Match Report
Reading
No goals
Burton
No goals
Once again Reading fans demonstrated loyalty to their team and club, and their anger at owner Dia
Yongge and the EFL in no uncertain terms. For the second game in succession play was held up to
allow ground staff to remove a deluge of tennis balls hurled on to the pitch by home fans. The ten
minute delay drew attention to current shortcomings off the pitch holding the club back, but
probably didn't help their team gather any momentum in a match which really should have yielded
three points.
After having defensive frailties brutally exposed at Blackpool last week, the introduction of Dean and McIntyre in the middle of the back four rectified the obvious defensive vulnerability to high balls launched at the defence. Unfortunately the players looked uneasy with the formation going forward. Play was disjointed with the occasional slick exchange of passes without creating much in the final third. Passing options were sometimes were limited by the lack of width. When opportunities were created to put ball into the danger area either a lack of quality with the final ball or someone sharp enough to take advantage failed to produce the crucial goal. Ehibhatiomhan did his best work outside the box. Savage curled a shot just over the bar from just inside the box and Azeez tested the 'keeper with a good effort. In the space of two minutes McIntyre picked up a yellow card and a nasty head injury and had to be replaced by Abbey who turned in a very solid performance.
Reading came out in the second half looking far more positive and incisive going forward. Albion 'keeper Crocombe was called into action keep out strikes form Azeez, Ehibhatiomhan, Knibbs and Wing. On at least three occasions Crocombe was unable to hold on to good strikes but nobody anticipated the possibility of the ball running loose in the box to tuck away the rebound. For all their domination of possession Reading somehow could not find the composure or quality in the box to earn the three points they could and should have gained. Vickers would have been an ideal option but for some reason he was not even on the bench. Selles tried his best to find a solution with five second half substitutions but Burton sat back and soaked up the pressure settling for the point they were certainly happy with. Their only means of getting into the Reading box were long throw-ins, free-kicks from deep areas, and corners. The competent Button was never seriously tested.
With points deductions and uncertainty about future ownership hampering progress, the Royals fans are showing commendable patience with their new manager and hastily assembled squad. There were again flashes of very good play but only three wins form nine games in the league is enough to create a nagging doubt about safety. Selles accurately and succinctly summed the performance. "...We need more quality in our actions..." A more settled starting eleven would help.
John Wells
After having defensive frailties brutally exposed at Blackpool last week, the introduction of Dean and McIntyre in the middle of the back four rectified the obvious defensive vulnerability to high balls launched at the defence. Unfortunately the players looked uneasy with the formation going forward. Play was disjointed with the occasional slick exchange of passes without creating much in the final third. Passing options were sometimes were limited by the lack of width. When opportunities were created to put ball into the danger area either a lack of quality with the final ball or someone sharp enough to take advantage failed to produce the crucial goal. Ehibhatiomhan did his best work outside the box. Savage curled a shot just over the bar from just inside the box and Azeez tested the 'keeper with a good effort. In the space of two minutes McIntyre picked up a yellow card and a nasty head injury and had to be replaced by Abbey who turned in a very solid performance.
Reading came out in the second half looking far more positive and incisive going forward. Albion 'keeper Crocombe was called into action keep out strikes form Azeez, Ehibhatiomhan, Knibbs and Wing. On at least three occasions Crocombe was unable to hold on to good strikes but nobody anticipated the possibility of the ball running loose in the box to tuck away the rebound. For all their domination of possession Reading somehow could not find the composure or quality in the box to earn the three points they could and should have gained. Vickers would have been an ideal option but for some reason he was not even on the bench. Selles tried his best to find a solution with five second half substitutions but Burton sat back and soaked up the pressure settling for the point they were certainly happy with. Their only means of getting into the Reading box were long throw-ins, free-kicks from deep areas, and corners. The competent Button was never seriously tested.
With points deductions and uncertainty about future ownership hampering progress, the Royals fans are showing commendable patience with their new manager and hastily assembled squad. There were again flashes of very good play but only three wins form nine games in the league is enough to create a nagging doubt about safety. Selles accurately and succinctly summed the performance. "...We need more quality in our actions..." A more settled starting eleven would help.
John Wells