MATCHWATCH : Burton Albion (h)

[Sutekh]

Trip to Rotherham next, they won unconvincingly at Cambridge tonight.

[Brogue]

2 points off the play offs with a game in hand…

[WestYorksRoyal]

Rotherham have started badly, but Rotherham away managed by Steve Evans is a tough game. I'd take a point. A win to make it 3 in a row would be exceptional.

[Hendo]

Burton probably the worst team we’ve played in the league for years.

Would say Carlisle last year were the worst for a very long time.

[Esteban]

Thought we were decent in patches, did enough to win and there were some decent individual performances. We seem to hold on to the ball for too long sometimes, maybe that's inexperience, not sure.

One bug bear of mine is the number of crosses we concede though. I haven't seen any stats, but it feels like we let the opposition get the ball out wide too easily and whilst we're OK at defending the box, we're not great at it. Something to work on.

I was at the wrong end for our first two goals, should their keeper have done better?

[stealthpapes]

Both defensive mistakes - sloppy heavy touch on the first, dawdled on the ball for the second.

Ball seemed to go through the keeper on the first but it also popped out of a crowd of bodies.

On the second, there was one angle that he couldn't cover and Campbell found it.

[Royals and Racers]

Attendance 8774

[Hendo]

Thought we were good first half and took our foot off the gas in the second - Burton were always going to come out and have a go anyway.

Very pleased with what I saw from Garcia - he's only going to get better with experience. Would say that's his shirt now going forward. Hopefully that'll allow Kelvin A to play RB, Craig to move into CDM and Wing to play further forward.

Happy for Campbell, hopefully that'll give him a massive shot of confidence going forward.

[Brum Royal]

Enjoyed the trip down last night.

Reading pretty good in the first half, probably should have been 4 up at half time. Aided by Burton neither pressing nor sitting deep and allowing us (combined with good movement between the lines) a lot of time and space to exploit.

Second half Burton actually turned up to play and made a game of it. They caused us problems attacking us with a bit of pace and energy that was lacking in the first half. Craig looked a little exposed at right back against Kaunakas and was rightly subbed by Ruben and Abrefa looked much more solid at right back. Burton were probably owed a goal from their second half endeavours but on the flip side we really should have got about 6 last night if we'd played some of the overloads better.

Garcia was very good at left back - looks pretty quick, one very good recovery run and sliding block midway through the second half, and he looked good operating as the release man/high option at defending corners, nearly getting an assist had he managed to get the pass off a bit quicker on a counter from a defensive corner.

Mbengue looked like he enjoyed it last night, had to work hard, some moments of sloppy touches nearly getting him in to trouble, but a mazy dribble and couple of good bounces saw him end up galloping off down the right wing nearly at one point.

The front 3 worked well last night, Kelvin and Campbell giving really good width to the forward line, but it did leave Smith a little isolated at times through the middle. Kelvin guilty of trying a couple of tricks to many at times - the first half overload of 3 against 1 defender being the main one - but a decent contribution overall.

[Snowflake Royal]

Thought we were good first half and took our foot off the gas in the second - Burton were always going to come out and have a go anyway.

Very pleased with what I saw from Garcia - he's only going to get better with experience. Would say that's his shirt now going forward. Hopefully that'll allow Kelvin A to play RB, Craig to move into CDM and Wing to play further forward.

Happy for Campbell, hopefully that'll give him a massive shot of confidence going forward.

I remain more cautious with Garcia, I remember how much people were raving about Carson this time last year, and I think he needs to be tested against against better wingers and more physical teams.

I also wouldn’t play him twice a week regardless at his age.

[windermereROYAL]

A cold miserable night in front of a very sparce crowd against poor opposition, what`s not to like about that?

My take on the game, we were well on top throughout the first half without being that good, Kelvin wasted a few good chances by holding on to the ball for too long, could have been out of sight at HT but were good value at 2-0.

It was clear the Burton manager tore a strip off of them during the break because he sent them back out a few minutes early.
They started biting into tackles and closing us down much quicker all over the pitch, and they made a few chances that better teams would have taken I`m sure.

That Said Sam Smith missed a golden one on one chance when he dragged his shot well wide of the far post.
a fairly comfortable win in the end but I would be worried if we played like that against some of the top teams in this division.

