Back from the game Leicester Away

[leicsRoyal]

How nice it is to get three some what unexpected points.

Leicester, what an expensive team of individuals.

Reading, what an inexpensive team.

Match ratings later but needless to say a very good performance by one and all. A scrappy first half with not one shot on goal from either side that I can remember, Reading probably looking the more likely to break the deadlock.

Second half started in pretty much the same vein as the first with very little to write home about for either set of supporters, and then the goal.

Noel Hunt could not have believed the space he was afforded from the corner to head beyond Schmeical and a couple of static City defenders on the line. Cue the '1-0 and you bought the league'

2-0 HRK swinging a boot from 12 yards out and hitting an unstoppable shot, cue the..........yes you guessed it.

All in all a fine TEAM performance and a great 3 points.

Other noticeable shouts, mainly from the songbook of Compo;

'some more, you better sign some more'
'Millsy, Millsy, what's the score'
'you should have stayed at a big club'
'let's all do a Millsy' many raised fingers.

Great place to get the first win!

[Ian Royal]

'some more, you better sign some more'
'you should have stayed at a big club'

[Upper West Ginger]

"Two-Nil and we spent fcuk all!"

[peterroyal76]

"Two-Nil and we spent fcuk all!"

[LWJ]

love it

[LoyalRoyalFan]

'let's all do a Millsy' many raised fingers.

[reading_fan]

Back to sunny Brum after a wonderful afternoon at the (former) Crisp Bowl (again!). Suspicions before the match that this would be a good time to play them as they haven't gelled yet were confirmed midway through the first half as many passes from the Leicester ranks would have been good had they been on the same wavelength.

A first half that created few clear cut chances but lots of pressure round the box from ourselves. There was a good tempo to the game and Reading played some nice stuff at times, and looked more likely A free header from a corner which went high and wide was our best chance (Khumalo I think), but Leicester had the best chance of the half with a one on one from the corner of the 6 yard box dragged wide which should have been converted. Khumalo also made a superb diving tackle block (think of Sonko's Superman incident but with legs rather than face) with the Leicester forward having a free shot on goal begging from 10 yards.

Second half, Leicester came out the stronger, hit the post with a low shot from Nugent which bounced back into the danger area but was blocked and hacked clear, and then a few minutes later a drive from range was palmed over by Feds. But after that, Reading took control of the game and were by far the better side. Almost straight away they went down the other end and put all the pressure on Leicester, and we forced a corner. Whilst Leicester were fannying about sorting out the marking, it was taken quickly and was perfectly placed by Harte on to the on-rushing Hunt's head on the left corner of the 6 yard box, scoring to the right hand side of the goal. Delirium in the away end, silence in the home end and virtually the last we heard of that infernal drum of theirs. Not long after, Kebe sprung the offside trap to go through one on one but put a weak finish to Schmeichel's right and he stuck out a foot and got it away. As the game was nearing the close, a Kebe charge was put out for a throw in by the corner flag. Griffin took it, threw it to Kebe, who held the ball up 5 yards inside the area, laid it off to HRK, and he unleashed a thundering drive into the top corner, clipping the underside of the bar.

A thoroughly deserved win, and a very happy set of fans were joined by an even happier set of players at the end of the match, several shirts thrown in to the crowd for good measure. Proof once more, that this is a team, not the group of expensively assembled individuals Leicester fielded today.

Mills had a very poor game, clearly unnerved by the somewhat hostile reaction afforded him by the Reading fans, he was obviously looking for reasons to stick it back to us. Numerous passes to us, Beast turned him inside out a few times, and several of the trade mark cross field passes overhit. This was not the Matt Mills that captained us to near glory last season, this was the very poor, very rattled Mills of the QPR middle finger salute match, and certainly not a player worthy of a £5m price tag. A shame really, as I did like him when he played for us, but on today's evidence, we're better off rid. Khumalo had a stormer today, I like the look of him already.

[Shackleton Royal]

Other noticeable shouts, mainly from the songbook of Compo;

'some more, you better sign some more'
'Millsy, Millsy, what's the score'
'you should have stayed at a big club'
'let's all do a Millsy' many raised fingers.

Ha ha loving it!

[Man Friday]

Rock solid, professional performance throughout. Wrong to single anybody out but Manset was immense.

[rhroyal]

People all voice concerns over Manset's fitness. How was he today? Still going strong as we passed the hour mark?

[leicsRoyal]

People all voice concerns over Manset's fitness. How was he today? Still going strong as we passed the hour mark?

Looked very strong throughout his time on the pitch. Ripped Mills a very big new one!

[URZZ]

"Two-Nil and we spent fcuk all!"

LOL, love that so much.

[winchester_royal]

How did Khumalo do?

[leicsRoyal]

How did Khumalo do?

Looked very assured today in the little he had to do. Looked a good relationship between him and Pearce.

Out of the four centre backs on the pitch, I would give two 8's for the Reading pair and a 7 and 3 for the Leicester pair!

[Rex]

Hopefully Benreading will put some of the video footage up.

[handbags_harris]

Hopefully Benreading will put some of the video footage up.

Get either goal? Usually pretty good at getting set-piece footage...

[Rex]

He caught the Hunt goal and the HRK video was just mental movement

[Man Friday]

People all voice concerns over Manset's fitness. How was he today? Still going strong as we passed the hour mark?

Yes, but came off at exactly the right time. Hunt was also suffering with cramp for the last half hour. (???)

[Man Friday]

How did Khumalo do?

Looked very assured today in the little he had to do. Looked a good relationship between him and Pearce.

Out of the four centre backs on the pitch, I would give two 8's for the Reading pair and a 7 and 3 for the Leicester pair!

I thought the Andre Bikey lookalike was immense. The only Leicester player I would want in my team, on this performance.

[manny96]

Great chants there. Not convinced by the argument that it's just because Leicester haven't gelled yet as a reason for winning - they still have quality there and a little spark is sometimes all it can take in this league, especially after what sounded like a fairly tight first half. We're an organised outfit and that takes some beating by anyone.