30th December 2022
Norwich City vs Reading @ Carrow Road - Norwich
EFL Championship
19:45 KO
£30 entry
Attendance - 26,218
Half-time score: Norwich City 0-0 Reading
Goals:
Norwich City: Idah - 54'
Reading: Carroll - 83'(P)
Brief match highlights are on YouTube, see the link below:
Final Score: Norwich City 1-1 Reading
A game at Carrow Road was a fitting way to end an exciting year of football, 2022 has certainly been an enjoyable one, and the first uninterrupted year for a while! Despite my Thetford Town leanings, and being an inhabitant of the fine and glorious county of Norfolk, I was actually off to Carrow Road as an away fan. Those who know me, or have read my blogs, will know that I was born and raised in Reading, spending the first 19 years of my life there, and as such Reading FC is my first and original team, but work and distance have prevented me from going to many games. So, when The Royals are in East Anglia, I make it my duty to go and see them!
Having said that, Carrow Road has not been a happy place for a Reading fan for a long while, best I can remember is a couple of draws in amongst some heavy defeats. Due to this history, and fearing an inevitable bounce from the departure of ex-manager Dean Smith, I was braced for a painful evening, despite the fact that both teams were on 35 points at the start of the game. That doesn't stop me going though, Norwich is a city chock full of great pubs, and Carrow Road is an iconic place to go, it is always a fine footballing experience and that is what it is all about. If I wanted to see guaranteed wins, I wouldn't follow Reading and Col U, that much is for certain!
I originally wanted to get the train up, but with all the uncertainty around them, I decided to drive up and park the opposite side of the city, which of course dashed any hopes of a pub crawl, so I arrived a bit later at around 18:30. I walked through the city centre, down to and over the River Wensum, and through to Carrow Road, making a beeline for the ticket office to collect my pre-booked tickets.
I walked around the ground, had a look around the club shop and picked up a match day programme, 114 glossy pages for only £3.50, with detailed profiles for all the Reading players in amongst the articles, very impressive.
I did take a look at the burger vans, but having had a big lunch, and seeing the prices I decided to swerve.
With that, I headed into the ground 30mins early, with Reading allocated two tiers in the corner of the South Stand.
Ten minutes before kick-off, the lights were dimmed, signifying the start of a light and dance show. Whilst it did feel a bit 'Americanised', and a lot of the Reading fans showed their displeasure, I didn't mind it and it certainly got me pumped for the kick-off.
With the show done, the lights came back on to full brightness and the teams entered the immaculately prepared playing field on a fine and warm winters evening, literally perfect for football. Both teams were in their home kits, Norwich City in yellow & green, and Reading in blue & white hoops. Before kick-off, a minutes applause was held as a mark of respect to the legendary Pele who sadly passed away this week.
KEY MOMENTS
NC = Norwich City
RDG = Reading
1' - RDG - In the first minute, Reading concede a corner, but break quickly from this, Tom Ince picks up the ball and threads Hoilett in, he goes on a run and takes the ball forwards, and as he is about to enter the penalty area to shoot, he is taken out by captain Grant Hanley, who concedes a yellow card in the process, as well a free-kick in a dangerous position.
3' - RDG - The free-kick is struck well by Tom Ince, and has to be tipped over the bar by Angus Gunn to concede a corner.
5' - NC - Pukki out paces the defender down the right flank and squares the ball in, forcing a superb interception from captain Andy Yiadom to deny an easy shot on goal.
13' - RDG - The ball is crossed into the box by Hoillet, and is headed back into the danger area by Andy Carroll, Joao lines up a volley and is bundled over before he can connect with the ball, making a strong shout for a penalty, but nothing is given by the referee.
17' - NC - The Reading goal is peppered by three good efforts in quick succession, a long ball flicked on by Idah releases Pukki down the right, 1-on-1 with the keeper he takes a slightly heavy touch and keeper Lumley comes out quickly to block the effort, Sargent follows up the rebound and it is cleared off the line by Holmes, and a third shot is volleyed in by Idah which flies harmlessly over, nervy moments for Reading!