Oh and Burton will go down on that first half evidence.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Two sides that move the ball well in attack but are naive in defence. Made for an open game.

The main difference was our midfield - Knibbs, Elliott and Ehibhationmhan were particularly fierce in closing them down, but it spread throughout the team.

They deserved their goal - though the number 7 Kalinauskas was outstanding. They look like a team that are maybe 80% complete - a bit more time together and they have the potential to improve.

Good job Smith scored; before that he had done very little, and I was beginning to wonder what it would be like if we had a proper centre forward. Took his goal well.

Referee was fine.

[katweslowski]

Agree with most points.

Wanted to also say that I am not a fan of Sam Smith at all. He may have scored but it covers up a completely anonymous and poor performance (again).

Also, Kelvin is his own worst enemy. He's done really well recently, but continues to do stupid things like carrying the ball way too far and losing possession.

Garcia was exceptional. I watched on TV as I couldn't go last night and he was praised endlessly. I didn't realise he's only 16 - absolutely mind blowing and he's got a really bright future.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Thought we were good first half and took our foot off the gas in the second - Burton were always going to come out and have a go anyway.

Very pleased with what I saw from Garcia - he's only going to get better with experience. Would say that's his shirt now going forward. Hopefully that'll allow Kelvin A to play RB, Craig to move into CDM and Wing to play further forward.

Happy for Campbell, hopefully that'll give him a massive shot of confidence going forward.

I remain more cautious with Garcia, I remember how much people were raving about Carson this time last year, and I think he needs to be tested against against better wingers and more physical teams.

I also wouldn’t play him twice a week regardless at his age.

We know from experience, and from what managers as esteemed as Saint Steve have said, that youngsters need to be introduced gradually. Garcia looked really exciting and totally at home in the first team (he looked just as good against Ajax for the U21s). But players are usually inconsistent at that age, and one bad performance can shake their confidence. Hence the wiser heads not playing them too regularly.

[Mr Angry]

I had a random thought during the game when Garcia was fouled; is kicking a 16 year old classed as child abuse?

Bindon and Mbengue looked excellent at the back, whilst our midfield looked exceptional at times.

Better vision and delivery in and around the Burton penalty area and we could have had a hatful.

Very enjoyable game and very encouraging.

The weather looked god-awful though; chapeau to all those who went.

[Hound]

Garcia will be great but at the moment teams will target him due to his size and age. It’s actually how Burton scored where he didn’t cover himself on glory. He still wouldn’t be a first choice for me

Smith did ok. As been noted many times he is often up against two big CBs. It’s a proper thankless task and he always works his backside off. 3 goals in 8 league games when he hasn’t been on his best form is also not bad at all

He won a few headers, held the ball up and helped out defensively at times. No issue with him at all, not that we have any other options anyway

[WestYorksRoyal]

The commentators last night said this Burton team is completely new, with 23 summer signings. So maybe there is more to come and they shouldn't be written off. They weren't bad 2nd half, though admittedly that was "zombie time", a good phrase off the TTE for playing well when the game is gone, like we did at Bolton. When the game was on the line they were gash.

[Brogue]

Agree with most points.

Wanted to also say that I am not a fan of Sam Smith at all. He may have scored but it covers up a completely anonymous and poor performance (again).

Also, Kelvin is his own worst enemy. He's done really well recently, but continues to do stupid things like carrying the ball way too far and losing possession.

Garcia was exceptional. I watched on TV as I couldn't go last night and he was praised endlessly. I didn't realise he's only 16 - absolutely mind blowing and he's got a really bright future.

Smith misses Azeez. Kelv and Cem are not 'beat your man' type wingers - getting to the byline, get a cross in, Smith tap's in from the six yard line. Both are inside forwards, looking to cut in and get shots off. If you watch smiths movement it’s very clever he moves the opposition’s CB’s out the way to allow kelv and Cem the space to move inside. Also, having Wing in the DCM position has reduced our creativity in the middle of the park, last season he would often slip ball in behind the defenses for smith to run onto. That isn't happening this season but we are playing a different way with the high press and winning the ball back in the opposition’s 3rd. Smith is very much an off the shoulder type striker, not a back to goal type of striker. This is why imo he is not looking as affective in games this season but his role has changed.

with regards to kelvin. he's young and going to make mistakes. if he were the finished article he wouldn't still be playing for Reading. He has all the attributes to be playing in a higher division. but he is greedy at times, but i think that's just because he's a CF by trade and they inherently are. He needs to learn there is more required from him in these forwards positions. It will come.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Agree with most points.

