LIVE MATCH CENTRE
8 December, 2012
| Southampton |
FT
10
|
Reading |
Jason Puncheon 61'
1 - 0
HT:
0 - 0
St. Mary's Stadium (Attendance: 29,331)
Southampton
Kelvin Davis
1
Nathaniel Clyne
2
Maya Yoshida
3
José Fonte
6
Luke Shaw
23
Morgan Schneiderlin
4
Jack Cork
18
Jason Puncheon
42
Jay Rodríguez
9
Adam Lallana
20
Rickie Lambert
7
Substitutes
Guly
21
Gastón Ramírez
10
Artur Boruc
31
Steven Davis
8
Jos Hooiveld
5
Emmanuel Mayuka
24
James Ward-Prowse
16
Reading
1
Adam Federici
24
Shaun Cummings
6
Adrian Mariappa
15
Sean Morrison
3
Nicky Shorey
19
Hal Robson-Kanu
8
Mikele Leigertwood
16
Jay Tabb
11
Jobi McAnuff
9
Adam Le Fondre
33
Jason Roberts
Substitutes
5
Alex Pearce
12
Garath McCleary
10
Noel Hunt
41
Stuart Taylor
23
Ian Harte
20
Danny Guthrie
44
Dominic Samuel
Referee: Jon Moss
90'
Game Over
Southampton 1-0 Reading
90'
Foul
José Fonte fouled by Adam Le Fondre (Reading)
90'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
90'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
90'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
90'
Corner Kick
Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton)
90'
Foul
Noel Hunt fouled by Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
90'
Throw-In
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
89'
Shot on Target
Guly (Southampton)
89'
Cross
Jack Cork (Southampton)
88'
Foul
Rickie Lambert fouled by Alex Pearce (Reading)
88'
Cross
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
88'
Free Kick
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
87'
Foul
Jobi McAnuff fouled by Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
87'
Cross
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
87'
Free Kick
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
86'
Foul
Garath McCleary fouled by Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton)
86'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
86'
Goal Kick
Adam Federici (Reading)
85'
Shot
Guly (Southampton)
85'
Cross
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
85'
Goal Kick
Adam Federici (Reading)
84'
Shot
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
84'
Cross
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
84'
Free Kick
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
84'
Foul
Rickie Lambert fouled by Mikele Leigertwood (Reading)
83'
Cross
Adam Le Fondre (Reading)
83'
Throw-In
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
82'
Offside
Guly (Southampton)
82'
Throw-In
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
81'
Cross
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
81'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
80'
Foul
Jobi McAnuff (Reading)
80'
Cross
Garath McCleary (Reading)
79'
Throw-In
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
79'
Substitution
Guly on for Jay Rodríguez (Southampton)
78'
Cross
Maya Yoshida (Southampton)
78'
Free Kick
Maya Yoshida (Southampton)
77'
Foul
Jay Rodríguez fouled by Alex Pearce (Reading)
77'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
77'
Substitution
Garath McCleary on for Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading)
76'
Shot on Target
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
75'
Throw-In
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
74'
Throw-In
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
73'
Cross
Maya Yoshida (Southampton)
73'
Free Kick
Maya Yoshida (Southampton)
73'
Foul
Gastón Ramírez fouled by Mikele Leigertwood (Reading)
73'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
72'
Goal Kick
Kelvin Davis (Southampton)
71'
Shot
Adam Le Fondre (Reading)
71'
Cross
Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading)
71'
Cross
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
70'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
70'
Shot on Target
Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading)
70'
Cross
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
69'
Corner Kick
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
69'
Substitution
Noel Hunt on for Jay Tabb (Reading)
69'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
68'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
68'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
68'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
67'
Cross
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
67'
Throw-In
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
65'
Substitution
Alex Pearce on for Sean Morrison (Reading)
65'
Goal Kick
Kelvin Davis (Southampton)
65'
Cross
Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading)
65'
Shot
Jobi McAnuff (Reading)
64'
Cross
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
63'
Throw-In
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
63'
Cross
Gastón Ramírez (Southampton)
62'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
61'
Goal
Jason Puncheon (Southampton), Assist by Nathaniel Clyne
61'
Shot on Target
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
61'
Cross
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
60'
Cross
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
60'
Throw-In
Jay Rodríguez (Southampton)
59'
Throw-In
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
58'
Cross
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
58'
Free Kick
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
57'
Foul
Jason Roberts fouled by Maya Yoshida (Southampton)
57'
Goal Kick
Adam Federici (Reading)
56'
Shot
Jay Rodríguez (Southampton)
56'
Cross
Gastón Ramírez (Southampton)
56'
Goal Kick
Kelvin Davis (Southampton)
55'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
55'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
54'
Cross
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
54'
Throw-In
Gastón Ramírez (Southampton)
53'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
53'
Goal Kick
Adam Federici (Reading)
53'
Shot
Jack Cork (Southampton)
53'
Corner Kick
Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton)
52'
Shot on Target
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
52'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
52'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
51'
Cross
Gastón Ramírez (Southampton)
50'
Cross
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
50'
Cross
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
49'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
