by Hendo »
22 Nov 2021 15:45
Was fortunate enough to be in hospitality for this game. My uncle was gifted 2x tickets for the Royals Exclusive lounge and it was great.
Met Steve Richardson before the game and MOTM Tom Holmes after. Food was excellent; chorizo toad in the hole with a roasted tomato and chilli sauce for starters, pressed belly of pork with crackling crumbed baby apple, wholegrain mustard mash, Savoy cabbage and side jus for main with a salted caramel cheesecake for desert, really 9/10 stuff. Seats were amazing, couldn't have been more on the halfway line if I tried.
As for the game itself, thought it was pretty even and 1-1 was probably fair. Nightmare start, silly goal to give away tbh, even with it being a very good finish. Moore should've just taken him out as he was running through and picked up the probable booking. Feared the worst after that, but thought we grew into the game the more it went on and once Carroll came on, it was all Reading up until the last 5-10 mins where it was a bit more even. They obviously should've scored with the chance that Moore cleared off the line, but you take that bit of luck.
Wouldn't say anyone had a standout game, but also wouldn't say anyone had a terrible game.
Southwood made 1 excellent save in the second half but otherwise didn't have too much to do.
Yiadom looked a bit tired, but kept going which was good to see.
Moore at fault for the goal, but kept us in it with his goal-line clearance
Holmes very solid and rightly MOTM
Dann solid as well, great in the air and a nicely taken goal as well.
Rahman did well, got caught out of position a couple of times and the booking at the end was a horrific decision by the ref.
Laurent grew into the game, but doesn't look the same player as he did last year
Drinkwater also grew into the game, thought he had a poor first half but got better as the game went on, rightly taken off due to his booking.
Swift didn't have his most commanding game, teams are trying to mark him out the game, had a couple of decent bits of play though, probably should've done better with his chance in the first half when the 'keeper saved with his legs.
Ovie was a little anonymous, couple of flashes but nothing really of note. Should've held onto the ball when he played in Puscas first time in the first half when GP was offside.
Puscas had a decent game I thought, never looked like giving up and the introduction of Carroll spurred him on. I think having someone like that to come off the bench might give him a bit of a kick up the arse. You could see he thought he was coming off for AC at the time though.
Carroll was decent, obviously not match fit but looked sharp enough for a cameo from the bench. If nothing else, he forces the opposition to change their plans. Steve Cooper and the Swansea bench were in deep discussions for about 5 mins after he came on and they had to throw another defender on to deal with his threat. Would've loved him to get a goal, think it might come on Tuesday. There was one cross he played in which was incredible, whipped it in with so much pace, the only issue is that he is the one you would want on the end of it.
Brave from Pauno to go 4-4-2 at 0-1, but the right call. He has been lambasted for his subs in the past, but he got it absolutely right on Saturday.
With players potentially coming back as early as Tuesday, I am more optimistic than I was a few weeks ago.
