Team news: City are unchanged from the side that started against Southampton, but the big news is on the bench, where Daniel Sturridge takes his place for the first time. There is also a welcome return for Sun Jihai, now over a hamstring injury picked up last summer.
The visitors are without Sonko, ruled out for the season with knee ligament damage, but Michael Duberry, on the bench, gets a taste of top-flight football again after going down with Leeds and a spell at Stoke.
It’s a glorious, sunny but cold day in Manchester, let’s hope City can match the weather and notch up another win.
The Match
The game’s first chance came after five minutes when Sylvain Distin rose to a Barton corner, but the French defender was left berating himself after putting a good opportunity wide of the left hand post.
A clever ball over the top from Ireland forced Hahnemann to race out of his box to deny Beasley an opportunity on 15 minutes, and less than 60 seconds later Samaras wasted a good chance. The Greek striker moved clear into the corner of the area, but as he dithered the Reading defence was able to get back and dispossess him.
Vassell was at his hard-working best again, and on 22 minutes he whistled a long range shot just over the bar. Seconds later Joey Barton had the first on-target effort of the game, driving a volley straight at Hahnemann.
There was concern for Nick Weaver after 26 minutes following Reading’s first chance of note. Hunt chipped the ball towards Lita, and as Richard Dunne went to hook it away from danger the on-rushing keeper collided with both players and went heavily to ground.
Thankfully the popular stopper was back on his feet after a couple of minutes treatment, but the knock had obviously taken it’s toll, and he was replaced by Andreas Isaksson. The Swede was making his debut on home turf, having played the second half at Old Trafford in December.
The game livened up on 39 minutes when Lita appeared to have put Reading ahead, only to see the linesman raise his flag. Murty’s long cross was headed back to Lita by Hunt, but the linesman judged that the ball had just gone over the dead ball line beforehand. Hunt was furious with the decision that saw City breathe again.
City should have taken the lead with just two minutes to go to the break. Hahnemann spilled a Samaras shot straight into the path of Joey Barton, but with the goal at his mercy the midfielder put the ball straight at the keeper and the City fans were left scratching their heads at how the Blues were not in front.
Then it was Reading’s turn to rue a missed opportunity deep into stoppage time. Long crossed from the right and the striker, just a couple of yards in front of the open net, could only just touch the ball wide of Isaksson’s right post.
The second half began as the first had ended, with City missing a great chance. Trabelsi whipped in a low cross to Vassell, but the striker somehow put the ball over the bar first time from close range.
Hamann replaced Dabo on 48 minutes.
The game was a much livelier affair now, and Richard Dunne went on a rampaging run on 52 minutes that ended with his long range shot being comfortably saved by Hanhemann. Wisps of fog were now blowing into the stadium as the temperature dropped rapidly.
As the hour approached a huge slice of luck went City’s way. Beasley lost possession near his own corner flag, and Sidwell’s curling shot deflected off Hamann’s head, flicking off the top of the bar with Isaksson wrong-footed and beaten.
A great Ireland pass found Vassell with 19 minutes to go, but the striker side-footed it straight at Hahnemann.
Daniel Sturridge replaced Samaras to a huge ovation with 15 minutes left. It was not long before he was involved, spinning away to feed Beasley. The ball found its way to Barton, but his shot was a yard wide of the post.
But then disaster struck for City with 11 minutes left. Reading broke out of defence, Sidwell threaded it to Leroy Lita who shot across Isaksson and into the far corner of the net to send Reading’s fans wild.
The goal had taken the wind out of City’s sails, and Lita went close again on 85 when he shot just over the bar.
And the Reading striker killed the game off with a minute to go. Hamann was dispossessed in midfield, Harper slid the ball forward and Lita once again latched onto it, putting the ball low and to Isaksson’s right.
That was how it stayed, the game ending with the surreal sight of freezing fog beginning to obscure the view.
