Well that was a damp squib. Only turned up for the first 25 minutes of the second half when the formation changed First half too many loose passes Eze and Chair were too far apart Kelly made a couple of really smart saves, and went up in my estimation Our goal was really sweet between Eze and Wells. The ref missed one penalty and one red card, and certainly two three blatant yellows all from Reading Hugill again misses a sitter, but then makes up for it for a great strike (he is deadly if he doesn't think...any thought and he is all over the place). Barbets free kick was embarrassing The change of format improved us a lot, but too many high balls to Hugill ruined the plan, as Eze didn't click to the no10 position quick enough. I think we were then playing 3-5-1-1. Other than the pass to Wells not one of Ezes finest, nor Manning's or Chair's I think Reading played to their strengths, played to the ref and got away with it. But 4th in mid October, I would have bitten your hand off. A near week off before Brentford. I would like to win that one please
Terrible refereeing. Truly embarrassing. Eze gets kicked about all night and is handed a yellow for the only foul he commits. Manning thrown to the floor (off the ball) and he gets a yellow as well as his attacker. Clear pen missed and Rangel elbowed in the face off the ball. Not sure how many jobs would allow an employee to get away with making so many fundamental errors. I hope the ref watches the highlights of his performance and is duly embarrassed. Aside from that, we couldn’t string many passes together and Reading had the measure of us. They well deserved their point. We have played far worse this season.
It was a poor game from our Rangers, I didn't enjoy any of it and thought we were second best to everything. I wished I never bothered going. Reading were on top for the whole game and looked a good outfit and their position in the table is a lie. We started wrong ( and the subs were wrong ) we were fortunate to take the lead twice. Ejaria for them is one heck of a player and we did well to nullify him after half an hour. I'll take the point, we were poor, Reading were good .. We would've lost that game last season in the state we were in back then. For me, this is a point gained. We are where we are which is a bonus and far more than I anticipated. Hoping for a good result and performance on Monday evening.
No Hugill on Monday ...suspended. How come our CF who plays only about half the game minutes is the first to get ,5 yellows for suspension. and Btw...Barbet and Cameron both on 4 ..so will have a match suspension soon
Wouldn’t mind Cameron being out to be honest. Think Ball is better but what do I know? BOS was unlucky to be dropped but leaves us a bit light on options up front as Malala presumably isn’t up to much. I’d bring Oteh back in Jan but again what do I know?
Sadly have to agree with all if this. I was surprised to find us second best to most things. 2 mins before their second, I messaged lads to say we need another because they are going to score and then they did. Annoying. Would the penalty have changed things? Damn right it would. Shameful refereeing! However, objectively the point was reasonable though Fakes will be disappointed not to have got three!
Shows how far we’ve come in a short time when people are that disappointed by how we played. We’d have released a DVD of the game if we played like that under some of our managers.
Waited until this morning to post my thoughts to see if I felt any differently First of all, credit to Reading who put in a typical away performance, disrupted us, and in John Swift had the best player on the pitch on the night. The optimist will point to the fact that we were nowhere near at our best and still managed to score 2 goals, on the contrary we had the opportunities to put the game to bed but failed to take them. I don't have any confidence in Liam Kelly whatsoever. The shot he saved from Baldock was straight at him, their equaliser he was in no mans land, and their first goal he's come out way too early and given the striker the only choice available for the finish. If Lumley is worse then signing a new GK has to be our first priority. Also thought Hugill looked sloppy. His touch was off all night, even his goal owed to a wicked deflection. We'll move on though, have to look at it as a point gained and we progress up the table. Be plenty of games like that throughout the season, and it's at least encouraging we're taking a point away from these occasions rather than capitulating. Onwards!
Think the Kelly criticism is harsh. The save from Ejaria was excellent. The first goal was a sublime pass and great finish. The second was a result of the midfield and defence being far too deep. Puscas looked a decent player but they spent £12m on strikers in the summer - he was over £7m.
He even raised his whistle to his mouth but then stopped. It would have changed the game I am sure...as would a red for the elbow to Rangels face
Maybe the next game will be the game to give some of the players a start that have been on the bench, Pugh being an example. Give him some game time and he will prove to be a class signing but we do need to give him and others time on the pitch. Maybe resting someone like Chair for example, and bring him on for last 20 to 25 minutes on next game might be a positive.
Looking at the penalty incident he actually starts to walk towards the penalty spot going to blow his whistle but then for some reason changes his mind, maybe AR said something to him in his earpiece to change his mind...…..if so they're both as bad as each other....
Third game of the season for me. Thought we were slow and pondering. Never sure why Wells is taken off so often be for the 90mins. As others have said we never looked like scoring after he went off.
I thought Kelly was better No obvious errors on the goals though I haven't seen the replays yet He made 3 goods saves 1st first half 2nd second half free kick (that had pace) 3rd - first half, when he was too slow, dithered like the pr4t he is, and kicked the ball at the striker then calmly caught it on the rebound I want my Smithies back please
I thought Chair had a bad game looks very frustrated to me, Kane just hasn't got it I hope to be proved wrong. Overall very happy though.