[NoSkillz]

Sat. April 6, 2024

Barclays Premier League
Reading (17-3-12, 54 points, 7th) vs. Dover (24-6-2, 78 points, 1st)
The Madejski Stadium, Reading, UK

Betting Odds: Reading: 5-4 (Favourites) Draw: 11-5 Dover: 7-4
Past Meetings: 8W 2D 3L

We’ve had good success historically versus Reading but they traditionally play us tough. They are also on a great run of form, with only two losses in their last 16 games in all competitions. They are also still alive in the FA Cup, with an upcoming semi-final match against Man City. Their best player in recent years has been striker/attacking mid James Hunter but he’s hurt right now and Hani Megahed has taken the mantle as most dangerous player. He has a whopping 25 goals in only 32 matches so we’ll need to be mindful of the speedster today. Former Dover loanee Martin Prochazka is having a fine year as is fellow attacking mid Cees Duarte.

We’re going to fall back today and play a counter attacking style at Reading’s deep pitch. Getting second consecutive starts are keeper Manuel Perez, midfielder Andrea Rocca and winger Graham Allan. Chiquinho is back in up front and Neil Cairney starts in midfield. Jose gets the night off. Saber Nasri is also in for Claudio Contreras, as we look to employ a speedy back line today to counter the effect of Megahed.

Dover: 4-4-2 Counter
GK - M. Perez
D - Renato Gaucho, S. Nasri, R. Hamon, S. Loucif
M - A. Bamba, N. Cairney, A. Rocca, G. Allan
S - P. Moses, Chiquinho
Bench - Rafinha, M. Yilmaz, E. Harvey, G. Fanfoni, G. Bolis, S. Andrea, Z. Bardi

Reading are in a 4-2-3-1 (4-4-2 DM) with Megahed up front, Duarte and Prochazka at attacking midfield slots and Chris Davies in goal. Central defender Mark O’Brien is starting and he usually struggles against our speed. Lets play well for our travelling supporters today.

8’ - Off a throw in, Paul Moses gets the ball and passes in to Andrea Rocca, who is completely unmarked in front of the net but his shot is saved well by Davies.

12’ - We have a corner and it’s cleared out to Neil Cairney. He passes back over to the left to Arsene Bamba, who dribbles past his man and into the area before unleashing a ROCKET that is past Davies and IN! Spectacular shot by Bamba, his 50th career goal for our club! DOVER GOAL 1-0

33’ - Megahed gets a chance but his shot is saved well by Manuel Perez.

36’ - Bamba with a lofted right foot shot that hits off the crossbar!

39’ - Moses with a clear cut breakaway and he shoots WIDE! Don’t see that from him very often.

43’ - Cees Duarte darts into our area and after being engaged by Saber Nasri, goes down like a ton of bricks. The referee points to the spot - PENALTY! Our players are furious and even the announcer says it was a dive but Hani Megahed steps up and drills a high hard one into the far corner for the equalizing goal. READING GOAL 1-1

HALFTIME - That is an awful turn of events, as we’re dominating this game. We held 58% of possession and shots are 10-10 (3-2 on target) for us as well. I tell the team I’m pleased but pull aside struggling Nasri and Chiquinho to say I have faith in them. This would be a great time for a Chiquinho goal - he’s been invisible lately.

46’ - We get the kick off and it’s the PAUL MOSES SHOW, as he takes the ball and simply runs straight past Mark O’Brien and in on goal. Davies makes the save but Moses gets the rebound and puts it into the net! Simply ridiculous! That’s Moses’ 50th league goal for us already as well! DOVER GOAL 2-1

53’ - Reading with a nice move to free up Prochazka but Perez is there in good position to make the stop.

57’ - Saber Nasri is having a horrible game, as he coughs up the ball to the dangerous Megahed and the Reading goal scorer is in on Perez. Our keeper makes the first save but Megahed gets the rebound and Nasri misses that one too. Megahed shoots again and there is Perez, diving to make the second save as well! WOW!

58’ - We work a quick counter after clearing Reading’s corner from the last play and it’s Chiquinho in on a partial break. His shot gets past Davies but hits the goal post! He can’t buy a goal right now.

63’ - Bamba has the ball and gets a pass into Moses at the outer edge of the area. He abuses O’Brien once again and shoots but Davies makes the stop. O’Brien just stands there as Moses goes for the rebound and he sends a BLAST into the top corner of the goal past a diving Davies. UNBELIEVABLE goal and boy, does that Mark O’Brien ever struggle against Moses and his speed! DOVER GOAL 3-1

66’ - Andrea Rocca with a free kick and he sends a curling blast off the crossbar!

77’ - Jan Moravek with a curling blast from distance and Perez dives to make the stop!

78’ - Andrea Rocca and Arsene Bamba are out and in come Gian Marco Fanfoni and Rafinha.

80’ - We work a counter and Chiquinho sends the ball out wide to Rafinha. He’s streaking down the left wing and sends a cross into Moses, looking for another hat trick. His wicked volley is on goal but stopped in sensational fashion by a diving Davies! What a great save that was!

85’ - Oh my! Perez ROBS Megahed TWICE in rapid succession from in tight.

90’+2 - We move the ball around beautifully and Cairney sends in Chiquinho. He’s on his weak side and his shot is saved easily by Davies.

Great win!

Reading 1 - 3 Dover
Goals - Paul Moses 2 (9.6), Arsene Bamba (7.6)
Assists - Neil Cairney (7.7)
Man of the Match - Paul Moses
Other Dover Notables - Manuel Perez (8.5), Renato Gaucho (7.0), Chiquinho (7.3)
Attendance - 20,968

We held 53% of possession for the game but were outshot 22-21 (9-9 on target). Manuel Perez was simply sensational today and he’s starting to gain a bit of an edge on Ingo Wilke lately - Perez doesn’t speak English yet but I assume he’ll grasp the language shortly. And what can you say about Moses? He’s now over 50 goals for the season! Unreal.

-- With the win, we’ve locked up a Champions League spot for next season.

-- In other action, Everton hold Man City to a 1-1 draw, Man United and Liverpool battled to a 2-2 draw while Spurs win a thriller over Chelsea at Zola Stadium 4-3 to move past United and into second place. We now have a ten point lead on second place with five games remaining. We’ll need five more points to win the league.


BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE - STANDINGS
(ALL TEAMS HAVE PLAYED 33 GAMES UNLESS NOTED)

1. Dover - 81 points
2. Tottenham - 71 points
3. Manchester United - 70 points
4. Manchester City - 64 points
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5. Chelsea - 63 points
6. Liverpool - 60 points
7. Arsenal - 55 points
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Dover U18 Update

-- The kids win 4-1 over Eastleigh, with goals coming from James Campbell, Norberto Vazquez, Jim Ryan and Pete Smith.



Champions League Update

-- Barcelona and Manchester United advance to the semi-finals, with both clubs winning on the road 1-0; Barcelona advances 1-0 on aggregate over Juventus while United advances 4-2 on aggregate over OM.



Next Up

-- We’re off to Holland to face Ajax in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals and we have a huge four goal lead going in.