Reading 1 Birmingham 2

Blackpool 2 Reading 2

Reading 0 Sheffield United 1

SHANE LONG has spent much of this season overshadowed by Reading’s more extrovert Irish stars, but the Tipperary-born striker rose to the occasion yesterday to maintain his side’s Premier League push.

READING goalkeeper Adam Federici scored a dramatic stoppage-time leveller against Cardiff to keep the Royals in the Coca-Cola Championship automatic promotion places after their 1-1 draw yesterday.

Relegated Reading have begun their preparations for life in the Coca-Cola Championship by offering new deals to four players and releasing six others.

Reading 0 Tottenham 1

Wigan 0 Reading 0

Reading will be without skipper Graeme Murty (knee) and midfielder Emerse Fae (malaria) for tomorrow’s home game with Manchester City.

Reading will be without defender Michael Duberry (knee), midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson (groin) and winger Glen Little (heel) for Saturday’s trip to Middlesbrough.

Reading welcome back defenders Ivar Ingimarsson (ban) and Andre Bikey (international duty) for this weekend’s Premier League visit of Aston Villa.

Reading are still set to be without Andre Bikey for the Barclays Premier League clash away to Everton despite his bizarre sending-off on international duty for Cameroon.

Reading welcome back strikers Shane Long and Dave Kitson for tomorrow's visit of Bolton.

Reading will be without striker Shane Long (ban), midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson (groin) and defender Michael Duberry (knee) for Wednesday night’s trip to Chelsea.

Reading 0 Manchester United 2

Reading will be without defender Michael Duberry (knee) for tomorrow’s visit of Manchester United.

Reading manager Steve Coppell has challenged his defenders to get it right against Tottenham talisman Dimitar Berbatov tonight – at the third time of asking.

Reading will be without defender Michael Duberry (knee) for tomorrow night’s FA Cup third round replay with Spurs at the Madejski Stadium.

Aston Villa 3 Reading 1

SPURS first-team coach Gus Poyet believes the spectacular 6-4 game with Reading less than a week ago in the Premier League will have no bearing on today’s FA Cup third-round clash with the Royals.

Brynjar Gunnarsson is suspended for Reading’s Barclays Premier League clash against Portsmouth at the Madejski Stadium.

Reading will be without John Oster for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League visit of Liverpool after it was decided the winger required surgery on a troublesome ankle.

Reading have revealed midfielder John Oster is to undergo surgery on his ankle injury.

Defender Michael Duberry is missing from the Reading squad for tomorrow’s visit of Middlesbrough.

Reading will be without defender Michael Duberry for tomorrow’s trip to Manchester City.

Defender Michael Duberry is doubtful for Reading’s home Barclays Premier League game with Arsenal on Monday night after damaging ribs in last week’s defeat at Fulham.

WITH a win bonus weighing down his pockets and the adulation from scoring one of the quickest goals in Premier League history still ringing in his ears, what more could Shane Long have wanted from his Saturday afternoon?

Manchester United romped to the Barclays Premier League summit in fine style as they netted four for the fourth game running to beat Middlesbrough at Old Trafford.

Shane Long netted a sensational winner for Reading only seconds after coming on as a substitute against Newcastle.

Blackburn 4 Reading 2

Reading 1 Derby 0

The Examiner’s football correspondent Liam Mackey is off in the land of Goudy and Ronaldinho this week so veteran substitute Allan Prosser is called from the bench to hold the ring while our contributors slug it out.

Reading 2 Wigan 1

Reading welcome back striker Kevin Doyle and defender Michael Duberry for tomorrow’s visit of Wigan.

Reading are likely to be without utility man Brynjar Gunnarsson for tomorrow’s trip to Sunderland as the Iceland international has not trained since suffering a badly-bruised knee injury in the defeat by West Ham on September 1.

Reading manager Steve Coppell will ring the changes for tomorrow night’s Carling Cup trip to Swansea.

Michael Duberry and Kalifa Cisse are the latest players to become unavailable for Reading ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Everton.

Reading 1 Chelsea 2

ALEX FERGUSON is convinced old mate Harry Redknapp has proved there is no substitute for experience in the management game.

Carlos Tevez will be asked to fire up Manchester United’s planned assault on the Premier League title – by immediately covering for the loss of Wayne Rooney.

Manchester United have revealed England striker Wayne Rooney is likely to be out for two months after suffering a hairline fracture of his left foot.

Manchester United 0 Reading 0