Reading Safe As Disappointing Season Finally Ends

Reading finished their hugely disappointing season with an impressive result at Premier League bound Cardiff City. The 0-0 draw would have been enough to keep Reading up regardless of other results, but with Burton and Barnsley both losing, Reading were always going to be safe on the final day of the Championship season. Cardiff found themselves in a similar situation with Fulham's defeat also meaning they were promoted as runners-up whatever the scoreline with the Royals. With Cardiff already promoted and Reading already safe from relegation, and with home fans eager to get on the pitch to celebrate promotion the last few minutes were spent with Reading just knocking the ball around the defence waiting for the final whistle. That summed up the game perfectly - perhaps with scorelines elsewhere the early pressure quickly evaporated and both teams then lacked urgency and were happy to settle for a point with time running out.

Before the match everyone was expecting Reading to take a battering at the hands of Cardiff. Before heading to a side who will be playing in the top tier next season, the Royals had let in seven goals and scored none in their last two league defeats. Reading's last 16 games had seen them earn just 2 wins. Meanwhile Cardiff had secured 11 wins over the same period and despite a wobble towards the end of the season they had still won three out of their last four games. It was a surprise to find Reading deep in Cardiff territory for the opening five minutes but soon enough the game turned and it was Reading who found the ball in their half for most of the rest of the game.

Despite beginning to dominate the game Cardiff struggled to really test Mannone, and were limited to longer range efforts that failed to find the target. Despite a bright start Reading found themselves on the defensive for the rest of the game and finished after notching up just a single off-target shot in the entire game. I imagine the neutral watching on Sky TV had turned off long before the final whistle. Despite taking it to the last day of the season, you always felt that Reading would stay up. Next season could be a different story if this form and this football continues.

Reading finished the season in 20th place and three points away from the drop. That's our lowest placing since our promotion out of the third tier in 2002. Paul Clement has a tough job ahead of him to turn Reading's fortunes around next season.

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