26' - RDG - During a Reading attack, the ball drops to Carroll on the edge of the box, he powers in a half-volley that hits the hand of a Norwich defender inside the box (seemingly Hanley), but the referee deems that it was too close to be judged an infringement and waves play on.
34' - RDG - A probing ball sets Carroll loose in the box, he tangles with the defenders legs, going down, but again the referee waves play-on.
44' - RDG - Joao is released, and is bursting through on goal, in similar scenes to the first minute, just as he is about to break into the box and shoot, he is taken out by McLean to concede a free-kick in another dangerous position, but no yellow card this time. This free-kick is taken by Hoilett, his effort curling just wide of the right-hand upright, close!
54' - NC - GOAL (1-0) - Reading are left ruing their chances in the 1st half, because in predictable fashion they concede early in the 2nd half. Aarons whips a ball into the box, the headed clearance from Loum is poor and the ball falls to Sarr, who despite his height is beaten to the ball by Sargent. The ball is then headed by Sara to Pukki, who also nods the ball through to Idah who accurately volleys the ball into the bottom left corner, a precise and well worked goal.
63' - RDG - A Reading corner taken by Tom Ince finally finds a centre-forward free in the box, Lucas Joao, his headed effort is blocked by the desperate outstretched leg of Angus Gunn, very close!
82' - RDG - Substitute left-back Guinness-Walker, who replaced McIntyre, attacks down the left flank, a turn of pace sees him dart into the box, he jinks back and is taken out by another substitute, Dowell, who recklessly sticks out a limb, and at last, one of Reading's penalty shouts comes good and the referee points to the spot.
83' - RDG - GOAL (1-1) - Up steps left-footed Geordie penalty specialist Andy Carroll, and he assuredly powers the ball into the net with pinpoint accuracy, was never in doubt, cue limbs from the 500 or so Reading fans.
93' - NC - Norwich have their own penalty shout at the death, Pukki is seemingly pushed down in the box from a two-handed shove by a Reading defender. Based on Reading having their penalty shouts turned away in the first half, this feels like karma, and ensures the game ends in a draw, which was probably a fair result.
Before the game, I would have happily accepted a draw, but more importantly I was really pleased with the performance from the lads, Reading really took the game to Norwich City and looked the better team for long stretches, something I have not seen from them at Carrow Road. Based on this, a win did look a possibility, however, Norwich looked dangerous on the break, Pukki nearly getting behind a few times, so a draw did feel like a good result, with perhaps Reading being the happier of the two teams. This is somewhat of a rare result for Reading this season, with 11 wins, 11 losses and only 2 draws before the game today, and based on the never-say-die attitude I saw today, always hunting for the win, I can see why this is the case. Carrow Road was fun as ever, it is certainly a good away day, and a convenient one, and getting a result there is always a huge ask as the crowd really gets behind their team, especially when they smell blood, having a noticeable effect on the players energy levels. I hope that Reading and Norwich City are in the same league against next season so that I can come back, but until then I have one more Reading away day this season in the pipeline if all goes to plan, with a trip all the way along the A14 to Coventry City later in the season. Until then, I hope Reading push on and stay well away from the relegation zone, perhaps even pushing for a play-off spot, some extra games at the end of the season will be a lovely bonus, C'MON URRRRRZZZZZ!!!
Line-Ups:
NORWICH CITY: Angus Gunn, Max Aarons, Grant Hanley (C), Ben Gibson, Sam McCallum, Gabriel Sara, Kenny McLean, Josh Sargent, Marcelino Nunez, Adam Idah, Teemu Pukki. SUBS: Tim Krul, Andrew Omobamidele, Onel Hernandez, Liam Gibbs, Kieran Dowell, Isaac Hayden, Jordan Hugill.
READING: Joe Lumley, Junior Hoilett, Andy Yiadom (C), Tom Holmes, Naby Sarr, Tom McIntyre, Tom Ince, Jeff Hendrick, Mamadou Loum, Lucas Joao, Andy Carroll. SUBS: Dean Bouzanis, Amadou Salif Mbengue, Scott Dann, Abdul Baba Rahman, Nesta Guinness-Walker, Shane Long, Yakou Meite.
Comments