Reading 2 - 1 Preston

Saturday 28 February 2006
The Coca-Cola Football League Championship

What a good game! Preston were tough. Very much like the side that destroyed West ham at Upton Park last season. Best game I've seen at the Madejski for a while.

But the referee - clearly NEVER played the game! Carlo Nash - the footballers Wives lookalike in his white boots , white gloves and gelled back long hair was awarded free kicks for the most gentle of challenges at corners yet when Claude Davis climbed all over Kevin Doyle in the penalty area the ref waved play on . Worse still - Nash cam running out of his box, clattered into Dave Kitson "Harold Shumacher" style, knocked him clean out and again the ref waved play on - ridiculous.

The first Reading goal consisted of hand ball by Steve Sidwell and the hand ball by a Preston defender - neither of which the referee saw - so it counted. Preston equalised almost immediately from a Callum Davidson free kick. Hanneman probably was at fault for standing in the middle of his goal but then he, like me, no doubt thought it was going in the top right , not bottom left!

Kitson went off, Sidwell went off - no gingas left - but Lita came on and scored just before half timewith a cross shot which went in the far corner, Nash should have had it really but was probaly reluctant to get dirty.

Preston then brought on all the big guns. Nugent & Omerod off - Dichio and some other 6 footer on - but Sonko reigned supreme in the air, and Murty kicked two off the line. 3 points and Sheffield United went down 2-3 at home to QPR - Marvellous!

12 points clear of 2nd placed Sheffield United, 19 points clear of 3rd placed Watford.