BURNLEY 1, READING 0
Shame old story as red-card Andre Bikey throws tantrum
BRAINLESS bad boy Andre Bikey dragged football deeper into the gutter as Reading's play-off bid took an ugly turn.
The petulant defender served up a shameful tantrum at referee Martin Atkinson that mirrored the disgraceful midweek scenes at Chelsea.
Bikey refused to accept a late red card for a stamp on Robbie Blake and went through all the predictable, self-pitying reactions as he lamely protested that turn the stomachs of true football fans.
There was no question Atkinson was right to demand he headed to the dressing room for what was a piece of blatant thuggery.
Yet Bikey was not having it. He ripped off his shirt and threw it to the ground before screaming in anger as he tried to pin the blame for his actions on the official rather than accepting that he was the only person at fault.
It did not end there, though. Like a poor man's Didier Drogba he then came back for seconds and it took the giant frame of visiting keeper Marcus Hahnemann to usher him to the tunnel.
Even then he disrespectfully tossed his orange shirt to the ground once more before being persuaded to quit the pitch.
True, he may have been frustrated at having conceded the 84th-minute penalty from which Graham Alexander scored to hand Burnley a narrow first-leg lead.
But this boy has previous. He was red-carded for head-butting an opponent during a trial match for Reading and added a second red to his CV for using his elbow at Cardiff earlier this season.
And that is not the half of it. The stupid stopper even hit the showers early for pushing a medic treating one of his own Cameroon team-mates in a bizarre African Nations Cup semi-final win over Ghana last year. Calling him crazy would be kind. He is nothing but an idiot. Even his boss Steve Coppell refused to defend him.
The Royals' chief said: "His sending-off was fully deserved. We don't accept that kind of thing.
"His reaction came after a hugely emotional five minutes but there is no excuse for that behaviour. There is no room at this club for that."
Bikey will now miss Tuesday's second leg, leaving his team-mates in the mire as they attempt to overhaul a one-goal deficit with a miserable home run playing on their minds.
Coupled with an injury to Kevin Doyle that will see him sit out the game as well, Bikey's absence could prove vital and Coppell is already talking down the chances of his side making a trip to Wembley.
He added: "In a normal season, we would be hopeful. But in terms of our recent home form, we have a mountain to climb."
Reading were defeated by that late penalty after creating the two best chances of the game. Bikey tugged on Steve Thompson's shirt with six minutes left and the home sub made sure he made it into the box before falling to the ground - to Coppell's huge frustration.
Coppell declared: "The initial contact was outside the box and the fall was inside. The ref was 10 yards away and cannot categorically say it was a penalty. You have to say that it was just a guesstimate."
TV replays showed it was a very good guess and Alexander continued his dead-eye delivery from the spot to net his 10th penalty of the campaign and 66th of his career.
The Scottish international has a remarkable, laser-accurate ability to convert from 12 yards with 29 of his last 30 flying in. Yet none have been as crucial as this one.
Clarets boss Owen Coyle said: "When Grezza steps up to take a penalty you can't ask for a better guy to walk into the arena. I'm delighted for him.
Daylight
"But there is still an away leg to play and it will be tricky. Reading might feel aggrieved at losing this game. Brian Jensen made an outstanding save in the first half and Martin Paterson then had to clear off the line."
Coyle was right. Without Jensen there would have been clear daylight between the two sides - with Reading boasting the advantage.
A local grocer named a sausage after Jensen in the wake of his Cup heroics this term and, once again, he produced a blinder to stop his side being butchered early on.
The big keeper reacted superbly to get a strong hand to Jay Tabb's searing first-half effort and then dived to the turf to snuff out Marek Matejovsky's follow-up effort.
And the Dane repeated his heroics in the 35th minute to deny Reading once more.
Powers
Bikey, for once using his head in the right way, rose highest to thump a header at goal and Jensen managed to stick out a hand to block it.
But the keeper needed help as the ball dropped to Kevin Doyle six yards out. Paterson came up trumps by standing firm on the line to clear the Irishman's flick.
It was the last time Reading threatened, as their safety-first policy kept Burnley in check but curbed their own free-scoring powers.
Maybe having the stuffing knocked out of them by seeing Birmingham extinguish their automatic promotion hopes, and go up themselves by winning at the Madejski Stadium last week, dented their confidence.
Or it could have been simply the fear of facing a Burnley side that has knocked Premier League giants Chelsea and Arsenal out of Cup competitions this season.
Either way, this was not the rampaging Reading team that looked destined for a quick return to the top flight earlier this season.
And Coppell knows better than anyone that the Clarets are now favourites to win through to the play-off final against either Preston or Sheffield United.
This article has 1 comment
It's been a long time coming .I hope Burnley make it to Wembley.The manager has done a great job this season.Stick in there Clarets.
By Dave. Posted May 10 2009 at 9:04 PM.