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There’s
no doubting just who the form team is in the Championship –
Division One, Division Two call it what you will – for it has
rarely seen a team quite so dominant at this advanced stage of the
season as Reading are at the moment.
After a first day of the season reverse at home to Plymouth Argyle,
Steve Coppell’s team have simply shredded the competition to
go an astonishing 27 games unbeaten, stretching their lead at the
top of the division to 7 points and a staggering 18 points clear
of third place. There’s no argument about it, Reading are the
Chelsea of the Championship.
Certainly no team has dominated that division in that style since
Jean Tigana’s delightful Fulham side swaggered to promotion
backing 2001 and Coppell’s team would have to suffer
a complete collapse over the remainder of the season not to clinch
a place in the top flight for the first time in Reading’s history.
While Reading might not quite have the sophistication – nor
the budget – of that side, they do have belief, staying power
and, above all else, guts, all the vital elements for any side that’s
going to be up there at the top, ready to be shot at, for months
on end.
Reading defend well, they tackle tigerishly, they score goals and
they react well to setbacks – the few that they’ve suffered
thus far anyway. That disappointing opening day defeat saw them
respond by reeling off nine wins in the next dozen games to establish
themselves at the pinnacle of the division.
Their next defeat didn’t come until they took on Arsenal in
the Carling Cup at the end of November and though Arsene’s
kids beat them comfortably, again Reading were quick to get the
show back on the road, winning six of the seven subsequent games.
The way they dismantled Cardiff to the tune of 5 goals to 1 over
Christmas illustrates that they are as dangerous a side as you could
come across. Yet even after that resounding win over another promotion
hopeful, Steve Coppell was doing his best to keep a lid on expectations,
insisting that a lot of hard work stretches ahead of them before
they can celebrate anything.
You’re only as good as your last game is the message from the
top, anything that’s gone before that means nothing. By playing
on that theme, Coppell has got the best out of a side that carries
few names that mean much beyond Berkshire at present.
That’s something that will soon change, because you don’t
rack up 69 points at this stage without being handy at both ends
of the field. American goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann is certainly
the most consistent stopper in the Championship, his side having
shipped a mere 15 goals thus far.
The Seattle born former Fulham ‘keeper is well on his way to
200 starts for the Royals now and has done especially well this
term to keep Graham Stack out of the side, the former Arsenal man
having made his loan move a permanent one this month.
Reading have made a habit of picking up Arsenal outcasts and
giving them the chance to prove their worth, either on loan –
Matthew Upson was a prime example – or as fully fledged signings.
Steve Sidwell has shown that there is life after Highbury by becoming
the centerpiece of Coppell’s midfield, winning and using the
ball sensibly, then popping up to score a few goals as well –
his brace against Cardiff took his season’s total to six so
far.
The former England under-21 player also worked with Coppell during
a loan spell at Brighton, so it’s no surprise that he’s
the fulcrum of the side.
Just as important is Dave Kitson who is in scintillating form in
front of goal this term, with seven in his last six games for the
club.
The tall, rangy centre-forward joined Reading from Cambridge United
after being the target man in wing-commander John Beck’s aerial
bombardment strategy, not a style he enjoyed much, but since joining
the Royals, he’s shown that there’s plenty more to his
game than just winning headers, though that his a strength that’s
put to full use by Reading’s effective use of wingers.
Glen Little was talked of as a multi-million pound man as Burnley
were apparently running away with the First Division early in the
2001/2 season, but a run of ill-luck with injuries saw his career
start to stutter.
Rejuvenated with Reading, Little’s close control, the quality
with which he can deliver crosses and his eye for goal have made
him a key figure.
The same is true of Bobby Convey on the other flank. The American
international is a constant threat down Reading’s left, though
he can play at full-back and in central midfield should the need
arise.
It took him a while to settle into the English game but now in his
second season on this side of the pond, he is playing to his full
potential, wreaking havoc down the wing.
Senegalese centre-back Ibrahima Sonko is the bulwark of the Reading
back line and having turned down a chance to represent his country
in the African Nations Cup this month, the former Brentford stopper
will be available to see Reading through the heavy fixture list
over the next month, a period which gives them the opportunity to
all but confirm promotion.
Left-back Nicky Shorey is another who made the short journey out
of London to join the Royal renaissance, leaving Leyton Orient to
join Reading back in 2001, since when his reputation has continued
to grow, playing his 200th game for the club last Monday.
But to pick out individuals in the Reading side genuinely is invidious.
This is a real team, a real unit, one that will undoubtedly take
its place at the top table for the first time ever next term. And
having seen what Wigan have made of it, the sky is the limit for
Reading.
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