The 2006âÂÂ07 season was Reading Football Club's first season in the Premier League, and their first season in the top flight of English football. Reading also participated in the League Cup, beating Darlington in the second round before losing 4âÂÂ3 to Liverpool at Anfield. Reading entered the FA Cup at the third round stage, defeating Burnley 3âÂÂ2 and then Birmingham City by the same score to meet Manchester United in the Fifth Round. After drawing the initial game 1âÂÂ1 at Old Trafford, Reading lost 2âÂÂ3 at home in the replay ten days later, conceding the three goals in the first six minutes of the match. They collected 55 points from 38 matches which was good enough for eighth place, making this Reading's best ever league season.
Reading's first ever Premier League game came at home to Middlesbrough. Reading were 2âÂÂ0 down after 20 minutes after goals from Stewart Downing and Yakubu, but ended up 3âÂÂ2 winners through goals from Dave Kitson, Steve Sidwell and Leroy Lita. Kitson, however, was injured in a reckless tackle by Chris Riggott, and would not play again until the end of January 2007.
Reading's next game was against Aston Villa. After an early lead through Kevin Doyle, Ibrahima Sonko conceded a penalty and was sent off. Juan Pablo ÃÂngel scored the resulting penalty for Villa, and Gareth Barry scored in the 61st minute to seal a win for Villa. The Royals next played Wigan Athletic, Emile Heskey scoring the only goal in a 1âÂÂ0 win for Wigan.
In September, Reading's first game was against Manchester City, live on Sky Sports at home. ÃÂvar Ingimarsson scored the only goal, despite being knocked unconscious before scoring. The first game against a side promoted with Reading was Sheffield United. Kevin Doyle scored after 16 seconds and in the 25th minute, followed by Seol Ki-hyeon scoring a 25-yard goal. Rob Hulse pulled a goal back in the 61st minute, but it was not enough for Sheffield United, who lost 2âÂÂ1. Reading's first cup game came against Darlington, but Reading needed penalties after an exciting 3âÂÂ3 draw. Next up were league runners up Manchester United at the Madejski. Reading ensured it was goalless at half-time and went 1âÂÂ0 up through a Kevin Doyle penalty after Gary Neville handballed. Cristiano Ronaldo, however, scored a 73rd-minute goal to make it 1âÂÂ1.
In October, Reading played West Ham at Upton Park where a second-minute goal turned out to be the winner, scored by Seol. ReadingâÂÂChelsea hit the headlines as both Chelsea goalkeepers were knocked out in a match where the visitors took a fortuitous 1âÂÂ0 win. Frank Lampard scored Chelsea's goal which took two deflections before going in. The goal was given as an ÃÂvar Ingimarsson own goal. In the same match 2), Robin van Persie and Alexander Hleb scoring. Shane Long made his first Premier League start in this match. Reading also lost 4âÂÂ3 to Liverpool in the Carling Cup (Reading were 3âÂÂ0 down).
In November, Reading lost 2âÂÂ0 to Liverpool (which was also the first ever league meeting between the two sides). The goals came from Dirk Kuyt. The Royals then won 3âÂÂ1 against Tottenham Hotspur. Robbie Keane opened the scoring for Spurs before Nicky Shorey scored a 25-yard goal. Then Steve Sidwell scored a header on the stroke of half-time with Kevin Doyle completing the scoring to make it 3âÂÂ1. Reading's next match was against Charlton. They won 2âÂÂ0 with the goals coming from Seol Ki-hyeon and Doyle. They ended the month with a 1âÂÂ0 win over Fulham with a penalty kick from Doyle, after the striker had been bought down by Ian Pearce.
In December, Reading Won 1âÂÂ0 at Bolton, a Kevin Doyle goal won the match. Next was Reading's longest away trip this season when Reading played Newcastle United. Reading lost 3âÂÂ2, an 84th-minute winner by Emre. Reading played Watford in the worst game of the season, Watford 0âÂÂ0). Reading and Blackburn Rovers was the next game at the Madjeski. Reading went 1âÂÂ0 up on half-time, but Rovers scored two goals to make it Reading 1âÂÂ2 Rovers. Chelsea played Reading next, two months after the teams played in Reading; the match ended 2âÂÂ2. Reading then played Manchester United: Reading were losing 1âÂÂ0, but Sonko scored to level the game. United then scored two goals though Cristiano Ronaldo to make it 3âÂÂ1, although Lita scored a consolation goal to make the final score United 3âÂÂ2 Reading.
In January, Reading could not have got a better start. On New Year's Day, Reading put six past West Ham United. On 6 January, Reading were due to play Burnley in the FA Cup but it was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, but Reading beat Burnley on the Tuesday night, a 3âÂÂ2 win. Reading went to Everton unbeaten in the new year, and the game ended 1âÂÂ1 in a match attended by Sylvester Stallone as an Everton supporter and guest of the chairman. Reading played Sheffield United at 2âÂÂ0 Reading came a push-up in the dug out. Warnock and Downs sent off. Reading won 3âÂÂ1. Reading Played Birmingham in the FA Cup (again). Birmingham had just enjoyed a 5âÂÂ1 win at Newcastle United but they lost 3âÂÂ2 to the Royals. Reading beat Wigan by the same score.
In February, Reading beat Manchester City away and Aston Villa at home. Both ending 2âÂÂ0. At Old Trafford, Reading drew 1âÂÂ1 with United in the FA Cup. Boro became the first team to beat Reading in 2007. Boro won 2âÂÂ1. Reading were 3âÂÂ0 down in the FA Cup 5th Round Replay against United in 5 minutes 41 seconds, but fought back to lose by only 3âÂÂ2.
In March, April and May, Reading lost at Arsenal 2âÂÂ1. Reading were 2âÂÂ0 down, but drawing 0âÂÂ0 at half-time, in the 87th minute when Arsenal scored an own goal courtesy of Cesc Fàbregas. Reading got a point at home to Portsmouth drawing 0âÂÂ0. Reading lost to Spurs 1âÂÂ0. Spurs scored a consolation penalty on half-time. Liverpool won at Reading 2âÂÂ1. Liverpool's winner was in the 85th minute by Kuyt. Reading were held to a 0âÂÂ0 draw at Charlton. Reading won at home to Fulham. They won at Bolton, 3âÂÂ1, after being 1âÂÂ0 down in the 85th minute. A midweek win at home to Newcastle United, 1âÂÂ0, Kitson scored for the Royals. Reading shockingly lost to Watford at home 2âÂÂ0. On the final day of the season, Reading played Blackburn Rovers away and needing a win to enter the UEFA Cup, Reading drew 3âÂÂ3.
|- |colspan="14"|Players who left Reading during the season: