6 Feb 1999 Reading
0 Walsall 1 |
|
Howie,
Glasgow, Clement, Primus, Casper, Gurney, Houghton (Brayson), Gray, Brebner,
Thorpe,
Williams (Sarr).
Casper
Coming
Soon!
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The season is over. This was a vital game following some poor recent home results - we had to win this one to keep in sight of those play-off positions. At the final whistle every Reading fan in the ground knew that that dream is further away than ever. Time to file away those "We are going up" chants - for hopefully this time next season. Time to accept we're destined to finish somewhere near our current mid-table position. Although some people I'm sure will disagree, I don't think we played any differently to how we've been playing almost all season - apart from that very poor early season form. Tommy has built his pattern of play around his players. The truth of the matter is that this pattern of play will only see us mid-table unless changes are made. The problems were there for all to see. The slow patient build up from defence that we've been playing all season is fine to grab those away points - but at home we desperately need some pace, some urgency, and some direct passionate football. Burns has to inject these qualities to move Reading Football Club forward. Without these qualities the frustration of the Reading fans will only continue to grow until it eventually effects Burns' position as manager.
Reading started with a couple of significant changes to recently - with Parkie and Caskey both out suspended. In their place came the aging Ray Houghton and Gray slipping back into midfield. Gray took Parkie's number four shirt, Houghton took the number eight. Making his debut up front alongside Martin Williams came in Tony Thorpe - on loan from Bristol City and apparantly worth one million quid. Brayson was relegated to the bench.
The game started dull and continued that way. In fact we had to wait until the 44th minute for the first real shot on target - and it was the shot that turned out to be Walsall's winner. With a bit of speed the ball was played forward, Primus was beaten and the forward legged it through with just Howie to beat. He shot early from outside the area, Howie didn't do as well as he perhaps could have, and the low drive found the bottom far corner of the net just inside the post.
Reading's single attempt at goal in the first half came from Mass Sarr who taped a weak volley from inside the box into the arms of the Walsall keeper. Walsall's only other attempt was probably going wide but was easily saved by Howie getting down at the post.
Quite possibly the most entertaining moment of the first half was when Williams was forced to leave the field injured with 15 minutes of the half remaining. Not that the injury itself was entertaining, and thankfully it didn't look too serious. It was the introduction of the Mad House's latest gimick that caused the most noise from the crowd. All of a sudden a half size milk float drove onto the pitch - Williams sat on the back and off it drove. Only at Reading. Sarr came on off the bench and entirely failed to impress.
Although Reading were playing slower than ever the referree didn't help at all with some strange decisions and the inability to stop blowing his whistle. The most successful part of Reading's game was catching players offside - hardly adding to the entertainment levels. Walsall looked almost Reading like in their passing game - but I bet they play more direct than this at home. The majority of Walsall's moved ended with a simple lob into the area for Howie to collect.
The second half continued with more of the same until Reading at last seemed to get it together fired on by a rare bit of Mad House atmosphere. The pace picked up a little bit, but not enough, and we seemed keen on pushing forward. Gray enjoyed a lot of possession but failed to do enough with it. Gurney joined in with Gray with the same pattern of legging it down the wing and completely failing to cross the ball. It was hard to judge Thorpe on his debut due to a complete lack of service.
Gray had one of the rare Reading shots - blasting high over the bar from outside the area. The best Reading chance was created by Gray after running all over the place and eventually taking it central on the edge of the box. There were about five Reading players queued up in the box waiting for the shot but Gray played it short to Thorpe. Thorpe shot first time but the keeper was quick off his line to make the save. Despite 15 or so minutes of contolling the game that was all we managed to do. And then all of a sudden Walsall almost went two up. Howie had a fanstatic double save. First he put in an excellent dive to after a shot from the right, the ball fell inside the box to another Walsall player whose straight shot again was cleared well by Howie. And that was Reading's involvement in the game pretty much over.
Brayson came on for Houghton and was greeting by Reading "fans" with a chorus of boos. Disgusting. Why do people turn up to "support" their team and boo a player who is continuning to improve and always plays his guts out for Reading. Thats hardly going to help the confidence. This is the Reading "Asaba Syndrome" - destroy the confidence of a promising player dedicated to the club.
Full marks to the back of the East Stand for making so much noise in the first part of the second half. Sing your heart out for the lads indeed. Excellent. However, please stop that seat banging stuff that's going to cause damage. What's the point in making such a fuss about the stadium being Reading FC's - in other words belonging to the fans, when all some are doing is breaking it up. It's a great ground - so look after it. Also I have to point out the complete idiot sat to my left who thought it would impress his teenage mates to kick the back of the seat in front of him at the full time whistle - snapping it in two.
We need wingers. Lets hope Murty is up to the job. Otherwise lets get Lambert back into the team. Why not? Despite all of Glasgow's effects we're missing creativity. Unfortunately Gurney and Neil "mis-kick specialist" Clement are players who are just not up to the job.
Walsall had been as good as they needed to be and without doubt deserved the full three points. Once again we wouldn't have scored if the game carried on for another hour or two.
Graham
League
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