Match Report: Pavel Pogrebnyak lifts Reading’s hopes of escaping drop

Reading 1 West Ham United 0

Madejski Stadium

The Monkees’ “I’m a Believer” boomed out at the final whistle, which was fitting enough, but the DJ must have been tempted to reach for the theme tune for The Great Escape.

That was West Bromwich Albion’s anthem when they became the only Premier League team to survive being bottom at Christmas and eight years on Reading hope it is ripe for a revival.

The Royals are still in trouble but off the bottom after securing their second win of the season in their 20th game. Though five points adrift of safety successive clean sheets have provided an injection of hope.

They will not, though, find many more accommodating opponents than James Collins, whose scuffed back-pass gifted Pavel Pogrebnyak the fifth-minute winner, and Ricardo Vaz Te, who spurned the chance to equalise when he headed wide of an open goal.

Reading’s desperation for points was evident. Cheered by a home support more interested in the end than the means they headed for the corner flag to waste time with five minutes still remaining in this scrappy contest. When the whistle finally went the relief was evident in the stands and on the pitch. “It was a real resilient performance,” said Reading manager Brian McDermott. “It was a physical game but we matched them. It gives us a lot of confidence.”

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said: “James Collins makes a basic error, they take advantage, then Vaz Te misses the easiest chance you will ever see. You make mistakes like that you lose matches.”

Collins, he added, would not even be able to atone for the error on Tuesday as, like Kevin Nolan, he will be suspended after being booked yesterday.

The centre-half was perhaps too relaxed as he handed Reading their first goal in more than three hours’ football after four minutes. Like much of the match it was an error-strewn affair. Pogrebnyak (below) failed to control Ian Harte’s chipped pass and the ball ran to Collins whose casual back-pass was catastrophically under-hit.

The Russian converted the chance with a composure that belied a two-month drought since his last strike

It was Collins’ second such error having served Michu a similar goal at Swansea City in August. “I never thought I’d see him do it again,” said Allardyce, adding “he’s distraught, but the lads should have got him out of the mire.”

It was Collins himself who came closest to doing so in the first half, bringing a finger-tip save from Adam Federici as he met Matt Jarvis’ 24th minute cross. Otherwise football took second pace to the settling of feuds with several challenges on midfielder Jimmy Kébé, who has previous with the Hammers, setting the scene.

Ultimately referee Michael Oliver, using his yellow cards liberally, just about kept control of the match. With the hosts feeling the effects of their Boxing Day endeavours, more space appeared after the break and West Ham began to look more dangerous going forward.

Carlton Cole headed over, Federici turned Jack Collision’s shot aside then, after midfielder Jem Karacan rattled the bar in a rare Reading foray, Vaz Te somehow steered a free header from a Jarvis cross wide from four yards out. “If we score then they panic and we could easily go on to win,” said Allardyce “We don’t and we lose.”

Reading (4-2-3-1): Federici; Gunter, Pearce, Mariappa, Harte; Karacan, Leigertwood; Kébé (Robson-Kanu, 76), Guthrie (Hunt, 64), McAnuff; Pogrebnyak.

West Ham (4-2-3-1): Jaaskelainen, Tomkins, Collins, Reid, O’Brien; O’Neil (Vaz Te, 66), Noble (Maiga, 79); Taylor (Collison, 54), Nolan, Jarvis; Cole.

Referee: Michael Oliver

Man of the match: Pearce (Reading)

Match rating: 5/10

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

iBet: Look each way for value in The Cote D’Azur Open

With the top nine players in the men’s world tennis rankings all missing this tournament to prepare ...

by Gareth Purnell

On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: We could have been on the tour of Siberia over past 72 hours

When cyclists look back on their careers spanning many hundreds (and in some cases possibly thousand...

by Martin Ayres

Nike kit deal puts England at No 2 in the world (but which country is top?)

As England’s new football strip – made by Nike – is revealed today, new research shows the English F...

by Alex Miller

       

Day In a Page

'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'

Masculinity in crisis?

'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'
Have US shock jocks gone too far?

Have US shock jocks gone too far?

An incendiary remark from Rush Limbaugh may be the beginning of the end for outspoken right-wing US broadcasters
The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey pays more income tax than big cities of the North

The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey

Elmbridge pays more income tax than big cities of the North
Heavenly Bodies

Heavenly Bodies

Michael Landy's artistic marriage made in heaven... and hell
'He will always be a friend': Jackie Stewart backs Polanski

'He will always be a friend'

Jackie Stewart backs Roman Polanski
The price of pacifism: Refusing to go to war is finally being recognised as a brave act

The price of pacifism

From the Second World War refusenik to the 19-year-old Israeli, Holly Williams talks to five people who risked shame and suffering to take a stand as conscientious objector.
'It was mass hysteria': Jason Isaacs on groupies, theatre bores and snogging James Bond

Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond

To millions, Jason Isaacs is one of Harry Potter's arch enemies – but his wife prefers him as a Scottish TV detective.
Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?

Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?

Thomas Hodgkinson spent a week at the tiny platform off the Suffolk coast to find out.
Not a bad bone: Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

If you ignore cutlets and ribs, you'll risk missing out on some delicious and easy meals, says our chef.
The experts' guide to summer: From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz

The experts' guide to summer

From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz
Sex, drugs and fast cars: The legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Early glimpses of Ron Howard's film Rush suggest it will portray Hunt as a high-living lothario, with an insatiable appetite for partying.
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation when using drugs and alcohol. It was hurting my life'

Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'

The next Vanilla Ice or the next Eminem? Macklemore doesn't have a record contract – but he does have the UK's biggest-selling single of the year.
Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Sri Lankan cuisine is light, sunny, wonderfully spiced – and so easy to cook from scratch. Just as soon as you've broken into the coconut, that is.
Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Doctors are hailing the revamp of a Bath neonatal unit, where babies sleep more and feed better, as the model for patient care
One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

Epecuen was submerged under 10 metres of water in 1985. Now the floods have gone – and 83-year-old Pablo Novak has moved back in