49'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
48'
Throw-In
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
47'
Throw-In
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
47'
Cross
Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading)
47'
Corner Kick
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
46'
Cross
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
46'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
46'
Start Half
45'
Half Over
Southampton 0-0 Reading
45'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
45'
Cross
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
45'
Corner Kick
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
45'
Shot
Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading)
45'
Cross
Jobi McAnuff (Reading)
45'
Corner Kick
Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading)
45'
Cross
Jason Roberts (Reading)
45'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
44'
Cross
Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading)
44'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
44'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
43'
Goal Kick
Adam Federici (Reading)
43'
Shot
Rickie Lambert (Southampton)
43'
Cross
Maya Yoshida (Southampton)
43'
Corner Kick
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
42'
Shot
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
41'
Throw-In
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
41'
Foul
Nathaniel Clyne fouled by Jason Roberts (Reading)
41'
Throw-In
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
40'
Substitution
Gastón Ramírez on for Adam Lallana (Southampton)
39'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
37'
Foul
Jay Tabb fouled by Jay Rodríguez (Southampton)
36'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
36'
Foul
Sean Morrison fouled by Jay Rodríguez (Southampton)
35'
Cross
Adam Lallana (Southampton)
35'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
34'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
34'
Foul
Adam Federici fouled by Maya Yoshida (Southampton)
34'
Corner Kick
Adam Lallana (Southampton)
33'
Cross
Rickie Lambert (Southampton)
33'
Corner Kick
Adam Lallana (Southampton)
33'
Cross
Adam Lallana (Southampton)
32'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
32'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
31'
Foul
Jay Rodríguez fouled by Adrian Mariappa (Reading)
31'
Goal Kick
Adam Federici (Reading)
30'
Shot
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
30'
Shot
Adam Lallana (Southampton)
29'
Foul
Jay Tabb fouled by Jack Cork (Southampton)
29'
Goal Kick
Kelvin Davis (Southampton)
29'
Shot on Target
Jay Tabb (Reading)
28'
Free Kick
Rickie Lambert (Southampton)
28'
Foul
Rickie Lambert fouled by Nicky Shorey (Reading)
27'
Throw-In
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
26'
Cross
Jason Roberts (Reading)
25'
Offside
Jason Roberts (Reading)
25'
Throw-In
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
24'
Cross
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
24'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
24'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
23'
Foul
Adrian Mariappa fouled by Jay Rodríguez (Southampton)
23'
Goal Kick
Adam Federici (Reading)
23'
Shot
Adam Lallana (Southampton)
22'
Offside
Adam Le Fondre (Reading)
22'
Foul
Adam Le Fondre fouled by Jack Cork (Southampton)
22'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
21'
Shot on Target
Rickie Lambert (Southampton)
20'
Cross
Adam Lallana (Southampton)
20'
Throw-In
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
20'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
19'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
19'
Goal Kick
Kelvin Davis (Southampton)
19'
Shot
Jay Tabb (Reading)
19'
Cross
Jason Roberts (Reading)
18'
Cross
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
17'
Foul
Jay Rodríguez fouled by Adrian Mariappa (Reading)
17'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
17'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
16'
Shot on Target
Adam Lallana (Southampton)
16'
Offside
Adam Le Fondre (Reading)
15'
Cross
Jobi McAnuff (Reading)
15'
Throw-In
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
14'
Cross
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
14'
Free Kick
Nicky Shorey (Reading)
14'
Foul
Jason Roberts fouled by Maya Yoshida (Southampton)
13'
Foul
Luke Shaw fouled by Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading)
12'
Foul
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
11'
Offside
Jobi McAnuff (Reading)
11'
Corner Kick
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
10'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
10'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
9'
Offside
Jay Rodríguez (Southampton)
9'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
9'
Goal Kick
Adam Federici (Reading)
8'
Shot
Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton)
8'
Cross
Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
8'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
7'
Shot
Rickie Lambert (Southampton)
7'
Shot
Jay Rodríguez (Southampton)
7'
Goal Kick
Adam Federici (Reading)
6'
Cross
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
6'
Goal Kick
Adam Federici (Reading)
5'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
5'
Throw-In
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
3'
Throw-In
Adam Lallana (Southampton)
3'
Foul
Luke Shaw fouled by Jason Roberts (Reading)
2'
Goal Kick
Adam Federici (Reading)
2'
Shot
Jay Rodríguez (Southampton)
2'
Cross
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
2'
Corner Kick
Jason Puncheon (Southampton)
1'
Cross
Rickie Lambert (Southampton)
1'
Throw-In
Shaun Cummings (Reading)
1'
Start Half

Southampton took all three points in a game they dominated from start to finish. Jason Puncheon scored the solitary goal after good work from Nathaniel Clyne. They created plenty of chances in the first half but could not find a way past Adam Federici. Hal Robson-Kanu did hit the post for the visitors on the stroke of half time. Into the second half and on 60 minutes Jason Puncheon smashed home a deserved winner. Reading tried to mix it up with changes but they couldn't find the strength for an equaliser. Full time and it's Southampton 1-0 Reading.
