Reading 2 Sunderland 1

Dec 23 2007 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

MATCH officials are definitely off Roy Keane’s Christmas Card list after another controversial late decision cost Sunderland points.

For the second week running the Black Cats were out of luck in injury-time.

Last weekend against Aston Villa it was the Foul That Never Was which denied Danny Collins an injury-time winner at the Stadium of Light.

And yesterday at the Madejski Stadium it was The Goal That Might Not Have Been which robbed the Black Cats of a precious point.

Keane was absolutely furious with referee Steve Bennett after the Villa game when the official disallowed what TV replays suggested was a perfectly legitimate goal.

At Reading, with even multi-angle TV replays inconclusive, he was just highly sceptical that linesman Steve Rubery could be stone cold certain that Steve Hunt’s volley had crossed the line before keeper Craig Gordon could beat it out.

Everyone had an opinion on whether the whole of the ball was over the line, but no one could be sure.

Except Mr Rubery, of course, who flagged for a goal and consigned Sunderland to their sixth successive defeat on the road.

Keane is desperate to avoid Sunderland becoming tagged an “unlucky” club, but on the evidence of the last two games it seems that Lady Luck is indeed scowling in the direction of Wearside.

Sunderland were truly awful in the first half at Reading and the home side could – and should – have put the game out of reach by the interval.

Aside from one golden chance that was hit straight at goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann by Andy Cole inside the first five minutes, it was one-way traffic in the first period.

Dave Kitson squandered three good chances and Kevin Doyle also missed a good chance.

And only a wonder save from Gordon – who returned to the side after a threegame hiatus – denied Hunt on the half-hour with a reaction stop on the line which was almost identical to the one that caused so much controversy at the death.

The Black Cats dug their claws in and managed to cling on until half-time and improved dramatically in the second period.

They still needed a slice of luck early in the second half, though, when the outstanding Hunt got the better of Collins 25 yards out and hit a left-foot shot which beat Gordon all ends up but came thudding back off the left-hand post.

But Reading’s Ivar Ingimarsson did eventually break the deadlock midway through the second period with a close-range finish after a free kick on the right was headed towards goal by Ibrahima Sonko, and Gordon could only push the ball into Ingimarsson’s path.

But Sunderland redoubled their efforts and got their reward eight minutes from time when Kenwyne Jones strode purposefully into the box and was fouled by Sonko, with referee Steve Tanner pointing straight to the spot.

Michael Chopra converted, ending his 15-match goal drought which stretched back to August.

A couple of minutes later, the ex-Newcastle man could have snatched it when Jones outmuscled his marker in a chase for the ball and the Trinidad & Tobago striker burst into the box, but his low shot hit Hahnemann and went wide when a pass to Anthony Stokes would have presented the sub with a tap-in.

The drama was only just beginning, however, and in the final minute of injury-time Reading grabbed all three points.

Sub Shane Long crossed from the byline on the right side of the box and Hunt was free at the far post.

His volley was beaten out by Gordon in what looked like another brilliant reaction save, but Mr Rubery gave the goal.

Sunderland complained bitterly but, of course, to no avail.

So Sunderland finish 2007 without a win on their travels this season.

Their 10 games on the road have yielded just two points out of a possible 30 – a woeful return.

And defeat at Reading, coupled with Fulham’s draw with relegation rivals Wigan, means that Sunderland face a miserable Christmas after slipping back into the bottom three – with a home game against Manchester United on Boxing Day to look forward to!

Unless Sunderland’s luck changes, it’s going to be a hard winter on Wearside.