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Cardiff 2-1 Reading

Should preface this with the fact I wasn't actually at the game

Going into the game Cardiff had won four on the bounce at home, so a loss was to be expected but it was the manner of the defeat that is disappointing for Reading fans. Alex Pearce putting the ball in the wrong net - again - before dragging Le Fondre back for a penalty, an incident he as sent off for after the referee finally found a red card to show him.

Yet again defensive lapses cost The Royals in a game they dominated for large periods. The first half saw Reading have 61% possession, and still went in 2-0 down thanks to Pearce. Worse still is that Cardiff were woeful, winning a measly 55% of challenges and hitting wayward passes a third of the time.

Pearce's sending off saw Obita drop to LB, with Gunter moving into the middle. Cox came off for McCleary, and in the one positive he looked good despite being out for 6 months. One of our better chances came when he ran at the defense and played the ball out wide to Murray, but the striker's cross was just too close to the keeper for Garath to get on the end of it.

Obviously Reading did bag a goal, although the goalkeeping was atrocious. Somehow letting the ball through his legs. It did give slight hope, but that was all it gave as late pressure wasn't enough to secure a point. Reading have only come back from behind [to win] three times in Adkins' reign, and, as I've said many times before, that's horrific when you consider McDermott's tenure.

Adkins has obviously stuck with us when he didn't need to, and that's admirable, but it's not working at the moment and he needs to find a plan B [and C]. The excuses are slowly running out as players come back into the squad with limited improvement. 2 wins from 12 games is pathetic, and although many supporters believe he should be given 'until January' he'll never make it that far if results don't pick up. My problem is that he shouldn't need January when the team of available players is actually incredibly strong. Hector, and possibly Obita, being the only two players genuinely lacking experience.

Adie Williams may be annoying, but he's right in the fact that Murray and Hector are the only two players without international experience - admittedly Obita's only being at U20. I can't put my finger on the problem in defence, but they've obviously capitulated completely. Gunter, however, has almost as many caps for Wales as he does in the blue and white hoops, Pearce was part of the mythical run of 1-0 victories that saw us promoted, and Obita won player of the season from left back last year.

Federici
Gunter Hector Pearce Obita
Williams Norwood
Mackie Cox Kanu
Murray

Tell me, seriously, where improvement is needed, because I'm struggling to see it.

Finally, was the booing of Le Fondre necessary? Of course not, but this is a player that made noises about leaving us almost every transfer window he was with us, the fact that he was eventually sold to pay an impending tax bill is fairly irrelevant. Personally, I wouldn't have partook seeing as some of my best Reading memories involve the guy but it's understandable. Morrison has a far better case either way.


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