The game is over as the referee blows his whistle.
Reading don't have long to rescue a point, as the fourth official indicates there will be four three minutes injury time.
Southampton come forward with pace and Morgan Schneiderlin sees Guly in acres of space. He plays in the Brazilian, whose shot on the turn is stopped by a tremendous save from Adam Federici.
Wow, what an effort. Guly takes a chance from 25 yards and hits the top of the net with a looping effort. A loud roar of 'shoot' went up as he received the ball.
Southampton are holding the defensive line very well and catching Reading offside on numerous occasions. The visitors' woeful away form looks like it may continue.
Brazilian striker Guly comes on for Jay Rodriguez as he looks to break his run of 26 games without a goal.
Hal Robson-Kanu leaves the field as Reading make their final change. Ex-Forest man Garath McCleary comes on for him.
Southampton are still the ones doing most of the pressing, as their players stay camped in the opposition's half before picking out a killer pass.
That could've been the moment for the away side. Hal Robson-Kanu delivers a peach of a ball into the box and Adam Le Fondre connects with it. Unfortunately for him it's a poor connection and it goes out for a goal kick.
Southampton are still creating chances here as they have their 15th attempt on goal of the match. Readin only have five and that tells its own story.
An attack-minded switch here for Reading, as Brian McDermott hauls off Jay Tabb and brings on Noel Hunt in his place.
The injured Sean Morrison leaves the field and is replaced by Alex Pearce.
Jobi McAnuff gets into a great position inside the box and goes for the curled effort, but gets it all wrong and the ball drifts out for a goal kick.
Reading are hanging on here now after going behind. They didn't expect it and don't have any backup plan and just look lost on the field. Brian McDermott needs to change things here.
It's a goal for Southampton and it's JASON PUNCHEON who grabs his fourth of the season. Nathaniel Clyne made a break down the right-hand flank before picking Puncheon out with a superb pass. The winger took it in his stride and fired under Kelvin Davis.
Southampton are back on top now. A cross is nodded down to Jason Puncheon from Rickie Lambert. He takes his time before picking out Jay Rodriguez who turns and fires a half-volley just wide.
The hosts come forward again with Jason Puncheon. The winger cuts inside from the right and curls the ball around two defenders and towards Rickie Lambert, but it's just out of the striker's reach and into the arms of Adam Federici.
Jack Cork heads just wide with a powerful header after a lovely corner from Morgan Schneiderlin.
Jack Cork sends a brilliant 50-yard pass down to Gaston Ramirez, but he slips at the last second and loses possession. Had he not slipped he'd have been in on goal.
Reading have come out of the blocks for the second half looking a lot livelier - they're chasing down the ball a lot more and hounding Southampton.
Southampton get the second half started.
All even at St Mary's as the two teams go in for the half time interval. It was all Southampton for the first 15 minutes as they created chance after chances and laid siege to Reading's goal. Southampton thought they'd taken the lead when Jason Puncheon headed in from a good corner, but Jon Moss ruled it out after Maya Yoshida had impeded Adam Federici. Against the run of play, Reading nearly snatched the lead on the stroke of half time; Nicky Shorey took a short corner, received the ball back and sent a delightful cross onto Hal Robson-Kanu's head, but the winger could only hit the post from six yards.
Jon Moss blows his whistle and the first half is over.
The fourth official indicates a minimum of two minutes to be added on as Reading whip a corner into the box. The ball drops to Hal Robson-Kanu who hits the post with his header.
A corner comes in and Maya Yoshida heads towards goal. The ball is knocked about before falling to Rickie Lambert who slices the ball high and wide when he should do better.
Adam Lallana does indeed go off and is replaced by Gaston Ramirez. The Uruguayna was instrumental in the games against Newcastle and Norwich.
