Reading F.C. season 2006-07

Infobox Football club season
club = Reading F.C.
season = 2006–07
manager = Steve Coppell
chairman = John Madejski
league = Premier League
league result = 8th
cup1 = FA Cup | cup1 result = Fifth Round
cup2 = League Cup | cup2 result = Third Round
league topscorer = Doyle (13)
season topscorer = Lita (14)
highest attendance = 24,122 (vs Aston Villa, 10 February 2007)
lowest attendance = 10,353 (vs Darlington, 19 September 2006)

Reading Football Club played the season 2006–07 in the English Premier League, their first ever season in England's top flight.

Review and events

August

Reading's first ever Premier League game came at home to Middlesbrough. Reading were 2-0 down after 20 minutes after goals from Stewart Downing and Yakubu Aiyegbeni, but Reading ended up 3-2 winners through goals from Dave Kitson, Steve Sidwell and Leroy Lita. Kitson was injured in a reckless tackle by Chris Riggott, and wouldn't play again until the end of January 2007.

Reading's next game was against Aston Villa. After an early lead through Kevin Doyle, Ibrahima Sonko conceded a penalty and was sent off. Juan Pablo Ángel scored the resulting penalty for Villa, and Gareth Barry scored in the 61st minute to seal a win for Villa. The Royals next played Wigan Athletic, Emile Heskey scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win for Wigan.

eptember

In September, Reading's first game was against Manchester City, live on Sky Sports at home. Ivar Ingimarsson scored the only goal, despite being knocked unconscious before scoring. The 1st game against a side promoted with Reading was Sheffield United. Kevin Doyle scored after 16 seconds and in the 25th minute, Seol Ki-Hyeon scored a 25-yard belter. Rob Hulse pulled a goal back in the 61st minute but it was not enough for Sheffield United who lost 2-1. Reading's 1st cup game came against Darlington, but Reading needed penalties after an enticing 3-3 draw. Next up were league runners up Manchester United at the Madejski. Reading insured it was goaless at half-time and went 1-0 up through a Kevin Doyle penalty after Gary Neville handballed. However, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a 73rd minute goal to make it 1-1.

October

In October, Reading played West Ham at Upton Park and a 2nd minute goal turned out to be the winner scored by Seol. Reading vs Chelsea hit the headlines as both Chelsea 'keepers went to hospital in a match where the visitors took a fortuitous 1-0 win. Frank Lampard scored Chelsea's goal- which took two deflections before going in- and John Obi Mikel and Andre Bikey were both sent off for two yellow cards. Reading lost 4-0 at home to Arsenal, with Thierry Henry (2), Robin Van Persie and Alexander Hleb scoring. Shane Long made his first Premier League start in this match. Reading also lost 4-3 to Liverpool in the Carling Cup (Reading were 3-0 down). Robbie Fowler and John Arne Riise opened the scoring for Liverpool, with Gabriel Paletta scoring with a header after half time. Bikey, Long and Leroy Lita scored Reading's goals, with Peter Crouch adding a fourth for Liverpool to make it 4-1. Portsmouth finished a dreadful month for the Royals with a 3-1 win.

November

In November, Reading lost 2-0 to Liverpool (which was also the first ever league meeting between the two sides). The goals came from Dirk Kuyt.The Royals then won 3-1 against Tottenham Hotspur. Robbie Keane opened the scoring for Spurs before Nicky Shorey scored a 25-yard goal. Then Steve Sidwell scored a header on the stroke of half-time with Kevin Doyle completeing the scoring to make it 3-1. Reading's next match was against Charlton. They won 2-0 with the goals coming from Seol Ki-Hyeon and Doyle. They ended the month with a 1-0 win over Fulham FC with a penalty kick from Doyle, after the striker had been bought down by Ian Pearce.

December

In December, Reading Won 1-0 at Bolton, a Kevin Doyle goal won the match. Next was Reading's longest away trip this season when Reading played Newcastle United. Reading lost 3-2, an 84th minute winner by Emre. Reading played Watford in the worst game of the season, Watford 0-0). Reading and Blackburn Rovers was the next game at the Mad Stad. Reading went 1-0 up on Half Time, but Rovers scored 2 goals to make it Reading 1-2 Rovers. Chelsea played Reading next 2 months after the teams played in Reading, it ended 2-2. Reading played Manchester United, Reading were losing 1-0, but Sonko scored to level it up. United scored 2 Goals though Ronlado made it 3-1, but Lita scored to make the final score United 3-2 Reading.

January

In January, Reading could not have got a better start. On New Years Day Reading put 6 past West Ham United. On the 6th Reading were due to play Burnley in the FA Cup but it was potponed due to a waterlogged pitch, but Reading beat Burnley on the Tuesday night, a 3-2 win. Reading went to Everton unbeaten in the new year, and the game ended 1-1 in a match attended by Sylvester Stallone as an Everton supporter and guest of the chairman. Reading played Sheffield United at 2-0 Reading Came a push-up in the dug out. Warnock and Downs Sent Off. Reading won 3-1. Reading Played Birmingham in the FA Cup (again). Birmingham had just enjoyed a 5-1 win at Newcastle United but they lost 3-2 to the Royals. Reading beat Wigan by the same score.

February

In February, Reading Beat Manchester City (Away) and Aston Villa (Home). Both ending 2-0. At Old Trafford Reading drew 1-1 with United in the FA Cup. Boro became the 1st team to beat Reading in 2007. Boro won 2-1. Reading were 3-0 down in the FA Cup 5th Round Replay against United in 5 minutes 41 seconds, but only won 3-2.

March to May

In March, April and May, Reading lost at Arsenal 2-1. Reading were 2-0 down, but drawing 0-0 at half-time, in the 87th minute when Arsenal scored an Own-Goal courtesy of Fabregas. Reading got a point at home to Portsmouth drawing 0-0. Reading lost to Spurs 1-0. Spurs scored a consolation penalty on half-time. Liverpool won at Reading 2-1. Liverpool's winner was in the 85th minute by Kuyt. Reading were held to a 0-0 draw at Charlton. Reading won at home to Fulham. Won at Bolton, 3-1, after being 1-0 down in the 85th minute! A midweek win at home to Newcastle United, 1-0, Kitson scored for The Royals. Reading shockingly lost to Watford at home 2-0. The final day of the season, Reading played Blackburn Rovers away and needing a win to enter the UEFA Cup, Reading drew 3-3.

Match results

Legend

Football League Cup

Player details

Team kit

Reading's kit for the 2006–07 was manufactured by Puma, and the main sponsor was Kyocera.

References