Football: Beware the Royals' threat; FOOTBALL BLUES: Don't underestimate Reading, warns Bullivant.Byline: By Colin Tattum TERRY Bullivant Terry Bullivant (born 23 September 1956, Lambeth, England) is an English football coach. Bullivant was a midfielder during his playing days, signed as an apprentice in May 1974 to Fulham FC and transferred to Aston Villa FC for £220,000 in November 1979. has warned Blues they should not underestimate Championship leaders Reading. Bullivant's former club put Albion out of the FA Cup and will be plotting another upset in Saturday's fourth round tie at the Madejski Stadium Overview The stadium is the home of Reading Football Club and was opened on 22 August 1998 when Luton Town were beaten 3-0 with Grant Brebner having the honour of scoring the first goal at the stadium. . "I went to watch Reading play on Friday night at Crystal Palace and it is going to be a very hard game for us," said Blues' first-team coach Bullivant. "They are a very good side. Steve Coppell's a terrific manager, they are well coached, well organised. "They've got some very good players and they work very hard." The Royals' great strength is their team work and although they have no household names as such, Bullivant said that was likely to change once promotion was clinched. "They've got a young boy Kevin Doyle For other persons named Kevin Doyle, see Kevin Doyle (disambiguation). Kevin Edward Doyle (born 18 September 1983 in Adamstown, County Wexford, Ireland) is an Irish footballer who currently plays for Reading in the English Premier League. up front who will be a big star from what I've seen," he said. "Dave Kitson David Barry Kitson (born 21 January 1980, Hitchin, England) is an English footballer, currently playing for Reading in the Premier League. Club career One of the most exciting and talented players that has played for Cambridge United and Arlesey Town near the bottom of has come on a bundle. "We all watched him at Cambridge United and Steve was bold enough to take him. "Wally Downes Wally Downes (born 9 June 1961) is an English former football player and manager. He is currently a first team coach at Reading. He is related to the boxer Terry Downes. Downes started out as an apprentice with Wimbledon and was one of the instigators of the , Reading's first-team coach, was telling me he thinks he can play in the Premiership - and that was last year. "The midfield players, Steve Sidwell and Kevin Harper, cover the ground. "At centre-back they've got the big boy Ibrahima Sonko who was at Brentford just after I was there, he's very powerful. "Alongside him you've got Ivar Ingimarsson, who was with us at Brentford, and he's a good honest pro. "Down the middle of the team they are very, very strong and down the sides they are very, very quick." Royals boss Coppell decided to rest some players in both their tussles with the Baggies. Reaching the Premiership is Reading's main focus this season. "They might have rested a few but it worked, didn't it?" pondered Bullivant. "He hasn't got a big squad, but Steve's worked wonders with it. "It's the way he's managed them and got them playing like they have, which is an art in itself." A boost for Blues will be the absence of 17-goal Kitson due to a hamstring strain sustained in the 1-1 draw at Palace. Solihull boxer's American dream PAGE 95 CAPTION(S): DANGERS... Coach Terry Bullivant. |
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