Reading: Whitehead, Murty, Williams, Whitbread, Robinson, Igoe (Hughes 79), Harper, Parkinson, Smith, Rougier (Henderson 54), Foster (Cureton 72). Subs not used: Viveash, Ashdown.

QPR: Day, Forbes, Palmer, Ben Askar, Bignot, Perry (Ebeli M'bombo 43), Rose, Bonnot, Connolly, Thomson (Paquette 87), Wardley (McEwen 56). Subs not used: Bull, Warren.
 
Bookings: Bignot, Ebeli M'bombo, McEwen, Thomson (QPR). Forster, Parkinson (Reading).
Referee: B Knight (Orpington)

This was an great performance by Reading in conditions more suited to Cairo, which saw us come away with just the one point when if there was any justice in the world we would have had three. Unfortunately we still have to suffer the unpredictability of bent cheating incompetent useless incapable amateur tossers of referees and linesmen, particularly away from home. However, lets be positive. If we continue to play like this for the rest of the season and make a few changes here and there will go up, make no mistake.
I know it's early but there seems to be a definite change in playing tactics and "praise the lord" Pardew seems to have decided to play football on the park rather than reverting to the hoofing game. We played QPR off the park yesterday, the defence looked very solid, even Anne Robinson didn't do too bad but may still need to be replaced. The midfield was quite outstanding with Parky giving a typical magnificent display of leadership, young Smith looks a very good buy and Harper continues to improve and is starting to look a very good player. I thought he was superb yesterday with his workrate in sweltering conditions unbelievable. Sammy "Ballboy" Igoe also had a good game playing with great confidence and the way he skips past players is a joy to watch.
All that was lacking yesterday to secure the three points was sharpness up front and the abilty the convert chances. Forster looked sharp and played well working his socks off, though another hamstring strain is worrying. Sadly his efforts were let down by Rougier who unlike the rest of the team continues to disappoint with lazy crap performances. He spent more time on his arse than on his feet and frankly his game was a joke. It just shows you only need one passenger and the whole team will suffer . Cureton looked ok when came on, as did Hughes , and a wonder save from Cureton near the end deprived us of the deserved three points.
I choose my words carefully over Henderson, I know Pardew rates him, but unless he's a long lost love child I'm blowed if I know what he sees in him. I know he's young but his basic ball control, lack of pace and effort does seem very poor. Perhaps he's been chucked in too early. Nothing to be said over the disallowed goal apart from bollocks and what goes around comes around.
So, I'm full of optimism for the coming season, with Butler to come back, oh how we missed him yesterday, and the team playing the way we are we can do it. Keep playing the way you are lads and come next year, perhaps we can have the luxury of watching some other poor sods in the playoffs on the telly!
-- Nick Newbury

Sitting in the Upper tier sweatbox, with my knees under my chin, unable to see 2/3rds of the goal, and crammed in like sardines, I still managed to see Reading dominate a home team who didn't have a clue. It was a clear case of a Reading side, showing their superior fitness, by repeatedly attacking the QPR goal in the searing heat. Parky was in excellent form, showing the QPR midfield he takes no prisoners.Robinson and Rougier need a BIG reminder on how to play for the team, and show some commitment. After the goal was disallowed, Reading went hell for leather, QPR were hanging on, I looked across, and saw QPR fans sitting quietly witnessing their side getting torn apart. Each time a Royals sub came on, we up the tempo more. We were robbed, but we came away from this game knowing that we are going to be the team to fear. The pheonix has risen from the play-off's.
-- Jamie, Woodley Royal

I happen to sit amongst the QPR Fans in the stands (quietly) - I thought Reading were excellent in the conditions -the heat must have been unbearable on the pitch- the players worked their socks off. The free kick by Harper was superb "a la Caskey" - that was one of his better games - played his cockiness and dare I say arrogance maybe that comes with confidence. I did think, though Darius did put himself about when he came on - he's still learning and is gaining valuable experience. It was an injustice that we only came back with one point - I could tell that from the reaction from the QPR fans around me.
-- Loyal Royal David, Kent

Another fine display should have resulted in another win and clean sheet. In the third quarter of the game particularly we looked excellent, and it's always best at away games when the Rs are streaming forward towards the end where the ever-increasing barmy army is outsinging the home side. The midfield was outstanding, especially Alex Smith, who could come to rival Cureton as bargain of the (21st) century. And Harper, what a great free-kick, even Ian Holloway thought it should have won the game! There's only two Darren Caskeys...
Now some nitpicking...
The tactics in the first half seemed odd. Playing Rougier as a target man against two talented and huge centrebacks was never really going to work. Anthony got a fair bit of stick from Royals fans but was clearly having no fun at all. He's not a back-to-goal player and is probably best used as a specialist sub - maybe for Igoe who always seems to fade towards the end of games. Henderson did better and got some nice flicks on as well as chasing some lost causes to good effect. Maybe he should have started; he still looks a bit clumsy receiving the ball, but so did Trevor Senior, and his attempts at overhead kicks are always good for a laugh. We're still using too much hoof, especially in the first half. Williams and Murty are better players than that, and with so many good ballplayers in the midfield they are surely capable of finding them.
The more limited Robinson didn't have a great game but did link well with Smith and Harper. Likewise, OK Whitehead can't kick straight, so have him bring the ball out and play through the defence, have the full backs make themselves available for 30-40 yard goalkicks, or have him throw more often. Brilliant save to prevent complete injustice late on though. Finally we looked uncomfortable towards the end when the QPR substitutes were running at the defence at speed. Let's be generous and say that the heat meant that both sides got through 90 minutes' work by the hour mark, but there was a Parky sized hole in front of the defence by the end. Again excusable, based on his massive first half performance. Still, we'd win that game 3-1 most times, and if that's the best another of the favourites can come up with we have no excuse not to go straight up this year.
It's a long time since watching Reading has been this much fun.
-- Nick Reed