Birmingham 1 Reading 3: Disaster for Bluenoses

Dec 20 2008

 mistake from Cisse allowed Phillips to produce a superb individual goal in the 60th minute.

The Royals were totally in control of the ball when Cisse needlessly turned into trouble in midfield where he was robbed by Lee Carsley.

Phillips nipped in to steal the loose ball and after nutmegging Ivar Ingimarsson advanced unchallenged to the edge of the area and lashed in a stinging low drive which gave goalkeeper Adam Federici no chance.

It was a sublime goal worthy of a striker who has chalked up over 240 goals in his career but just six minutes later his opposite number nine Doyle put the visitors back ahead.

Stephen Hunt swept in a curling free-kick and Doyle got ahead of Radhi Jaidi to steer a flicked header wide of Taylor and into the far corner.

Jaidi then saw his goalbound header blocked by team-mate Cameron Jerome before Federici pulled off a top-class save to deny Phillips as the hosts poured forward in search of an equaliser.

But hopes of a comeback were killed off when Cisse redeemed himself with the third in the 82nd minute.

The tireless Doyle sent in a deep cross from the right touchline and Cisse towered over Stuart Parnaby to thump a header past Taylor from six yards.