Match Report: 2009/2010 Season

20 October 2009: LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
QPR 4 READING 1
goals
Reading: Howard (86 mins).
QPR: Buzsaky (31 mins), Simpson (39 mins), Vine (71 mins), Agyemang (83 mins).
Half Time: 2-0
Attendance: 11,900

CHAMPIONSHIP 20 Oct 2009
Pos Team P Pts GD
20 Barnsley 13 14 -8
21 READING 13 10 -11
22 Peterborough 13 8 -9
23 Plymouth 13 8 -13
24 Ipswich 13 7 -12
teams
Reading: Federici, Mills, O'Dea, Ingimarsson (sent off 46),McAnuff, Tabb (Howard, 46 ), Kebe, Cisse (Sigurdsson, 46 ), Gunnarsson, Long, Church (Robson-Kanu, 59).
Subs not used: Rasiak, Hamer, Pearce, Karacan.
QPR: Cerny, Borrowdale, Ramage, Stewart, Gorkss, Routledge, Watson (sent off 30),Buzsaky (Mahon, 66 ), Taarabt (Agyemang, 75 ), Faurlin, Simpson (Vine, 53).
Subs not used: Hall, Ainsworth, Heaton, Alberti.
bookings
Reading: Ingimarsson. Sent off: Ingimarsson (46 mins).
QPR: Borrowdale, Faurlin, Watson. Sent off: Watson (30 mins).
Ref: A R Hall (W. Midlands)
report
Reading manager Brendan Rodgers finds himself under huge pressure this morning after his side were soundly beaten at QPR - Reading's third straight defeat as they struggle at the wrong end of the table. The latest defeat sees Reading move to just three points from the foot of the table after collecting a measly ten points from thirteen games. This result should have been different for Reading considering the circumstances. The sides were level after 30 minutes after QPR had enjoyed the better start. However there had been little between the teams and when the home side were reduced to ten men it should have handed the advantage to the Royals. Instead Reading were instantly behind. A second followed before the break as QPR dominated the game despite playing with a man less. There was no way back for Reading already, but it was made worse straight after half time when Ingimarsson picked up a second yellow right from the kick-off and victory was handed to Rangers. It was just a question of how big the defeat would become and the third and fourth goals inevitably followed. With four minutes left on the clock Howard scored an unwanted consolation for the Royals.

Realisation appeared, at last, to dawn for Rodgers. After Saturday's defeat to West Bromwich Albion he claimed his side we capable of being at the top of the table. After the defeat at QPR his tune changed as he owned up "...the reality is it's a very difficult job - all the best players have left". And that sums up Reading's situation after trying to run the club on a shoestring since the end of last season. We've sold or released all our best players and are left with a group of inexperienced youngsters playing with no settled formation or tactics. It's a mess and the season is no longer new. It's a relegation battle, but we seem to be missing the battle. Rodgers days may be numbered if he fails to get a win against Leicester City next Monday - but Madejski clearly has no budget or desire to bring in an experienced manager. An experienced manager would be foolish to take the job considering the state of the club. Is Rodgers really to blame for the mess? And is there any alternative?
FANS' POST MATCH OPINION

Yet another rusty nail in the coffin that carries the very sick body that is Reading Football Club. We are seeing the culmination of gross mismanagement at director level over the past four years now resulting in a club run no better than a pub team. We are now in freefall and the players are clearly shot of confidence and led by what appears a clueless manager in Buck Rogers, a woeful appointment by JM. Rogers should now resign while he has any dignity left and JM should sell and let the club be run by people that have ambition and a vision that will reward the fans and produce the opportunity that undoubtedly exists in Reading. We will probably lose to Leicester on Monday and this time next week it could be all change, but don't hold your breath.
Nick Newbury

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QUOTES FROM THE PRESS

Rangers have now scored 13 goals in their last three games at Loftus Road, while Reading have managed 11 all season and are now three points off the foot of the table. The disgruntled travelling support treated manager Brendan Rodgers to a chorus of "you're getting sacked in the morning" and chanted former boss Steve Coppell's name.
Reading manager Brendan Rodgers:
"It was a tough night. I can understand the reaction. I've never experienced that but I've always been taught to fight. I'm not worried. Better managers than me have had that. It's not nice but can you blame them? We were poor. But it just makes me more determined. We've had a horrendous start. But what people maybe don't understand is it's a massive task here. My ambition at the beginning of the season was to be up there, but the reality is it's a very difficult job - all the best players have left. I want to give people a chance but I can't watch too much of that."

BBC Sport

Both sets of fans taunted Brendan Rodgers, the Reading manager, with chants predicting that he would be sacked. His team are barely recognisable from the side that appeared in the Premier League two seasons ago and “Brendan’s Babes”, as they have been nicknamed in the local paper, are finding life too hot to handle. From near certainties for promotion last season, they face a battle to avoid League One.
Rodgers admitted that only two league wins was a “horrendous” start to his tenure at the Madejski Stadium. “I will fight for my life,” the 36-year-old, who took over at Reading in June after seven months in charge of Watford, said. "Am I going to sit here and feel sorry? Will I hell. If I felt it was me, I would go. I am not arrogant to think that if it is not working, I can stay in a job. I don’t feel under pressure, but I do worry. It was a bad night."
Reading were not troubled by QPR’s bright opening, but crumbled after conceding during a bizarre minute... but the dismissal worked against Reading. They came close when Simon Church hit the post, but conceded a second when Wayne Routledge’s cross dissected the defence and Simpson volleyed in. Reading were reduced to ten men themselves when Ivar Ingimarsson received a second booking, for tripping Simpson just after half-time, and conceded twice more.

The Times