The omens for this one didn’t look good at all. Snow swept across England on the Friday and the prospects for play would not have looked good. As cars slid across the roads of the nation, the journey itself seemed a precarious and unattractive proposition, particularly given that our away record was the worst not only in the Premier League but also the poorest in league football in England. Allied to that our appalling record in Newcastle of defeat on every Tyneside visit in our history and three goals shipped on each of our three most recent fruitless outings at this venue, only the deluded or the drunk would have travelled north for this one, one suspects.

The drunk would at least have enjoyed Newcastle’s famous night life and the atmosphere in the away end was at times akin to one large stag party. Remarkably, over 1000 Reading fans made the trip and ultimately, surprisingly, gloriously we were rewarded with a first away league win at Premier League level since a 4-0 thumping of Derby County on our ‘relegation party’ weekend back in May 2008. Such a landmark result seemed a fanciful idea during a first half at St James’ Park which was largely dominated by the home side with Adam Federici kept busy in conditions so alien from his native Sydney as to be like a different planet, Hoth perhaps. In a uneventful opening 10 minutes the only amusement on offer was the snow falling from the roof of the huge Gallowgate End stand opposite the Reading away support, huge chunks of snow plunging to the ground like an ice sculpture of Luis Suarez.

Newcastle were desperate for the win, however, given their own run of form which would be enough for even the most genial of Geordies blood to freeze. They soon got on top of Reading after a cool start to the game and Cabaye was denied by Federici with the aussie pulling off an even better save to deny Cisse – unmarked – scoring with a looping headed effort. Reading were getting pulled apart down Ian Harte’s left hand side as the elder statesman of the Reading side was repeatedly left wanting for pace and badly out of position allowing Newcastle to spring our attempts at pulling up for offside. That said, Reading looked lively on the break and gave the Newcastle defence plenty to think about. Kebe and McCleary had lively games and it was from a testing run and accurate cross from the latter which resulted in The Pog prodding wide and an excellent chance was wasted. Cisse tested Federici twice more and as the half wore on it became increasingly apparent that Newcastle were dominating our three-man central midfield.

And that conclusion was hard to avoid ten minutes before the break when McAnuff – operating in that middle-of-the-park role which McDermott, if nobody else, seems to fancy him in - frankly bottled a 50/50 challenge and which resulted in our captain giving a freekick away on the very edge of the box which referee Marriner was only too happy to give, having awarded our hosts a great number of weak-looking decisions throughout the half. Reading lined up a curious-looking 9 man wall which may just as well have been 9 snowmen as Cabaye stepped up to flick an accurate effort up into the corner of the net. Given that Reading had only once ever conceded the first goal away from home in the Premier League and won, it seemed that once again the game was up for us and the cold suddenly became as biting as the reality as we contemplated a fourth defeat from five league games against sides in and around us in the bottom 6.

But Newcastle are greatly missing their talisman Dema Ba who has left for Chelsea in search of trophies and that Cabaye effort was to be their only score against us on the day, despite dominating large chunks of the game. The home side had plenty of territory but very few chances in that second half, with that 3-man central midfield of McAnuff, Guthrie and Leigertwood proving largely ineffective despite the probings and efforts of the latter who broke up play successfully all afternoon. With the away support once again chanting for Adam Le Fondre, McDermott obliged by replacing the disappointing Guthrie – who endured an abject afternoon against his former employers in proving that Newcastle’s loss isn’t necessarily Reading’s game – and having ditched the 4-5-1 which kept us in the game it took barely sixty seconds of 4-4-2 for us to strike. The busy Leigertwood sent Kebe away and his cross was bundled in by ALF’s first touch of the game. A body blow to Newcastle which stunned their fans who were vocally unimpressed when Cabaye was withdrawn minutes later. Up until that point the biggest threat on Krul’s goal had been the snow which continued to fall from the stand roof.

For the second week running, good wing play had got Reading back into the game and for the second week running we took full advantage of the swing in momentum. With 13 minutes left, McAnuff – far more effective when switched back to the left hand side – swung in a long cross which Kebe nodded back across goal. Debutant Akpan’s swing and a miss looked more Hope-less than Hope-ful.....but it succeeded in disguising Le Fondre’s run to meet the loose ball with a curling effort beyond Krul from inside the box with the Newcastle defence caught cold. Frozen hands and feet were suddenly being warmed up high in the away end as the stag party got into gear early. Reading held out for a momentous win with one or two scares in the closing moments as the home side desperately attempted to exert some pressure. We were too deep in allowing Newcastle to fashion a chance which allowed Ameobi to crash wildly over the bar down below the travelling contingent. It was a let off, but given the cold and complicated 600 mile round trip we’d endured we deserved our luck and deserved our moment.
Neil Maskell

Kind of reminiscent of the Everton game - we should have been 2/3 behind at HT. Cisse missed a couple really good chances, Feds was in the right place for us. Great save from that first half Cisse header. Then second half we really dominated from kick off. Can't remember any Newcastle chances aside from the Ameobi sitter that he really should have put away.

Legs did a great job for us and Akpan threw himself around - looks really promising. Kelly also threw himself into a few challenges and got booked for one - the kind of physical presence we need.

Brian made the right subs at the right time and conversely Pardew's were terrible - he should have gone for it at 1-0 but instead tried to hold onto a 1-0 lead for 30mins. Then went on to take off Cabaye and the Newc fans around me were fuming! No creativity left on the pitch and it showed.

Great second half performance after largely weathering the storm in the first - well deserved 3pts.
Royal Toon

Great, great day! Not only did we pick up our first point at St. James Park we got our first ever win. We significantly helped our survival chances. Great team effort. Feds came up HUGE for us, my MotM. Our super sub Alf delivered twice. Kelly looked very good. Legs had a huge game and if it weren't for Feds he would have been the MotM. Great game again from Kebe. Akpan looks like he will be a very good player for us judging by his first impression. Heads never dropped after we went behind and picked up a massive, and a bit unexpected, 3 points.
Libertine

Pardew's players looked to be set for a rare win until Brian McDermott introduced Adam Le Fondre's as a second half substitute. Two goals from Le Fondre transformed the afternoon, lifting Reading out of the relegation zone in the process.

Brian McDermott's team are decent at set pieces and might have scored from a couple at the start of the second half. First Cabaye fouled Danny Guthrie - who left Newcastle last summer after tiring of understudying the Frenchman - and Jonas Gutierrez deflected Ian Harte's free kick narrowly wide. Guthrie took the resultant corner which Pardew seemed grateful to see cleared by Davide Santon.

Everything when changed when McDermot made what turned out to be the most inspires substitution. Off went Guthrie, on came Le Fondre and, almost instantly, Reading were level.

Mikel Leigertwood hit a wonderful crossfield ball for Jimmy Kebe who slipped it into the six yard box from where len Fondre bundled it past Krul from close range.

If his first was scrambled, Le Fondre's second was an accomplished shot unleashed after Hooe Akpan's misCued effort rebounded to his feet. In contrast nothing seems to be falling for Pardew or Newcastle right now.
The Guardian

Reading boss Brian McDermott: "We've looked at our away record and we've been in games, we've learned that you have to try and manage games at this level. We went to 4-4-2 to try and win the game, and I felt at 1-1 we had a major chance of doing it. But when you have Adam Le Fondre coming off the bench like that, the second goal was top-drawer finish. A couple of years ago he was playing for Rotherham and what he is doing now for us, I'm just so proud of him."
BBC Sport