Reading 1 Newcastle United 0

READING: Hahnemann, De la Cruz, Ingimarsson, Duberry, Shorey, Ki-Hyeon, Gunnarsson (Harper 90), Oster (Bikey 90), Hunt, Doyle, Kitson (Long 89).

Subs Not Used: Federici, Halford.

NEWCASTLE: Harper, Solano, Bramble, Taylor, Carr, Milner, Emre (N'Zogbia 60), Dyer, Sibierski (Ameobi 54), Owen, Martins.

Subs Not Used: Srnicek, Onyewu, Carroll.

Att: 24,109

I'm sure all the headlines today will be that Michael Owen is finally made his long-awaited comeback ... but there will also be an undertone that Glenn Roeder is sat rather uncomfortably in the Toon hot seat.

Defeat at the Madejski Stadium is perhaps no shame these days, as the Royals enter the race for a UEFA Cup spot. But it showed how Roeder couldn't get the right spark from his multi-million pound superstars, when Steve Coppell had his ragamuffin outfit so well organised Owen and Martins left the field so frustrated as they were caught offside time and time again.

The nation had its eyes on Owen, who has been out for 10 months since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in last summer's World Cup, but it was Reading marksman Dave Kitson who stole the show.

Kitson buried Seol Ki-Hyeon's cross in the 50th minute with a superb strike that had Steve Harper grasping at thin air. Certainly a goal fit to win any game, and one that again mounts pressure on the Newcastle manager

But the big plus for Newcastle fans was the performance of Owen. A cool seventh-minute finish from the ex-Liverpool striker, making only his 11th start for Newcastle since arriving from Real Madrid in August 2005, put the ball in the net but the goal was ruled out for offside.

But it proved he has overcome his troubles, and he looked as sharp as ever. The fear that he could have suffered the same trouble as Alan Shearer, who lost his lightening pace after that injury at Goodison Park, were proved unfounded. He was the only player to react to that through ball, but it was a warning to the Reading defence, and it has to be said they were organised from the first minute to the last.

Owen completed the match but Antoine Sibierski withdrew shortly into the second half with a suspected broken arm, and soon after Emre was stretchered off. It's dynamic to say both will be out for the rest of the season, as there are only two games left, but they certainly won't line up against Blackburn or Watford.

The defeat will have done little to relieve the pressure on Roeder whose position has been the source of speculation amid claims Sam Allardyce, who quit as Bolton boss on Sunday, is poised to take over. And to be honest, if this game showed anything, it was the fact Reading manager Steve Coppell got 110% out of every player in his side and Roeder still cannot get his side to keep its shape.

Yes we have international stars, but so often they play like individuals, and Roeder never seems to master the one-touch football of Arsenal; the solid defence of Chelsea; or the dazzling flare of Liverpool or Manchester United. And why not? He throws out 11 players and tells them to get on with it.

Reading had a penalty shout turned down when Titus Bramble sent Kevin Doyle tumbling with a robust shoulder-barge but referee Mike Riley waved play on.

Doyle then fired inches wide after a poor clearance from goalkeeper Steve Harper landed at his feet and moments later defender Michael Duberry blazed over the crossbar.

James Milner skipped past Duberry before hitting the top netting with a well-struck shot. Then a crafty free-kick saw Owen release Kieron Dyer down the right with the England midfielder then squaring the ball dangerously across the face of goal, but keeper Marcus Hahnemann was first to it.

Dyer fired wide after being teed-up by Owen shortly into the second half but again we didn't see the best of him, on a night he became Newcastle's fifth captain of the season. Is he still carrying an injury; is he not match fit? Whatever, he drifts in and out too much for his own good, and rarely seems motivated. 

Seol did the damage with a floated cross which fell perfectly for Kitson after John Oster had ducked to allow the ball to reach his team-mate. Kitson made no mistake from 15 yards out, rifling past Harper.

The Reading hitman then nearly made it two for the home side after Doyle pounced on Dyer's mistake but he blasted just wide.

Martens was off-target with a header that should have been buried, and Newcastle's chance was lost.