Turned Out Well In The End

This one felt like a tough game to call, despite the form guide. Most of us will have been surprised by Reading’s poor start to the season, even allowing for the dispiriting impact of their points deduction, while a two-week break might either see us spring out of the traps with recharged batteries or appear a little rusty. Although for much of the game it seemed to be the latter, as for almost the first hour Reading had the better of the exchanges and chances, it seemed once we took the lead their frailties were exposed; once we scored a second it was game over, the third and fourth goals just turned the screw.

The team showed just one change from Blackpool last time out, with Aneke and Leaburn swapping places for the start in a 4-3-3 (or 4-2-3-1 if it seems more modern). The bench saw some fresh faces as Walker came in as Maynard-Brewer’s back-up, while there was a welcome return for Camara, with Molyneux and Campbell(C) left out of the squad. That meant a pretty forward-looking set of subs, with Fraser, Camara, Campbell(T) and Leaburn, the other side of the coin being just two defenders (Asiimwe and Ness) and no real replacements for either Dobson or Watson(L) in central midfield. With Taylor and McGrandles both out of the picture for the foreseeable future I was a little surprised Anderson (if available after his international outing) wasn’t included to provide balance.

The first half wasn’t the worst we have seen of late from us, but it was pretty poor. Aneke seemed rather out of sorts and reserved, Blackett-Taylor was below par, losing possession the few times he had it, Tedic was anonymous on the right side, while May wasn’t in the game either. The result not surprisingly was few efforts on goal of note from us, really just a cut inside and disappointing shot from CBT and one effort from Tedic from the right edge of the box which may have been a shot or may have been an attempted low cross.

Reading didn’t exactly pepper our goal either, but that had more and better shots, drawing a couple of routine but still necessary saves from Maynard-Brewer, including one which he needed to hold onto as their forwards were in for a rebound. Add in a couple over the bar, some important last-ditch tackles and blocks from us, and they were at least shading the game. With hindsight their failure to get in front during the first half proved decisive.

Appleton opted for a change at the break, with Tedic replaced by Campbell(T), giving us much more pace down the right side. But you have to say in the first 10 minutes or so nothing changed – and Reading had perhaps their most threatening moments. Campbell was beaten on the right side and their guy’s low cross fortunately drew a crucial interception, which was followed by a dangerous corner whipped in which somehow eluded everyone and another Dobson block.

Then the game changed, rather out of the blue with a quality move and finish. Watson(L) played a perfectly threaded ball wide to CBT, who went on the outside and made the space for an equally perfect cross. No defender was going to push Chuks out of the way and he nodded home from close range.

Reading did respond and in the following 10 minutes could have levelled the game. An overhit cross from the right was gathered wide left and sent back in, the ball missed by all concerned, including Maynard-Brewer. Then a guy on their left cut inside and jabbed a shot with the outside of his boot which needed Maynard-Brewer to be alert to turn aside. And after a triple substitution by us just after the hour – with Aneke going down holding his hamstring the cue for Leaburn to replace him, both Watsons also departing with Fraser and Asiimwe coming on – Hector made perhaps his only error of the game, being rather flat-footed and beaten by their guy, only for the shot to be saved.

That was to prove Reading’s last meaningful attempt as a few minutes later the points were sealed. Thomas played the ball forward to Blackett-Taylor. This time he took the inside route, but instead of unleashing a shot played it square for Campbell in space on the right side, just outside the box. He had time to control the ball and pick his spot, leaving Button no chance.

The rest of the game was a catalogue of more chances and goals for us. Leaburn put in an excellent shot only to draw an equally excellent save from Button, then had a close-range header saved on the line. Our third came as CBT had the ball and saw plenty of space beyond his opponent. Skinned him for pace and sent another ball into the box. Seemed rather confusing as it seemed to take a deflection off their guy but that didn’t stop May from sweeping it home. CBT almost made it four on his own before leaving the scene to allow a cameo from the returning Camara, with May going wide left. Into stoppage time and Campbell found Leaburn advancing down the right side, onside and clear. Button was this time poorly positioned and Leaburn was able to shoot home with ease.

Although scoring four obviously grabs the headlines, the stand-out performances through the game for me came from Hector (and Jones), his one mistake notwithstanding, and Dobson, both highly instrumental in the clean sheet. We made no poor individual errors and seemed more switched on when defending than often of late. That, coupled with a set-piece move or two, suggests good work being done on the training ground. 

Of course we are now all on tenterhooks for news about the extent of Chuk’s fresh injury. If he’s out for another spell at least that would suggest Tedic getting time in his favoured position, along with Leaburn, Campbell(T) being first choice on the right, with perhaps Campbell(C) and Camara featuring. We have more options than last time around.

Otherwise seven unbeaten, including four wins, and we are surely the team form of the division excluding the top two. Up to tenth with games in hand over most of those above us, confidence surely blossoming. There’s a full round of fixtures on Tuesday night and our trip to Lincoln is tough to call. Their recent form has been indifferent and they just sacked their head coach, but did get the win at Fleetwood yesterday to stay on the same number of points as us. Five of the seven in our unbeaten run have been at The Valley, our last two trips away ending in draws. If I’m correct you have to go back to April for our last league win on the road (at MK Dons). So it is going to be another good indicator of progress and of just how high we should allow our hopes to get.