South Coast Royal So maybe those who disagreed with those of us who posted yesterday that Kevin Friend is a dreadful ref might now agree.?
Like most others I dreaded what the outcome might be after gifting the early goal but we hung in there and could have taken the game to penalties so ,much credit to the lads.
Lets' not get carried away however.
This was not the well-oiled Sheff Utd machine that has taken them to 8th in the Premier League.
The defence bar one was their normal set-up but all the rest for most of the game were fringe players and posed far less of an attacking threat than if Fleck and Norwood had been pulling the strings.
I saw Sheff Utd at Bournemouth back in August and haven't been surprised at how well they have done-their passing is accurate but their downfall is in striking options and they don't make many chances but when they do they tend to take them , just like last night .
From a Reading perspective we are a very defensive set-up and the gap so often between the rest and Puscas is enormous and I feel sorry for George in that there is seldom any quick support from midfield if he does manage to retain possession.
As JMW said earlier, we look good at times in possession but create so little in terms of clear cut chances.
Anyway today is not one to overly analyse or criticise our players who did their best.
Olise definitely looks a player although he seemed to have a free role to wander where he pleases without any defensive responsibility meaning that Obita was exposed more than he might have been.
So, what now?
It does look as though we are probably safe from relegation but I don't like Dellor's inferences (whether with any substance or not) that we need to be at least 12 points clear of the relegation positions-presumably he thinks he knows something but let's hope he is wrong.
If he is wrong I would like to see some building towards next season, perhaps playing a nucleus of players who are expected to be here next season and might form part of a settled side.
I would say also to try the youngsters but do we really have anybody near to first team quality apart from Olise and the two recent signings?
An enjoyable night with the inevitable ending-a plucky performance by the lower division club, seemingly a bit of favourtism from the referee and the other inevitable, a Billy Sharp goal when I think he has only scored 2 all season (that may be just in his occasional league games).
Sharp and Mcgoldrick - it was like a heritage evening.
The only reason I would dock him a couple of marks is that, like Ejaria, he just won't take a shot when well positioned to do so!
