Doyle banishes Reading ghosts

STEVE COPPELL was a relieved man after Kevin Doyle’s first League goal of the season gave the Royals a much-needed victory against Derby.

Coppell’s side had conceded seven goals in the defeat to Portsmouth last week but Derby, bottom of the Premier League and still without an away goal this season, did not have the same ammunition.

“Obviously it’s a relief,” said Coppell. “But it’s only in the system because people talk about conceding seven goals like someone has died.

“It’s football, and I bet there won’t be many teams who go there and score four and also miss a penalty.

“It’s not the end of the world to get beaten – we could lose 20 games and have a good season.”

Coppell believes the Portsmouth defeat contributed to a first half yesterday which was short on quality, with clearances from his defenders going off at all angles.

Derby’s lack of confidence meant they were also struggling to string passes together.

“At Crystal Palace, I had a defence that conceded nine at Anfield once – the way they played the next game was not very pretty,” said Coppell.

“We drew with Southampton. It was 1-1 – but it was a lucky goal. If you’re a defender you want the ball as far away from your goal as possible, and there was an element of that in the first half.”

Stephen Hunt was off target twice with Reading’s best first-half chances, and Doyle also headed over. The hosts also had two penalty appeals turned down before the break – but just when it looked as if it would be a frustrating afternoon, Doyle headed in his first Reading goal of the season.

Graeme Murty’s cross from the right was flicked to the back post by Derby striker Steve Howard, and Doyle planted his header into the opposite corner.

“He’s been grafting away and working hard,” said Coppell.

I just got a feeling that he will score goals – you can sense it in games. You just have to be patient sometimes.”

Derby boss Billy Davies remains pleased to still be in sight of the other strugglers.

“I felt we got a better performance and deserved more than we got,” he said. “We could have grabbed a win – even at the end of the game we had some good chances.

“We are getting much better and looking confident. The league table doesn’t lie, but we could climb it with a win.”

READING (4-4-2): Hahnemann 6, Murty 6, Duberry 6, Ingimarsson 7, Shorey 6, Rosenior 5 (Oster 59, 6), Harper 7, Gunnarsson 6, Hunt 7, Doyle 8, Kitson 6. Subs Not Used: Federici, Lita, Fae, Bikey.

DERBY (4-4-2): Bywater 5, Mears 6, Davis 6, Leacock 5, Griffin 5 (Earnshaw 74, 6), Feilhaber 5 (Lewis 65, 6), Pearson 7, Oakley 7, McEveley 6, Howard 5 (Barnes 65, 5), Miller, 6. Subs Not Used: Price, Todd.

MATCH RATING: ** This dour affair bore all the hallmarks of a relegation six-pointer, but at least Kevin Doyle was smiling by the end.