MATCHWATCH : Derby County (h)

[Jagermesiter1871]

I was expected a 3 point deduction and to lose tonight. Delighted to be wrong on both counts, or we'd be 10 points behind.

Why were you expecting a 3 point deduction? Has anyone been deducted 3 points for a single pitch invasion?

[Uke]

Apparently a lot of Derby fans stood with us in the 16th minute? If so, proof how removed online forums and Twitter are from the real world (which we all knew already)

Bout 60% joined in the applause I'd say.

Which is more than I expected.

Big mention for Tom Holmes tonight. Absolute beast at the back.....gonna miss him badly.

I think Holmes will be playing a major role as he will want to leave a hero (deservedly if he keeps us up)

[Ascotexgunner]

Apparently a lot of Derby fans stood with us in the 16th minute? If so, proof how removed online forums and Twitter are from the real world (which we all knew already)

Bout 60% joined in the applause I'd say.

Which is more than I expected.

Big mention for Tom Holmes tonight. Absolute beast at the back.....gonna miss him badly.

I think Holmes will be playing a major role as he will want to leave a hero (deservedly if he keeps us up)

Yeah, it's almost like his confidence has gone through the roof because he has signed for a PL club.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Harvey Knibbs is one of the hardest working players I have seen in 23 years watching Reading. Winning challenges, making himself available for passes, running on and off the ball. Outstanding.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Thought it was Dorsett's best game for us too. Yiadom also played very well, especially going forward.

[leon]

Great performance, great result. Well done all.

That was probably the best we’ve played as a team all season. Where’s that Holmes been all season? He was immense.

We battled all over the pitch and deserved that win. We really shouldn’t fear any team in this league so how we’ve ended up in this state is an object lesson in bad management from top down

[skipper]

but looking forward to Saturday.

Leyton Orient are unbeaten in 5, with only one of those ending in a draw and the wins include beating Bolton and Portsmouth in their last 2.

This is going to be a serious test. The draw was Wycombe though.......

[Brogue]

but looking forward to Saturday.

Leyton Orient are unbeaten in 5, with only one of those ending in a draw and the wins include beating Bolton and Portsmouth in their last 2.

This is going to be a serious test. The draw was Wycombe though.......

We really need another win as I believe 5 of our next 7 are away from home.

[Vision]

Bout 60% joined in the applause I'd say.

Which is more than I expected.

Big mention for Tom Holmes tonight. Absolute beast at the back.....gonna miss him badly.

I think Holmes will be playing a major role as he will want to leave a hero (deservedly if he keeps us up)

Yeah, it's almost like his confidence has gone through the roof because he has signed for a PL club.

He’s been very good for several games now. Looked a little rusty when he first came back into the side (outmuscled for the Eastleigh winner and out manoeuvred for the Oxford goal ) but to be expected.

He’s looked better with increased responsibility and I think it’s dawned on him that he’s no longer the promising youngster but a senior player.

[royalstevep68]

I think Holmes will be playing a major role as he will want to leave a hero (deservedly if he keeps us up)

Yeah, it's almost like his confidence has gone through the roof because he has signed for a PL club.

He’s been very good for several games now. Looked a little rusty when he first came back into the side (outmuscled for the Eastleigh winner and out manoeuvred for the Oxford goal ) but to be expected.

He’s looked better with increased responsibility and I think it’s dawned on him that he’s no longer the promising youngster but a senior player.

For him, it’ll be a huge boost of confidence which will definitely help us.

[Orion1871]

Good performance. Holmes looked like a PL defender out there, composed and assured. Everyone worked hard and got the reward for that effort.

Thought Derby were very poor for a side near the top of the league. Need to start picking up some away results.

I noticed Tom McIntyre was straight down the tunnel at the end of the game and didn't go over to the fans with the rest of the players. He's not one to have a bad attitude usually so would be interesting to see if he's re-aggravated his injury again or there is something more to it.

[Sutekh]

but looking forward to Saturday.

Leyton Orient are unbeaten in 5, with only one of those ending in a draw and the wins include beating Bolton and Portsmouth in their last 2.

This is going to be a serious test. The draw was Wycombe though.......

We really need another win as I believe 5 of our next 7 are away from home.

Not quite that bad, just 4 of the next 7 are away.

Reading's next ten fixtures.

• Sat 27 Jan - Leyton Orient (h) - currently 10th
  Sat 03 Feb - Oxford United (a) - currently 6th
  Tue 06 Feb - Stevenage (a) - currently 7th
  Sat 10 Feb - Charlton Athletic (h) - currently 16th
  Tue 13 Feb - Fleetwood Town (a) - currently 24th
  Sat 17 Feb - Portsmouth (a) - currently 1st
  Tue 20 Feb - Port Vale (h) - currently 18th
  Sat 24 Feb - Shrewsbury Town (h) - currently 20th
  Sat 02 Mar - Carlisle United (a) - currently 23rd
  Sat 09 Mar - Wycombe (h) - currently 17th

After that there's still awkward trips to Bolton, Derby and Barnsley waiting.