Reading are making the most of their temporary man advantage, as Adam Le Fondre tries to get in ahead of Jose Fonte. However, the big defender isn't letting him past.
Adam Lallana takes a knock and goes down clutching his knee. The physio is on to give him treatment to him but it doesn't look too serious. He goes off for the time being however.
A lovely corner is lofted over the top and Jason Puncheon nods it into the back of the net, but Jon Moss blows for an impedement on Adam Federici by Maya Yoshida.
The Saints come forward with intent yet again. This time the ball falls to Jason Puncheon who has a shot on goal, but he gets the ball stuck between his feet and Reading regroup at the back.
Nicky Shorey carelessly gives the ball away and then hacks down Lallana as Southampton break. The referee only has a word with him though.
The pace of the game has just been turned down a little in these last few minutes. Reading look to be taking a different apporach to the game in an attempt at getting themselves back in it.
It's bombardment on the Reading goal - Jay Rodriguez pulls the trigger first but the ball rebounds to Rickie Lambert who curls a shot towards the corner. Federici dives to his left to keep it 0-0.
Reading carve out a rare chance, and it falls to Jay Tabb who fires the ball over. He's not scored for 112 games, and with efforts like that it'll be 113 come full time.
Rickie Lambert chests the ball into the path of Adam Lallana, whose 20-yard half-volley is straight at the visiting 'keeper. Southampton are dominating this game.
Nicky Shorey lofts a free kick into the Southampton penalty box, but it's cleared from danger. It's taken 14 minutes for Reading to get near their opposition's goal.
Reading have their first attack of the game, but unfortunately for them the linesman has his flag up. Jobi McAnuff would have been in a good position to trouble the hosts' goal there.
Southampton are very much in the ascendancy here, but another chance goes begging. Nathaniel Clyne breaks down the right and hammers across to Morgan Schneiderlin. The midfielder receives the ball at an awkward height and puts it wide as a result.
Rickie Lambert lets fly from 30 yards, but his shot bounces wide of the right-hand post. Adam Federici doesn't look too comfortable today; he's already slipped a few times when taking goal kicks.
Southampton's defence has become a lot less leaky in recent weeks and they're keeping it tight today. Every time Reading come forward, a stubborn back line keeps them out.
The ball is crossed to the far post and Rickie Lambert heads the ball into the path of Jay Rodriguez who smashes into the side-netting when he should hit the target.
Southampton take the ball off Reading with ease and Puncheon makes a break down the wing. He feeds the ball to Rickie Lambert who wins the first corner of the game.
Reading get us underway here and they are kicking from left to right.
All three scorers from last weekend keep their places in the starting XI. Full line-up: Federici; Shorey, Mariappa, Morrison, Cummings; McAnuff, Leigertwood, Tabb, Robson-Kanu; Le Fondre, Roberts. Subs: Taylor, Pearce, Hunt, McCleary, Guthrie, Harte, Samuel.
Paulo Gazzaniga drops out with a shoulder injury so Kelvin Davis deputises. Full line-up: K Davis; Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Shaw; Puncheon, Cork, Lallana, Schneiderlin; Lambert, Rodriguez. Subs: Boruc, Hooiveld, S Davis, Ramirez, Ward-Prowse, Mayuka, Guly.
A win for Southampton would see them move out of the relegation zone providing other results go their way. Today's hosts are unbeaten in their last three fixtures at St Mary's and will be hoping to keep this run going against another of the league's strugglers. The visitors' most recent game was a thrilling 4-3 loss at home to Manchester United. They're still to pick up maximum points on the road so far this term, and three losses from their last four outings away from the Madejski means it doesn't bode well for them today.
Nigel Adkins' team look to have hit form just as the busy festive period gets into full swing, and they'll be thankful that their tricky little midfield maestro Gaston Ramirez is back after being on compassionate leave in Uruguay. They have only lost one of their last five games and have not gone away from their home ground empty handed since October 28th.
Having guided his team to promotion with a storming second half of the season last year, Brian McDermott seems to be failing to adapt to life in the Premier League, and with his side currently stuck in 19th position, he needs to start turning things around fast. The defence seems to be the area that needs improving, as Reading don't have any problems finding the back of the net – they have scored seven goals in their last four games.
The last six encounters between these two have all been in the Championship – today's hosts haven't beaten Reading in their previous three attempts, losing one and drawing two. This is the first ever top flight match between these two newly promoted clubs.
Today's game will be overseen by Jon Moss, who is based in Leeds. He is quite new on the scene, having only become a recognised Premier League referee in 2011. This is his eighth top flight fixture this season, and in every game he's been involved in, the home side have come away with at least a point. He has only issued 24 cards this season, which is an average of just three cards per game.