many of the Reading fans. It was given for offside but Prior wasn't, nobody else interfered and I don't think I've ever seen offside given from a free-kick with 20 players piled inside the area. A terrible decision but it was the first of many.

Ref David Pugh did his best to spoil what was an excellent game. It was full blooded and committed but nearly always fair and honest. Yet Pugh set the standard by booking 9 players, including 6 from Cardiff, and sending one off, one of the few decisions I agreed with. He obviously had a new pen to try out but he was too fussy, setting an early standard for awarding free-kicks for petty fouls. He was bad for both sides. Advantage and fair tackle didn't exist in his refereeing phrase book.

The most victimised player was Leo Fortune-West who seemed to have foul after foul awarded against him, often for when he did absolutely nothing. However Leo never let if affect him and, in the process, produced by far his finest 90 minute performance in a City shirt. If he played like this every week, none of us would doubt him and we wouldn't need to bother looking for another striker. Competition and the threat of new signings is obviously having an effect on him.

Leo set the standard by which he must now be judged. He won everything in the air, he chased ball down touchlines, he ran for everything, his heading and distribution was superb and he even had rapport with us by doing the ayatollah and celebrating in front of us. Reading's centre-halves were taken apart by him. And he capped it all with a deserved goal double.

The opener on 12 minutes was a rarity, a Leo close range 2 yard tap in, a real poacher's goal. City won a free-kick outside the area which the ref brought forward to the edge as he penalised Reading for dissent. Earnie tapped it aside, Kavanagh hit a great low drive which Whitehead just tipped onto the past but there was Leo, first to react, stroking home to start more magic mayhem.

City were in control with Graham Kavanagh pulling the strings in midfield, his best game by far for City as he gets fitter, and Spencer Prior with Gabbidon stitching up everything in central defence.

After working so hard to get into the ascendancy, City still fell into their old ways by conceding the softest of equalisers when they fell asleep for the only time all game.
Reading pushed forward with Igoe sliding the ball ahead of him, City's left side were nowhere as Cureton found himself running at goal unmarked. He shot across Alexander who stopped but couldn't hold on and Smith reacted first to fire home with Alexander almost stopping that too.

That was the only time fans asked questions about City and it was a short-lived problem anyway because back came City, taking the game to Reading again, and they only needed three minutes to regain the lead. Kavanagh hit a corner to the far post where Prior's climb and header back across goal was superb. It appeared to be heading for goal but as the ball came across, Leo moved in, and nudged it inside the top corner. Oh yes, yes, yessssssssssss!

City were going for the kill, Reading didn't deserve to see half-time only one goal behind. There was a scramble where they just blocked three shots at goal after Whitehead spilled the ball and an unbelievable Kavanagh free-kick. On the left hand side of the area, everyone was expecting him to aim for the top opposite corner or shoot over the wall but he somehow curled a magical shot off the inside of his boot which came around the near side of the wall with wicked swerve and smacked off the inside of the post.

An amazing 45 minutes as Cardiff City gelled and showed their capabilities to the full.

Half-time: Reading 1 Cardiff City 2

If the first half showed how good our midfield and forwards were against the supposed best defence in the division, the second half showed how City's defence had no problems dealing with the best Reading's strikers had to offer too. It was Reading pressure but they hardly ever looked like scoring.

Jamie Cureton, Whitbread and Martin Butler (who came on as 2nd half sub) never had a sight of goal against Gabbidon (how high does he jump?) and Prior masterful (he doesn't just win the ball in the air, he looks for and finds another City player at the same time). Rhys Weston was another who had his best game of the season, totally blanking out the potentially dangerous Rougier who was stamping his feet on the ground in childlike frustration at one stage. And Michael Simpkins is solid at left-back. Behind them, Neil Alexander took absolutely everything in the air, corners, crosses and free-kicks, it was a brilliant effort by the whole defence.

What was particularly noticeable to me, after years of watching City defences who acted as if they didn't even know each other, were how our keeper and back four never stopped talking to each other. Prior was the leader but they all knew what they had to do and never looked like being in trouble.

Not that City fans ever went quiet but Alexander also conducted the chanting and frequently turned around waving his fists to wind us up another notch. Nice touch when he acknowledged us for keeping the ball at the end and wasting a few seconds too.

The only moment of danger was when Simpkins lost Sammy Igoe at a throw in who turned and hit a brilliant shot from 20 yards which smacked off the inside of the post, at the same spot where Kavanagh hit it earlier, and Weston was superb clearing the rebound under pressure.

