I think it is fair to assume that when the FA chose Liverpool or Reading v Burnley as their live game on FA.com, they assumed it would be Liverpool not Reading.Ah yes but they of all people forgot all about "the magic of the FA Cup" and the unlikely reality of Reading, having held Liverpool at home, then going on to win the replay at Anfield.
That shock having taken place, there was no going back. So, as the FA join in with the online revolution, Reading v Burnley it was. I'd love to know the viewing figures, especially with Preston v Chelsea as an alternative attraction on television. Mind you, those who decided to stay up north and watch on the FA website discovered the link didn't work properly, suggesting the FA has not yet fully joined the online revolution ... another win for Iraqi goals or Justin TV, it would seem.
And it was hard to find much magic in a first half that failed to ignite at all. Our first real shot - over and wide from a Chris Eagles overhead kick - came just as the fourth official was announcing two minutes of added time. Reading had looked more dangerous up to then though they didn't look that dangerous.
It was all so different to our last trip here and for me the highlight as a spectator of the promotion season. I know everyone goes on about Wembley and the actual day of promotion against Sheffield United, but it was hard to beat as a Burnley fan experience the second leg of the semi-final play-off, and those last few minutes at Reading, when we knew we'd done it. Defending a one-goal lead from the first leg, we scored two of the most beautiful goals I have ever seen, outside the box strikes from Martin Paterson and Steve Thompson, and after that came bedlam.
The atmosphere could not have been more different today. Not a bad turnout in the away end considering that it was a lunchtime kick-off but perhaps for the same reason there was very little of the volume we have got used to at away games. It didn't help either that the Reading section to our left wasn't even open. The home fans to our right tried to get things going with "you're going straight back down" whilst we proclaimed that "we are Premier League" but nobody would claim it was red hot.
Perhaps we were saving our voices for Bolton away on Tuesday. All 4,700 away tickets gone, and hundreds still looking.
On the field, Reading looked more likely early on with touches of Aaron Lennon to right winger Jobi McAnuff, and Brynjar Gunnarsson looking good in midfield.
But there was nothing you'd call a clear-cut chance at either end.
The second half, on the field and in terms of atmosphere, started better and at times even felt like a real Cup tie, if not exactly magical. Brian Jensen made a good save, followed by several minutes of sustained Burnley pressure.
By now we had Paterson on, a half-time substitute for Thompson, and back in action after a long lay-off. He looked like a man in a hurry to score and almost did when David Edgar's header from a corner was saved and Pato pounced but shot over.
It was hard to make a judgement on Chris McCann's return after a similarly long lay-off from injury, as he was playing at left back rather than his customary central midfield, but it was good to see him back.
Once Reading survived that Burnley flurry, they gained the upper hand again, had a decent-looking penalty claim turned down, then forced another terrific save from Jensen before finally cutting us open with two minutes to go. At last the Reading fans made a bit of noise even if "we're going to Wemberlee" seemed a bit optimistic.
"You've come a long way for nothing" sung at the Burnley fans seemed more apt.
At least Bolton isn't far.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
the veiwing figures were 0 as the link didnt work. FA got it all wrong again