Steve Coppell resigns

So the inevitable happened, albeit sooner than expected. Steve Coppell resigned after six years as Reading manager late last night. His legacy is one unprecedented success, soured a little latterly by the taste of bitter disappointment. It's clearly the end of an era at Reading FC. Although he ultimately failed to takes us back to the Premier League, it's certainly a sad day for the club. Honest, intelligent and highly principled, we may not see his like again.

Coppell's heartbreak

Steve Coppell gave an emotional post-match interview after the defeat tonight. The gaffer described a 'hollow feeling' after the match and added that once the second Burnley goal went in he knew 'it wasn't meant to be'. Tellingly he talked of the need for 'significant change with the playing staff' and added that the club needed 'a new generation to take responsibility'. He also told the BBC that he 'fully intended to be in work tomorrow planning for the play-off final' and that he signed on the dotted line last year to 'take the club to promotion', admitting failure to do so was a responsibility he accepted. One of the best managers in the game, and the best Reading have ever had, Coppell spoke with more emotion that we're used to, but was his usual measured, thoughtful and insightful self. Whatever decision he makes in the coming weeks his status as a Royals legend is secure.

Wembley dream in tatters

Bring on next season, this one is finally, mercifully now over. Burnley scored two well struck second half goals to knock the stuffing out of the Royals, and the home side were left to rue a season that in January began a long slow descent into terminal decline. A first half performance was dynamic and full of urgency, but once again lacked any cutting edge. No real chances were carved out, although Simon Church had a promising 45 minutes. Marcus Hahnemann could have been at fault for both goals, but hey, who really cares. Once the goals went in the last 30 minutes made for painful viewing as Reading looked every inch the well beaten side they were. We haven't been good enough this season, simple as that, and good luck to Burnley who deserved it over the two games. However well we played at Turf Moor, the fact is that we failed to score over the two play-off legs, and that is massively disappointing. None will feel more disappointed than Steve Coppell, and it needs to be made clear that he cannot be blamed for everything that has gone wrong this year.

So we clearly need a rethink, to regroup and clear out some of the dead wood, but that's for another time. Tonight at least we have a chance to look forward to better things...

Church starts as Coppell has striker dilemma

Simon Church will be handed his full Royals debut against Burnley this evening. The Welsh U21 star has been handed a chance to make the headlines and fire the Royals in to a Wembley showdown with Sheffield United. You can get the full story of Church's short career thus far here.

With Kevin Doyle injured and Leroy Lita is not quite fit, it looks posible that the gaffer could start with Shane Long and Church with the out of form Kitson on the bench...let's see!

Bikey enveloped in red mist as Royals dominance goes unrewarded

Oh dear. Reading should have taken at least a point from a match they dominated - and never looked troubled in at all - but were dealt a sucker punch with a penalty five minutes from time. Tactically Steve Coppell got this one right, we stifled Burnley completely with Kevin Doyle effectively operating as a wide man in a five man midfield. In an excellent first half the Royals created two excellent chances: Jay Tabb forcing a superb save from Burnley stopper Brian Jensen, and following a strong Andre Bikey header, Kevin Doyle's stabbed effort was chested off the line. Burnley were reduced to occasional forays into the Reading half. Liam Rosenior blocking a shot was probably their only chance of any note at all. The second half was more even, but Reading were still looking comfortable, and when Jimmy Kebe broke free on the left and bore down on goal it looked certain he would find Kitson on his own in the 6 yard box. Unfortunately he could not thread the ball pass the final defender, and so a golden opportunity to take a deserved lead back to Berkshire was gone. The story of Kebe's season really, so much promise but unable to deliver the final product. We were made to pay for such profligacy as minutes later Bikey pulled Steven Thompson's shirt and veteran Graham Alexander slotted the spot kick home. What a kick in the teeth, but worse was to come. Bikey let himself and everyone associated with Reading Football Club down with a petulant stamp on Robbie Blake in injury time. Whilst it was clearly borne of frustration, it was a stupid thing to do. The referee gave him a straight red card and he let himself down further with a Drogba-esque display, removing his short and hurling it to the ground. It was a sad end to a match we probably should have won.

So now we have to do something we haven't done since January, actually win a game at the Madejski Stadium. It's a big ask right now, especially with Bikey's suspension. Maybe history will repeat itself though...we should have beaten Burnley earlier this season at Turf Moor and lost 1-0, we won the home game 3-1 - maybe it's an omen! I'm not particularly optimistic but surely we will win at home again this season, eventually! We have one more massively important game to put that right and book a place at Wembley...

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Royals head for play-offs as Bongo grab the spoils

Reading failed to win at home for the umpteenth time this year and went down to a resilient Bongo side by two goals to one on a dramatic afternoon at the Madejski Stadium. There can be no complaints from Steve Coppell's men who were never really in contention until a late rally gave the Blues some minor cause for concern. It was a match not lacking in commitment and effort on both sides, but quality was in short supply on a sunny afternoon at the Madejski Stadium. The much maligned playing surface seemed to have responded to recent attempts to improve it, but the Royals needed more than just a bit of horticulture to register their first home win since January. The crowd certainly attempted to play their part and the atmosphere was buzzing as the game kicked off. As usual Reading started off with purpose and looked to get forward quickly and close the opposition down. The best chance came from a splendid Andre Bikey ball that found Jimmy Kebe on the left wing. The winger cut inside with pace but could only warm Maik Taylor's gloves with hist shot. Chances were in short supply but it was the visitors who took the lead with a tame looking shot from Kevin Fahey, from our angle it looked to catch Marcus somewhat unsighted as it squirmed home, but in truth it looked like a pretty soft goal to concede. We forced a couple of corners after that, but once again we failed to carve out anything like a clear cut chance. Jem Karacan looked completely out of his depth partnering Jay Tabb in a fairly ineffective midfield partnership, and it was to nobody's surprise that the young Turk was replaced by Marek 10 minutes into the second half. Not long after the change veteran striker Kevin Philips put Bongo two goals to the good, with a well-timed run to latch on to Fahey's ball and roll the ball coolly past Hahnemann. The game looked up for Reading, but almost immediately a decent passing move ended with Marek slotting the ball past Taylor to give the home crowd some hope. Suddenly the Royals came to life,the introduction of Matejovsky had added some much-needed quality and begged the question as to why he wasn't on from the start in a game we had to win. A sublime pass from the Czech international got Stephen Hunt into acres of space behind the Bongo defence only for the Irish winger to squander the chance by chipping a poor cross into the safe hands of Taylor, who had earlier pulled off a fine save from a fierce Marek drive. Shane Long had a decent shout for a penalty ignored by Howard Webb and Gary O'Connor hit the post for the visitors with time running out, but other than that there was little else in the way of decent opportunities at either end.

So it was the 3000 visiting fans who celebrated wildly at the final whistle, their team deservedly grabbing promotion straight back up to the Premier League. For Reading it was another hugely disappointing performance and result at home. We go to Turf Moor next week to take on Burnley, who have no trouble winning at home right now, thumping Brizzle City 4-0 today. A win at Wembley would be something to savour, but it's going to take something special. Our home form is so bad that it seems we are going to need to beat Burnley well next week and hope to avoid defeat in the return leg. Who knows in football eh?