Royals deadline day deals as they happened...

....<whistles>


Good news really, we didn't lose anyone - and despite my feelings about Harps and Hunt right now, this is probably for the best at such a crucial stage of the season. I fully expect Shunty to knuckle down and have one of his all-too-infrequent purple patches now. Don't be surprised if you see more arm-waving and faux tackling from Jim Harper.


And now for some debate: I don't want to give you the impression that I don't rate Jim, it's just he used to do so much more, and to qualify this I have nominated my top three favourite Harper moments, see if you can come up with more of your own.


1. That equaliser against Crystal Palace
A tense Friday night affair at their place, and Andy 'Andrew' Johnson does what he did best (eh?!) by falling over and converting the subsequent penalty. Within two minutes a slick move ends with JH blasting it past their hapless keeper to extend the 29-match unbeaten run. This is how the Independent described that night and it's a joy to read, what a team.


2. That winner against Boro
On the back of about 54 Premier League defeats, Jim turns up from nowhere to bury a late winner at the Riverside. A few hundred Royals fans go bonkers; Gareth Southgate looks more glum than usual.

3. That goal against Liverpool
Yes, that result did really happen. The coolest of finishes from Jim as he puts the nail in the coffin and sends Rafa's lot packing with their first league defeat of the term. Easily our finest moment of a miserable season.

Got any more?

'Arry in the Hunt for, erm, Shunt?

The ongoing saga that is Stephen Hunt's impending move to any old Premier League outfit in the bottom half of the table continues. Now rumours abound that Spurs could launch a surprise £5m deadline day bid for the wantaway (allegedly) winger (allegedly!!). Frankly if Redknapp is offering that sort of money for the lad I will get my car keys and head for 'The Lane'. If it happens will we snap up Jamal Campbell-Ryce from Barnsley to fill the, erm, 'void'? Let's hope so. The most likely event is that nothing will happen at all, in which case Hunt will probably go on to have a blinding spell similar to the one he had after the last move in the summer fell through, can't fault him in that respect so either way it could turn out good for us.

Stalemate once again in Battle of the Hoops

Reading and QPR went another 90 minutes without producing a goal on a cold and blustery afternoon at Loftus Road on Saturday. By most accounts there wasn't an awful lot to report on really, with perhaps QPR creating the better chances in a match that barely tested either keeper. We'll be happy with an away point despite losing ground on Wolves (who beat Watford at home) as Bongo failed to beat Sheffield Wednesday, thus retaining the two-point lead over Mcleish's lot.