Where City also improved, unlike earlier games and Wales' recent performances, was that they never dropped back and kept their shape. Kavanagh who has been guilty of dropping too deep stayed further ahead and Andy Legg, a 2nd half sub for Earnie still feeling his injury, played in an advanced midfield position. When the ball was cleared, players were always available. City created a few dangerous moments but never quite broke through.

Alan Cork is often criticised for his tactics, frequently with justification, but today, he was spot on. We won the game mentally and physically.

The closing 20 minutes were tense, things not helped by a large illuminated clock at our end counting down. 3,000 City fans stared at it every 20 seconds or so and trying to psyche it out to make it count down quicker, it seemed to slow up though!

With seven minutes remaining, victory seemed assured when, in an appalling challenge for a looping ball, Phil Parkinson (a City target last season) led with his elbow and smashed Michael Simpkins in the face. It threatened to boil over as players piled in but a red card was the only decision. Amazingly, Parkinson was complaining and had to be hauled off by a team mate.

The entertainment was a bald, fat Reading fan who was verbally abused by the City fans for his physique (about 1,500 of us were fat and 300 were bald but what the hell!). Chants of "fat boy, fat boy give us a song" echoed around the ground. I was singing, honest.

Other entertainment was provided by James Harper who I honestly believed bottled it because of City fans. A midfield inspiration at his best, he was totally overshadowed by City's midfield, Bonner did a job on him. He decided to sign for Reading, then a division higher, after a loan spell and offer from City early this year partly because it was nearer his home, partly because he believed they were bigger. They're not even bigger than us in Scrabble!

Playing in white boots, Harper was heckled by City fans throughout and did nothing over the 90 minutes. He seemed to be effected by us. And what a great moment of hilarity it was in injury time when Reading set up their final attack with everyone in the City area to see Harper float the ball high in the air and about 40 yards into the City end. Reading fans reacted by getting up and walking out, all being waved goodbye by us. Marvellous!!

The final whistle showed what it meant to everyone. The players celebrated with the fans who had turned Majdeski into the atmosphere and feel of a home game. Sam was waving on the pitch, after he got out of the dugout about 20 times during the game to wave and ayatollah in salute to us. Nobody had any voices left but still we sang. This is what it's all about, you support City for days like these and I've no doubt we've got more to come. At last the season has really started, we beat the best this division has to offer at their own ground.

Reading must hate us, we really are their bogey side. In the last 7 league meetings, City have won 6 and drawn one. The only time Reading have beaten us in the past 15 years was when they were 2 divisions higher in an FA Cup tie. Even then, they needed tow games and penalties and they didn't deserve that either.

A great trip home too with cars, mini buses and coaches and waving and tooting to each other and motorway services buzzing too. The Severn Bridge tool took ages to get through and all you could see were cars of City fans, all with City memorabilia hanging from them. I was impressed with the LandRover with a City shirt stretched over the spare wheel at the back.

A long, long way to go but it's going to be an enjoyable time, these are great days. Cardiff City are on the march, who's going to stop us? Bloooooooooooooooobirds!!

Report from www.sports.com
It was a dismal afternoon for Reading who lost their unbeaten record and skipper Phil Parkinson, dismissed eight minutes from the end for a foul on Michael Simpkins.

Reading also lost their proud record of being the only team not to have conceded a goal this season.

But manager Alan Pardew was quick to praise Cardiff, who themselves remain unbeaten with two wins and two draws from their four Nationwide League matches.

"Cardiff came here to do a job on us. They came to stop us playing and I have got to hold my hands up and say well done."

"They played deep and made it difficult for us to break them down."

"The referee didn't help the flow of the game by continually blowing for petty fouls and I think that suited the way Cardiff were playing. We didn't defend at all well, especially at set plays. They are a big side and we didn't get to grips with them."

Cardiff boss Alan Cork has benefited from chairman Sam Hamman's decision to spend big money on getting straight out of Division Two, but was reluctant to read too much into his side's victory.

"There are 42 games to play and that's a long way to go. It is a marathon and not a sprint", he said.

"We started very positively and dominated for the first 15 minutes. Then we dropped off the pace and let Reading back into the game with their equaliser. So I must praise the spirit of the team, who picked themselves up and straight away regained the lead which we were never to loose."

Thirty year old Leo Fortune-West was the man who shot Cardiff in front in the 12th minute, pouncing on a rebound after Reading keeper Phil Whitehead turned Graham Kavanagh's shot against an upright.

After 32 minutes, Cardiff keeper Neil Alexander found Jamie Cureton's shot too hot to handle and midfielder Alex Smith was there to score for Reading.

Within three minutes, a Fortune-West header had put Cardiff in front although Whitehead almost managed to turn it over the crossbar.

Eight minutes from time, Parkinson was dismissed after a foul on Simpkins. "There's not an ounce of malice in the man but the chances of him winning the ball were 40-60 against," said Pardew. "It's just that he is so committed."