Wanted to also say that I am not a fan of Sam Smith at all. He may have scored but it covers up a completely anonymous and poor performance (again).

Also, Kelvin is his own worst enemy. He's done really well recently, but continues to do stupid things like carrying the ball way too far and losing possession.

Garcia was exceptional. I watched on TV as I couldn't go last night and he was praised endlessly. I didn't realise he's only 16 - absolutely mind blowing and he's got a really bright future.

Smith misses Azeez. Kelv and Cem are not 'beat your man' type wingers - getting to the byline, get a cross in, Smith tap's in from the six yard line. Both are inside forwards, looking to cut in and get shots off. Also, having Wing in the DCM position has reduced our creativity in the middle of the park, last season he would often slip ball in behind the defenses for smith to run onto. That isn't happening this season. Smith is an off the shoulder type striker, not a back to goal type of striker. This is why imo he is not looking as affective in games this season.

with regards to kelvin. he's young and going to make mistakes. if he were the finished article he wouldn't still be playing for Reading. He has all the attributes to be playing in a higher division. but he is greedy at times, but i think that's just because he's a CF by trade and they inherently are. He needs to learn there is more required from him in these forwards positions. It will come.

With the greatest of respect, I think Ehibhatiomhan absolutely is a "beat your man" type player. Not since the great Jimmy Kébé have I seen someone dribble past multiple players so often. Sometimes he tries it a bit too much, but I'd rather he fails a few times in and around the opposition box than not try at all.

He beats his men and gets his crosses in (left footed) and gets his shots away (right footed). He tracks back. In terms of his impact on how Smith plays, I kind of feel he (Smith) needs to be smarter with his runs if he's being marked so closely.

As for Campbell, can't figure him out. Partly, and I don't know why this is, I don't care so much.

[Brogue]

Agree with most points.

Wanted to also say that I am not a fan of Sam Smith at all. He may have scored but it covers up a completely anonymous and poor performance (again).

Also, Kelvin is his own worst enemy. He's done really well recently, but continues to do stupid things like carrying the ball way too far and losing possession.

Garcia was exceptional. I watched on TV as I couldn't go last night and he was praised endlessly. I didn't realise he's only 16 - absolutely mind blowing and he's got a really bright future.

Smith misses Azeez. Kelv and Cem are not 'beat your man' type wingers - getting to the byline, get a cross in, Smith tap's in from the six yard line. Both are inside forwards, looking to cut in and get shots off. Also, having Wing in the DCM position has reduced our creativity in the middle of the park, last season he would often slip ball in behind the defenses for smith to run onto. That isn't happening this season. Smith is an off the shoulder type striker, not a back to goal type of striker. This is why imo he is not looking as affective in games this season.

with regards to kelvin. he's young and going to make mistakes. if he were the finished article he wouldn't still be playing for Reading. He has all the attributes to be playing in a higher division. but he is greedy at times, but i think that's just because he's a CF by trade and they inherently are. He needs to learn there is more required from him in these forwards positions. It will come.

With the greatest of respect, I think Ehibhatiomhan absolutely is a "beat your man" type player. Not since the great Jimmy Kébé have I seen someone dribble past multiple players so often. Sometimes he tries it a bit too much, but I'd rather he fails a few times in and around the opposition box than not try at all.

He beats his men and gets his crosses in (left footed) and gets his shots away (right footed). He tracks back. In terms of his impact on how Smith plays, I kind of feel he (Smith) needs to be smarter with his runs if he's being marked so closely.

As for Campbell, can't figure him out. Partly, and I don't know why this is, I don't care so much.

Kelv’s chances created stands at just 35% compared to other left sided players in league 1. But in the top 65% of shots taken for someone who plays on the left side. Which would very much indicate he is an inside forward rather than a beat your man winger looking to get crosses into the box. This is also shown by just the one assist this season






Also his dribble success, cross success and crossing accuracy would also indicate he’s not an effective winger.