Reading Shane Long

long training reading in 2008

in reading s championship-winning 2005–06 campaign, long scored 3 goals in ten substitute appearances, making first league start on 17 april 2006 in 3–1 home victory against stoke city. first season, second choice in pecking order behind fellow irishman kevin doyle, dave kitson , leroy lita. started of games in reading s fa cup campaign , scored 1 goal.

on 4 july 2007, long signed improved four-year contract keep him @ reading until end of 2010–11 season.

on 16 march 2008, in 2–1 defeat @ anfield against liverpool, long involved in incident flung shirt ground, citing frustration @ performance , frustration match official andre marriner, after being subbed manager steve coppell. in post-match interview, steve coppell made stern point in not happen again . long made full apology on official club website.

his 2008–09 season ended happily after scoring equaliser in 1–1 draw @ southampton, before ending season brace in 2–0 victory @ norwich city.

in 2010 fa cup third round replay match against liverpool, long fouled yossi benayoun win 93rd-minute penalty liverpool led 1–0 @ anfield bring match time. long scored glancing header in 100th minute in front of anfield kop cross supplied brynjar gunnarsson, sent reading fourth round of fa cup play @ home against burnley.

on 30 january 2010, long scored crucial goal @ home strugglers barnsley gifted reading 3 points in 1–0 win royals. following saturday, run of form continued opening goal contributed 2–1 win away doncaster rovers @ keepmoat stadium. goalscoring continued, on 9 february 2010, scored brace in 2–1 win @ home plymouth argyle, giving reading third consecutive league victory , long s fourth goal in 3 games.

on 13 february 2010, however, in fa cup fifth round match @ home west bromwich albion, long sent off careless lunge @ west brom ivorian defender abdoulaye méïté. second-straight dismissible offence of season, first procured away derby county in championship match in november. on 7 march 2010, in reading s fa cup quarter-final against aston villa, long scored brace in first half, saw reading leading 2–0 @ half-time. however, hat-trick norwegian striker john carew , strike ashley young in second-half saw long s brace go waste aston villa booked place in semi-finals. on 2 may 2010, long played 150th game reading in 4–1 championship win on preston north end @ madejski stadium.

on 11 september 2010, long won 2 penalties , converted first in reading s 3–0 win on crystal palace. on 4 november, shane long signed one-year contract extension, valid until 2012. on 18 december, scored twice against derby, led best goal-scoring form of life. followed brace against bristol city on boxing day. on 3 january 2011, long scored brace give reading 3 points against burnley in 2–1 victory. on 8 january 2011, long hit goal in fa cup s third round encounter west brom. after impressive season reading, long won player of season award, beating jimmy kébé , jem karacan.

long scored 2 goals reading on 17 may 2011 in 3–0 away win against cardiff city in second leg of championship play-off semi-finals; 1 goal came penalty spot , other lob after blocked clearance cardiff goalkeeper stephen bywater. long received man of match award efforts. finished season 28 goals in 58 matches club , country, best season in career date. after play-off final defeat against swansea city, reading chairman john madejski declared long world-class: value place on him? £20m.