Mon, 3rd Mar 2008</p> Chelsea 1-2 Reading A second competitive goal from Franco Di Santo was the positive to take from defeat as two experienced sides went head-to-head. In a throwback to reserve team football from 15 years ago, both Chelsea and Reading opted to mix first team squad members with young developing players but although some of the less-utilised figures in past few weeks enjoyed some useful mileage in their legs, the Chelsea performance failed to ignite on a chilly Brentford night. Andriy Shevchenko captained up front with the club's new 18-year-old Argentine, Franco Di Santo, making his second reserve start. The difference from his first was significant as the tall centre-forward looked confident and assertive. Claudio Pizarro played deeper with licence to roam. Steve Sidwell and Phil Younghusband patrolled the central midfield with Jimmy Smith holding but were never able to totally command. Tal Ben-Haim at centre-back was an experienced head in a young defence with Hilario adding more years behind. Reading counted IbrahimA Sonko, Ulises De La Cruz, Leroy Lita and former Blue Michael Duberry, working his way back from injury, among their number. The first-half was goalless and unspectacular. Chelsea enjoyed territorial advantage in the early stages without creating chances. With eight minutes gone, Shaun Cummings burst forward from right-back, only to be crudely brought down by Scott Golbourne. The free-kick didn't amount to anything so another three minutes passed before the first attempt on goal, Phil Younghusband shooting hard but wide. Di Santo connected well with a header from the edge of the area after Sidwell crossed but it cleared the bar by a yard. There were shouts for handball in the area after Sidwell, who earlier had struck a shot at the keeper from 20 yards, latched onto Jimmy Smith's clever lob and played the ball into the danger zone, but the officials were not interested. Reading's best chance of the half came on 36 minutes when Bobby Convey volleyed over from a corner. If the flight had been two feet lower, Hilario would have been struggling. It took a tremendous block by Sonko to stop the Blues taking the lead a minute before the break after the best move of the game so far. The ball was worked rapidly through the middle via Younghusband and Sidwell for Pizarro to cross, Shevchenko the player denied when the ball fell his way six yards out. Reading took the lead six minutes into the second-half when a routine corner was somehow allowed to pass all the way to the back post where Duberry had a straightforward task to head home. Only the crossbar prevented a second two minutes later when Convey turned a ball from the right onto the woodwork after a crossfield move. Reading's second eventually came after 67 minutes from a clinical move - a pass down the middle for Lita to run clear and expertly round Hilario to slot home. Pizarro had a header cleared off the line by a well-positioned defender at a corner before on 72 minutes, Di Santo struck. Sonko looked to have Pizarro's through ball covered but a moment's hesitation and a stab on the accelerator by the Chelsea youngster made the space for a crisp strike. Substitute Mirolsav Stoch tricked his way into space with time running out for an equaliser but his shot hit Pizarro painfully in the face. A blistering break down the other end by De La Cruz came close to putting the result beyond doubt but Cummings blocked. In stoppage time, Shevchenko ended low-key personal display by rising highest to meet a Smith corner but headed over. Chelsea Hilario; Cummings, Ben-Haim, Magnay, van Aanholt (Gordon 60); Smith, Sidwell; Younghusband (Stoch 65); Pizarro; Shevchenko (c), Di Santo. Reading Federici, De la Cruz, Sonko, Duberry, Golbourne, Kebe, Cisse, Halls, Convey, Karacan, Lita. </p>
the thinking is................... those playing on Monday won't play tonight-ergo they are more likely to be in the frame for Saturday-Souza v Shevchenko-can't wait!
