Another season of hope and dreams and blow me if you had blinked you'd have missed the first two goals. To be a Reading fan as we all know, we are used to ups and downs to put it mildly, but to have a "oh no here we go again" after 12 seconds when Brighton took the lead really was pushing our sanity to the limit! All in all I thought a good performance against a team who I'm sure will be lucky to stay up this year. Sloppy defending by Ade Williams let Brighton in on two occasions and ensured Reading never wrapped the game up in blistering conditions. Though a great servant Ade is going to have to up his game this year to ensure a place and stop thinking he's Ade Beckenbauer. Great to see Fossie back capping a good game with a tremendous finish, Harper and Sidwell worked their socks off and Little had a great game, and maybe convinced a few sceptics including myself, that he may prove a good signing. With the exception of Little it was the same team that played most of last season which I think is a concern, we do need new blood but it's early days and the squad though lacking in quality is quite big. Two points out of the next two very difficult away games would be great, and in a league where nobody stands out, a good start is vital. Bet Pardwho is not looking forward to Tuesday, I've a funny feeling we may get something, must be the sun.......URZ!!
Nick Newbury

So if this is what is to come, we are in for more entertainment this year. We looked better going forward and worse defensively, but there are signs that this will improve. Murty and Shorey will offer more than they did today, Williams will do better against the standard centre forwards in this division, i.e. big traditional players, and we will be better balance when Convey starts. I am not sure though whether he will put in Hughes's work and covering which were tremendous if the constructive part of his game were not quite as good. Kitson was sharp and took his goal well and should have scored another with a header that hit the post. Forster got better as the game wore on and could have played Kitson in but how often have we said that about him? Little was outstanding and Harper and Sidwell both had good games. We gave a newly promoted team a goal start and still beat them, that is great credit to the team. Yes there were weaknesses, but we looked more potent. We perhaps need more self belief and should have gone on to win this game comfortably, but then this is Reading!!!
Ken C

Really pleased with Glen Little's effort throughout the game, he gave Brighton trouble on the right side all afternoon. Sidwell and Harps had good solid games too. Fozzie and Kitson were brill - looks like a budding relationship is building (although if only Foz had passed to an unmarked Kitson...). We've still got problems in defence - OK we all love Ade but lets face it, he's too slow now and couldn't make a successful pass in a brothel. Still a good game to watch. The best part however was the banter we had in the car in the traffic jam on the M25 with the Brighton fans!
Simon (Brighton Royal)

Great to get 3 points. As has been said by others I thought we looked good going forward but yet again we looked suspect at the back. For the last couple of years we’ve lost far too many games to realistically be looking for promotion and it’s at the back where we need the most improvement if this it to happen. The midfield looked strong in particular Little who looks a different player from the one on loan and Sidwell and Harper looked good in the centre. (I was particularly happy to see Harper score as it followed a comment from someone sat near me that he never does anthing) The only weakness was on the left. Hughes has proved his usefulness with his versatility and in all fairness was ok but with two specialists in that position coming in over the summer why did he start? Kitson seems to be carrying on where he left off at the end of last season and Forster scored a goal only he could. I can see Kitson getting 20+ this year but I think we will need a good contribution from the Goat again too as evidence (of past seasons) suggests that Forster’s finishing is too erratic to get him 20. It should be a stern test for the defence against Rebrov and co on Tuesday. We have a lot of strength up front and in midfield so if we can sort it out at the back I think we could do well.
Emmer Green Royal