After a dismal opening to the season there are signs that Reading are improving, even in a 2-0 loss to league leaders Wolves.
Reading started strongly, as Ruddy in the Wolverhampton goal didn't. A fairly straightforward long range shot from Swift could only be tipped onto the post, before Barrow closed down a poor attempted clearance by the keeper - and the ricochet almost found the net.
Against the run of play the midlanders took the lead. Frankly, letting a player clean through with a back three is disappointing. Tiago Ilori had, loosely, tracked the run of Cavaleiro but made a ridiculous decision to step up and allow his fellow countryman clean through. Manone went down early and made it easier, but in truth it was a foregone conclusion.
Ilori then made almost the exact same mistake. Letting Cavaleiro in behind, and he was lucky he didn't make contact with the striker because it would have been event worse. It wasn't surprising then to see Ilori make way after half an hour. I find myself often being impressed with Ilori's tracking back, but when defending deep he doesn't give himself enough time to make up for earlier mistakes.
The final goal was the killer - it was hugely disappointing to see the amount of people who streamed out of the ground after it given the level of performance. John Swift tracked back with Doherty, but when the turn eluded him none of the three players in the box closed him down, which made his job far too simple. Yes, pressure would have opened up another option for him given everyone covered their own men but he had far too much space. I think Manone will be disappointed not to get down to it but it's a solid finish.
So, a disappointing result, but given that this was the feared league leaders I don't think we can be too disheartened. I didn't see the Wolves that so many have been talking about, and I think a lot of that was down to how well we played. Bolton will be tough - midweek, and on a good run themselves - but if we play like we did yesterday then we'll have enough.
Reading started strongly, as Ruddy in the Wolverhampton goal didn't. A fairly straightforward long range shot from Swift could only be tipped onto the post, before Barrow closed down a poor attempted clearance by the keeper - and the ricochet almost found the net.
Against the run of play the midlanders took the lead. Frankly, letting a player clean through with a back three is disappointing. Tiago Ilori had, loosely, tracked the run of Cavaleiro but made a ridiculous decision to step up and allow his fellow countryman clean through. Manone went down early and made it easier, but in truth it was a foregone conclusion.
Ilori then made almost the exact same mistake. Letting Cavaleiro in behind, and he was lucky he didn't make contact with the striker because it would have been event worse. It wasn't surprising then to see Ilori make way after half an hour. I find myself often being impressed with Ilori's tracking back, but when defending deep he doesn't give himself enough time to make up for earlier mistakes.
The Royals had two serious chances to level. Ruddy, who looked poor all game, somehow came up with an incredible save to deny Barrow. Beerens to Barrow has been a potent combination at least in terms of chance creation over the last couple of games but again they failed to convert. A massive right hand by the one-time England keeper keeping them at bay. The follow up was tipped wide by what must have been a stud on the line.
He came up good again when a scramble in the box allowed Aluko to try and bend it in - but this time the right foot kept his clean sheet. The biggest chance of the game though must have been the follow up which dropped between McShane and Bodvarsson but neither swung a foot with the goal open.
The final goal was the killer - it was hugely disappointing to see the amount of people who streamed out of the ground after it given the level of performance. John Swift tracked back with Doherty, but when the turn eluded him none of the three players in the box closed him down, which made his job far too simple. Yes, pressure would have opened up another option for him given everyone covered their own men but he had far too much space. I think Manone will be disappointed not to get down to it but it's a solid finish.
So, a disappointing result, but given that this was the feared league leaders I don't think we can be too disheartened. I didn't see the Wolves that so many have been talking about, and I think a lot of that was down to how well we played. Bolton will be tough - midweek, and on a good run themselves - but if we play like we did yesterday then we'll have enough.
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