Sent Off From The Bench

So the first game I've been to in a while, scheduling my coming back from university in time to make it. What an idiot. Two goals within the first 12 minutes of a game against a team in the bottom half of the table is not good enough. Okay, so yes their first goal - a lovely flowing counter attack which ended in a goal after two defenders blocked an earlier cross, leaving a man free on the edge of the area - was nice, but it highlighted the fact that Reading were playing without a midfield . Both Dannys (DD) were pushed up far too high, and with Gunter attacking up the wing as he normally does with no cover, it was far too easy to exploit all the space on our right hand side. The exact position which Jem Karacan was so adept at filling was where at least one-half of DD should have been. It was more Pearce at fault for the second goal, who was pulled off early in the second half for McCleary - but we have no other choices at CB, something which should have been addressed in the ...

A dismal performance against bottom of the league Barnsley saw Reading somewhat fortuitously clinch a draw. The home side had more possession (55-45), more shots (19-8), more shots on target (6-3), and more corners (7-3) than The Royals and that really sums up the game. In the first period Barnsley dominated, having 10 shots to Reading's 2 but there was a spark at the start of the second half that saw Hal-Robson Kanu strike from 25 yards out right into the corner of The Tykes net on the 51st minute. Le Fondre was also clean through just prior to the goal, but Butland managed to repel the forward before the follow up was shot wide. Later in the half ALF was through again, this time set-up by Akpan but again the goalkeeper was up to the poacher's effort. In the battle of the young English goalkeeper it seemed as if though McCarthy had come off better. Butland, although being a good shot stopper, wasn't overly good at coming and claiming balls, a few times miscalculating. ...

So, being stuck in Peterborough - the home of nightmares for Reading fans - I had my first foray into the world of Reading Player to listen to the beautiful Tim Dellor and Mick Gooding narrate today's match hosting a Birmingham side who seemed to have kicked into gear in the last week, hammering Sheffield Wednesday 4-1 - all the goals from on-loan youngster Jesse Lingard - before beating holders Swansea in the League Cup 3-1 during midweek. Reading on the other hand had no mid-week game after being knocked out in the opening round, but since then the Royals have picked up 10 points from 12, and only conceded once. Birmingham's only away points were picked up against Yeovil, a 1-0 win, and they also drew 3-3 at Huish Park, before winning 3-2 on penalties. This then, should all make for a fairly easy Reading win.  And, it was. In the first half Birmingham hardly threatened the Reading defence, and a free-kick from Danny Guthrie found its way directly into the net. Almost the exa...

So, some very reliable sources are finally starting to say that a loan deal for Billy Sharp is close to done. One even saying that he'll be in our XI to face Derby tomorrow at Pride Park. Sharp played under Adkins at Southampton, and they just missed each other in their Scunthorpe days. Obviously many Reading fans have been calling out for a striker and it's no secret that Southampton are willing to let the 27-year-old go to whichever club is willing to pay his wages. For a team that hasn't scored from open play in over a month since the three-all draw against Watford you would think that a striker who has a record of a goal almost every other game would be invaluable. With a strike force of Pogrebnyak, Adam Le Fondre and Billy Sharp I think most Reading fans will be thrilled. Especially if the big Russian can find the net on a consistent basis this year. Also, Chris Baird to the club was confirmed earlier on twitter. He's joined us until January.