[windermereROYAL]

Leyton Orient are unbeaten in 5, with only one of those ending in a draw and the wins include beating Bolton and Portsmouth in their last 2.

This is going to be a serious test. The draw was Wycombe though.......

We really need another win as I believe 5 of our next 7 are away from home.

Not quite that bad, just 4 of the next 7 are away.

Reading's next ten fixtures.

• Sat 27 Jan - Leyton Orient (h) - currently 10th
  Sat 03 Feb - Oxford United (a) - currently 6th
  Tue 06 Feb - Stevenage (a) - currently 7th
  Sat 10 Feb - Charlton Athletic (h) - currently 16th
  Tue 13 Feb - Fleetwood Town (a) - currently 24th
  Sat 17 Feb - Portsmouth (a) - currently 1st
  Tue 20 Feb - Port Vale (h) - currently 18th
  Sat 24 Feb - Shrewsbury Town (h) - currently 20th
  Sat 02 Mar - Carlisle United (a) - currently 23rd
  Sat 09 Mar - Wycombe (h) - currently 17th

After that there's still awkward trips to Bolton, Derby and Barnsley waiting.

And there`s the reason we need to keep on grinding out results at home, still need to travel to 6 of the current top 7, but nobody higher than 8th need to still come here.

[windermereROYAL]

but looking forward to Saturday.

Leyton Orient are unbeaten in 5, with only one of those ending in a draw and the wins include beating Bolton and Portsmouth in their last 2.

This is going to be a serious test. The draw was Wycombe though.......

Derby were unbeaten away from home since October.

[PieEater]

I thought that was the best I've seen us play for a while. We had an energy that has been absent for a while and I didn't see at Wigan. The team battled and scrapped to stop Derby playing and we played some nice stuff. Derby had no shots on target.

A mention for the ref, I thought he did well despite giving 14 fouls to Derby compared to our 2, Derby's game plan seemed to be to win a free kick and nick a goal from a set piece, the ref resisted awarding a lot of soft fouls they played for. I did wonder why they seem to be programmed almost institutionally cheat, why steal 5yds with a free kick then take it short.

I thought Knibbs was MOTM, keeps running, harrying and stealing the ball, along with Wing and Craig we finally seem to have a midfield.

[Zammo]

Harvey Knibbs is one of the hardest working players I have seen in 23 years watching Reading. Winning challenges, making himself available for passes, running on and off the ball. Outstanding.

Could not agree more. MotM. Was everywhere.

I've not enjoyed a Reading performance more since the last one I enjoyed lol. Despite the low crowd I thought the atmos was ace. Went mentz on the goal. Great finish from Mukairu.

[Stranded]

Leyton Orient are unbeaten in 5, with only one of those ending in a draw and the wins include beating Bolton and Portsmouth in their last 2.

This is going to be a serious test. The draw was Wycombe though.......

We really need another win as I believe 5 of our next 7 are away from home.

Not quite that bad, just 4 of the next 7 are away.

Reading's next ten fixtures.

• Sat 27 Jan - Leyton Orient (h) - currently 10th
  Sat 03 Feb - Oxford United (a) - currently 6th
  Tue 06 Feb - Stevenage (a) - currently 7th
  Sat 10 Feb - Charlton Athletic (h) - currently 16th
  Tue 13 Feb - Fleetwood Town (a) - currently 24th
  Sat 17 Feb - Portsmouth (a) - currently 1st
  Tue 20 Feb - Port Vale (h) - currently 18th
  Sat 24 Feb - Shrewsbury Town (h) - currently 20th
  Sat 02 Mar - Carlisle United (a) - currently 23rd
  Sat 09 Mar - Wycombe (h) - currently 17th

After that there's still awkward trips to Bolton, Derby and Barnsley waiting.

4 of the next 6 though. Which after Sat will be 4/5 away.

Ideally out of those 6, we need 4pts min from Orient/Charlton. Win at Fleetwood and pick up a point or two in the others.

If we can get 9 or more points from that run, we should be right in the group. If we get a win on Saturday then we suddenly go to Oxford knowing we could jump up the table by quite a few spots with a win.

[Zammo]

Also, just goes to show what a goal / confidence does. After he scored, Mukairu went on a mazy touchline run and beat the same three players about 4 times

[WestYorksRoyal]

Also, just goes to show what a goal / confidence does. After he scored, Mukairu went on a mazy touchline run and beat the same three players about 4 times

We saw what confidence did for Azeez. Get the same from Mukairu and suddenly we have threats throughout our team.

[Brogue]

And if Elliott can get a bit of confidence I’m sure there is a decent player in there too. Has he been playing in the AFCON? Or just on the bench?