Cardiff manager Cork said, "that was the only bad foul in the game".

Cork and Pardew were both upset by referee David Pugh who managed to book six Cardiff players and three other Reading players for what both managers describe as 'petty fouls.

Report from Reading website Hob Nob anyone
This was a very disappointing result against a side that's likely to be competing with us for the promotion places come the end of the season. It's the kind of defeat that could be costly when a small number of points seperate us later in the season - lets hope it doesn't mean something as bad as pushing us into the play-off positions. It was even more disappointing given the huge expectation with Reading's fantastic start to the season. Cardiff's two goals were the first scored against Reading all season long - and more importantly it was our first defeat of the season. Reading weren't actually that bad. We weren't that great either - but Cardiff seemed just that bit better than Reading throughout the game and deserved to take home the full three points.

It would be easy to blame the referee for never letting the game flow which seemed to hamper the Royals more than it did Cardiff. However the real reason for defeat was Cardiff's dangerous front line that caused Reading troubles all afternoon. Whitbread, Williams and Robinson have been solid up until now, but today they had real difficulty coping with a fast and powerful Cardiff attack. Williams had a poor game, and looked uncomfortable when defending and in possession of the ball - the number of mis-hit passes continued to add up throughout the afternoon. Robinson should also be disappointed - he all too often failed to cope with a very tame ex-Reading player - Paul Brayson. We might have done better if we'd been prepared to tackle quicker and harder. Perhaps the referee's willingness to book players made us a bit too cautious. Phil Parkinson was a casualty late in the game of tackling too hard - getting a straight red card after a late challenge that was followed with a full on bundle involving players from both sides.

Perhaps Reading under estimated Cardiff. It took us a long time to get going - we only started to look like the home side after we'd gone a goal behind after just thirteen minutes. We could have been a goal behind even earlier - but were saved by the linesman's flag which indicated offside after the ball from cross to the far post and headed firmly into the back of the net. The away fans behind the goal went mental for long after play had restarted from the offside position. Cardiff's pacey start had the Reading defence all at sea, and it wasn't much of a suprise to see City take the lead. Harper conceeded a free kick and picked up a booking - presumably for kicking the ball away - and the ball was moved right to the edge of the Reading box. The ball was pushed forward and the strike was on target. Whitehead made the save but didn't hold it and the rebound was stuck in the back of the net. 0-1.

Cardiff could then have increased the lead with Phil Whithead failing to look comfortable in the Reading goal and not holding the ball when he should have doen. However, the goal, and Cardiff's bright start, bought Reading to life. Reading appeared to be back in the game just after the half hour mark. The ball was played out from the middle of the pitch to Graeme Murty on the right wing. Murty, who had a very solid game and always looked like creating a chance when coming forward, took it forward and played it into the box for Jamie Cureton. Cureton did well and got the shot in, the keeper saved it but it spilled out to Alex Smith who was advancing into the centre of the box. Smith picked up the loose ball from the keeper and stuck it home. 1-1, and a well worked goal from the Royals.

At this point the confidence was back with the team and the fans and conversation was back to discussion of another Reading win. Cardiff, however certainly had other ideas, and Reading being level was a short experience. Cardiff went straight on the attack causing Reading to conceed a whole string of corners. We were looking very slow and shakey at the back - we clearly weren't coping. Following a solid spell of Cardiff pressure the ball was in the back of the Reading net again after a corner from the right created the goal. 1-2. Cardiff could have extended their lead during the first half - a powerful shot from well outside the box hitting the post with Phil Whithead perhaps just managing to get a hand to it. Jamie Cureton could have grabbed another for the Royals after the ball was played into the box and Rougier couldn't convert it and prodded it to Cureton - Cureton got to it but the ball hit the crossbar rather than the back of the net.

Just after the break Cardiff were lucky to still have eleven men on the pitch after Whitbread was hacked down just outside the Reading area. Thankfully Whitbread was able to continue - but it seemed far worse than Parkinson's challenge later in the game that resulting in him receiving his marching orders. Reading were already beaten when Parkinson was eventually sent off after a bundle involving players from both sides, but his dismissal with about ten minutes left summed up Reading's afternoon.

Reading did have a few second half chances including a long range Sammy Igoe effort that hit the post. However, as time went on it was clear that Reading were never going to take anything from the game. Henderson came off the bench and caused problems in the Cardiff defence - but they were the first problems caused for most of the half. Everytime Reading game forward Cardiff could handle it, and despite great runs from Igoe and Murty we didn't get enough balls into the box, and Martin Butler who had come off the bench hardly got a shooting chance.