Great day for Leeds and Reading

After sacking their manager on Wednesday Leeds showed what they were made of yesterday under acting manager John Carver beating table topping Birmingham 3-2. Yes the defence was clearly dodgy from the reports that I have read and some serious work will need to be done is this area but the Leeds spirit appears to have returned and they were playing more of an attacking game and getting the ball in the box more often. The Observer report can be found here

Meanwhile Reading entertained Manchester United in the League for the first time ever in their 135 year history. I am sure Alex Ferguson must have had this penciled in for three points. Reading fought hard from the off and were determined not to be outplayed. Manchester United probably had the best of the game just but they couldn't break Reading down. Reading took the lead early in the second half from what at the time seemed a slightly controversial penalty which Doyle dispatched for his third goal of the season. Not bad for 78,000 pounds from Cork City. Having seen it again on Match of the Day though it did look as if Neville deliberately handballed. Manchester United eventually went 4-2-4 and played well in patches with a lot of their attacks going through Ronaldo(who was booed every time he touched the ball). Ronaldo finally beat Murty and struck a beautiful shot across the face of the goal and into the far corner for the equaliser. Reading gritted their teeth and went slightly more defensive to hang on for the point.

The Observer report form the game can be found here

It was noticeable that Coppell was still trying to keep the players feet on the ground after the game saying "We had nothing to lose from today. I was thinking before the game that whatever happens we couldn't lose and to get a point is a small gift as well so we have got to be pleased with it. But I have said to the players we don't want the highlight of our season to be a Saturday evening in September. We have got a long way to go and we can't pat ourselves on the back."

Meanwhile Ferguson was quoted as saying "Last Sunday (when ManUnited lost to Arsenal) was a disappointing performance but not today." That alone shows how far Reading have come. They have already amassed ten points after six games. I don't want to tempt fate but it is interesting to note that no promoted club that has amassed at least ten points after ten games has ever been relegated.