Soccer: Newcomers impress in Premiership debuts

Reading manager Steve Coppell said his players showed they would fight for the right to play in the Premier League after coming from behind to beat Middlesbrough 3-2 in their first soccer game in the top flight of English football overnight (NZ time).

Reading, formed in 1871, romped to the second division title last season and the expectation level at the Madejski Stadium was sky high among fans long used to labouring in the lower leagues.

However, that was soon deflated as Stewart Downing and Aiyegbeni Yakubu had Middlesbrough 2-0 ahead after 21 minutes as Reading's players seemed to suffer stage fright.

Two goals in two minutes by Dave Kitson and Steve Sidwell levelled it just before the break though and Leroy Lita, a halftime replacement for the injured Kitson, won it for the new boys in the 55th minute.

At the end of a memorable day, Coppell said it was too soon to judge the performance. "What we need to do is evaluate it in the cold light of day rather than in the emotion of this moment," he told Sky Sports News.

"It's been a long build up for us and a it's proud moment for the club, but we've earned our right to be here and whether we are dismissed by pundits or not it makes no difference."

The former England winger said he tried to encourage his players to settle after the early goals and accepted that the build-up had had a negative effect.

"It looked as if there was a massive gap between the two leagues after 20 minutes," he said.

"We were just really anxious and jittery and that was a by-product of the build-up and how this game had been put to such an elevated position the players couldn't really express themselves properly.

"But at 2-0 down we just wanted them to play. We know where we are and what we want to do."

The fixture list has been kind to Reading, who face Aston Villa, Wigan, Manchester City and Sheffield United in their next four games.

However, the following four are against Manchester United, West Ham United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

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And Sheffield United marked their first top-flight appearance for 12 years by holding Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane.

United stunned the 2005 European champions a minute into the second half with a Rob Hulse header and though Liverpool levelled with a controversial 70th minute Robbie Fowler penalty, the favourites failed to dominate.

United's outspoken manager Neil Warnock wasted little time in unloading his first salvo of the season at referee Rob Styles.

"I think he made a mistake, there is no way that's a penalty but we'll have to get used to that this season," he told Sky Sports.

"But it's a good start. Everybody's written us off and we've got a point."

The season's first match was delayed as United's biggest crowd for 15 years -- 31,700 -- squeezed in for the big day.

Liverpool last tasted victory at Bramall Lane in August 1990 when they arrived as champions, never imagining that 16 years on they would still be waiting to add to that record 18th title.

They looked a long way from championship contenders in the first half as United started with all the predictable keenness of Premier League new boys.

Liverpool, who face Maccabi Haifa in the second leg of their Champions League qualifier in Kiev on Tuesday, lost John Arne-Riise to a serious-looking ankle injury after 22 minutes and Jamie Carragher 12 minutes later.

They fell behind at the start of the second half when Hulse was allowed a free header from a David Unsworth free kick.

Liverpool responded well and their pressure paid off when when the referee ruled that Steven Gerrard had been tripped in the box after a one-two with Fowler.

The England midfielder had stayed on his feet as the referee played advantage but as he stumbled the penalty was given and Fowler converted.

Liverpool failed to press on from then though and United were worth their point.

RESULTS FROM LAST NIGHT

Arsenal 1, Aston Villa 1
Bolton Wanderers 2, Tottenham Hotspur 0
Everton 2, Watford 1
Newcastle United 2, Wigan Athletic 1
Portsmouth 3 Blackburn Rovers 0
Reading 3 Middlesbrough 2
Sheffield United 1, Liverpool 1
West Ham United 3, Charlton Athletic 1

- REUTERS