It was business as usual for the Royals this weekend as they enjoyed some good spells of football against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground before leaving with a 0-1 defeat. Reading have lost their opening two games of the Championship season and sit bottom of the table, as they continue the form that finished last season's disappointing campaign. There are some signs for optimism, but the truth is that despite the signings of Baldock and McNulty the Royals are dramatically lacking up front. There seems little doubt that Reading face a tough season ahead of them. Most Reading fans remain confident that Reading will avoid the drop but there are no signs that we should expect anything more with the current squad.
Playing away from home against a team expected to challenge for promotion this season, Reading did a good job in limiting Forest's chances. Despite Liam Moore staying at Reading he was again missing from the match day squad, allowing Ilori and McShane to continue in the centre of defence. The defence dealt with Forest with no issues for most of the game. After few chances it was 0-0 at half-time and it was Reading that went closest after the break with Meite putting a header just wide. However, it was a quiet afternoon from Baldock who found himself replaced by McNulty on the hour. McNulty also had no success up front and instead it was Forest that claimed the win on 68 minutes as they gradually too control of the game.
The Royals were never likely to come back from a goal down away from home - they last time we scored on the road was way back in March. Reading have now scored just a single league goal in their last five games and Clement appears to have a massive job ahead of him to turn things around. Despite the early pressure Clement remains confident of a Reading revival as the season continues: "It was too not bad a performance, particularly away from home against a team that played very well in their last game here... we had the advantage... The reality is we're an improving team. I can see the improvement so I'm not worried."
Reading now face Birmingham City at home on Tuesday night in the league cup before Bolton Wanderers visit next weekend. Reading will fancy their chances of some first league points of the season against Bolton who struggled last term and just survived the drop. However, Bolton will arrive with confidence after picking up four points from their opening two games.
Reading Bottom: Another Narrow Defeat
From the Discussion
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SU Sutekh 11 Aug 2018 · 6:45pm
Another game and another defeat. Forest away normally is so no real difference from any past season there. Last time we went there for an August fixture we lost 4-1 so an improvement on that Overall there does seem to be some improvement in the team and the way it plays and anyone who was expecting anything more than mid table at best with this current rebuild is deluded. An unluckiy loss to Derby and now this result shouldn’t set alarm bells ringing but it does heighten the main issue which is a serious lack of attacking prowess. Desperately need midfield invention to challenge and cover the seemingly permanently crocked Swift for…
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BO bobby1413 11 Aug 2018 · 6:54pm
About time you got your act together
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CO CountryRoyal 11 Aug 2018 · 7:24pm
Thought we played well for the most part and didn’t deserve to lose but it’s painfully apparent where we are going to struggle. So impotent up front.
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KI Kitsondinho 11 Aug 2018 · 7:33pm
Just got back. I really enjoyed that. Yes we lost, but we weren’t outclassed. We played well and created chances. Forest were no better or worse than us, they created a few half chances....but most of their best chances came from our mistakes. Grabban’s 1 on 1 with Vito, the close header and the goal. I thought Vito played well, but had little chance with the goal. I was impressed with the back 4 and our central midfield. Attacking wise, it seems to be slowly coming together, but we didn’t use Barrow nearly enough. I really like Meite, but he clearly still needs time to develop his game. He has a real hunger and works hard for the…
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WI windermereROYAL 11 Aug 2018 · 7:40pm
Seen the long season quotes on quite a few outlets this evening. in truth it won`t be any longer than any other team.
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LE leon 11 Aug 2018 · 7:54pm
Just got back. I really enjoyed that. Yes we lost, but we weren’t outclassed. We played well and created chances. Forest were no better or worse than us, they created a few half chances....but most of their best chances came from our mistakes. Grabban’s 1 on 1 with Vito, the close header and the goal. I thought Vito played well, but had little chance with the goal. I was impressed with the back 4 and our central midfield. Attacking wise, it seems to be slowly coming together, but we didn’t use Barrow nearly enough. I really like Meite, but he clearly still needs time to develop his game. He has a real hunger and works hard for the…
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KI Kitsondinho 11 Aug 2018 · 8:13pm
Just got back. I really enjoyed that. Yes we lost, but we weren’t outclassed. We played well and created chances. Forest were no better or worse than us, they created a few half chances....but most of their best chances came from our mistakes. Grabban’s 1 on 1 with Vito, the close header and the goal. I thought Vito played well, but had little chance with the goal. I was impressed with the back 4 and our central midfield. Attacking wise, it seems to be slowly coming together, but we didn’t use Barrow nearly enough. I really like Meite, but he clearly still needs time to develop his game. He has a real hunger and works hard for the…
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CO CountryRoyal 11 Aug 2018 · 8:35pm
I’m going to start with ratings. Mannone 5 - remarkably unremarkable. Yiadom 7 - quickly becoming my favourite player. Best right back we’ve had for almost a decade. Ilori 8 - hard to pick between him and Yiadom but was once again excellent, mature and commanding performance. McShane 6 - less of a liability but too uncultured often giving away possession by hoofing it where there was perhaps a better option. Is seemingly forming a decent partnership with Ilori though so think it would be harsh to drop him. As much as it pains me to say it I’d persist atm. Blackett 4 - quite a Blackett performance, some good some bad, some very very…