Crystal Palace 1 - 1 Reading

Friday, 20 January 2006
The Coca-Cola Football League Championship

Off to the pub tonight to watch this on Sky. I wonder what the coverage will be like? Probably all about Simon Jordan the "charismatic" chairman of Palace and "what a great job" Ian Dowie is doing. (see the Derby game)

Mind you, Steve Coppell was featured on 5 Live's Sportweek with Gary Richardson last Sunday which is a start, though he doesn't give good copy like say Big Sam, or 'Arry.

There is more to talk about here tonight though because Steve Coppell has managed Palace on 4 separate occasions, most successfully when Wright (Ian) and Bright (Mark) were up front and they reached the Cup Final - 1991 I think. We'll see !

More later ....

Back ... not a bad game at all although my administrative arrangements to get to a suitable venue left a little bit to be desired! Andrew Johnson looked lively and Sonko is SUperman looked a little shaky. Marcus Hannemann was brilliant - 3 or 4 top quality saves - and unliucky ( I thought) to give away a penalty. Johnson's quick and whilst he scooped the ball away from Hanneman it was never under control - in fact it went straight out on the volley for a corner - and all he was looking to do was throw himself against the keeper. I've seen them not given ...but sadly not this time.

Reading were brilliant though - only two minutes later a crisp short passing move saw Lita lay the ball off to Harper who crashed it into the net from the edge of the box. Kiraly - who wears those stupid grey tracksuit bottoms like something out of Rocky - got nowhere near it.

Fair result, good away point, and although Sheff Utd & Leeds both won, we'll settle for that.