Newcastle United were forced to accept a hard-earned one point at Madejski stadium infront of around 2K travelling Toon Army, after being left behind twice.
In the start of the first 30 minutes of play, the away team was dominating in terms of ball possession. In fact we did created a half-chance in the 11th minute when the Royals defenders Kaspars Gorkss clearance felt on to Ba who was then raced it down the right flank.
Too bad, His cross miscued over the top, leaving Papiss Cisse with nothing to do at the far post. The Royals also have a half-chance situation, thanks to Steven Taylor who forced to head behind a dangerous delivery from McAnuff.
After that, we are simply just doing some defensive duties with the home side taking the advantage as their confidence growing in. On the half-hour mark, Steve Harper diverted Pogrebnyak’s heading over the top for a corner.
In the second period we are mostly the same side as we were in the first 45 minutes, with only Cisse’s work a yard of space inside the frist 10 minutes from the re-start but his shot was blocked by the Reading defence.
And then, the home side took the deserve lead in the 58th minute when Kebe received the ball in central position where we supposed to have Cabaye to deal with it before he shoot the ball into the far corner.
The goal was forced us to make immediate response. It took only a minute when Tiote floated the ball over a packed of the home defence into Ba’s territory who accept it and firing a superb volley past a hopeless McCarthy.
I was hoping that after the quick payback, we will then back to dominate the game and to added more goals. But it was (again) the Royals who were hunger for goals.
And (again) McAnuff movement down to our left byline was be able to delivering a dangerous cross right into the Magpies defense. This time Noel Hunt sneaking in behind though and glanced a bouncing header into the far corner past Harper’s despairing dive.
Alan Pardew – who just signed a new magnificent 8 years contract deal – quickly make a change to introduced Shola and Shane Ferguson for Cisse and Gael Bigirimana.
We finally got the equaliser with seven minutes left on the clock. Just like what he did in our last Capital One League Cup match at Old Trafford couple days ago, Shane Ferguson pacey run of space on the left give him some space to quickly delivered a superb cross onto the head of Ba to bagged his second of the afternoon.
Reading (4-4-2) Alex McCarthy; Shaun Cummings, Adrian Mariappa, Kaspars Gorkss, Nicky Shorey; Jimmy Kebe (Garath McCleary 70), Mikele Leigertwood, Jem Karacan, Jobi McAnuff (c); Noel Hunt (Adam Le Fondre 86), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Jason Roberts 78)
Subs not used: Stuart Taylor, Alex Pearce, Danny Guthrie, Hal Robson-Kanu
Newcastle United (4-4-2) Steve Harper; James Perch, Mike Williamson, Steven Taylor (James Tavernier 56), Davide Santon; Hatem Ben Arfa, Gael Bigirimana (Shane Ferguson 69), Cheick Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez (c); Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse (Shola Ameobi 69)
Subs not used: Rob Elliot, Vurnon Anita, Gabriel Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
Referee: Andre Marriner
Bookings: Reading – none Newcastle – Perch (44), Williamson (53), Gutierrez (73)
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