Reading FC blog run by fans, for fans.
I don’t think I’m alone in saying that the last few weeks, perhaps even months, have been the most detached I’ve felt as a fan of this club for a long time, which I understand is a rather outlandish thing to say when you consider our recent history. The only way that is going to […]
about 2 months ago | 2 reads
Yeah, it’s back. Chill out. Listen, I’ve been on the road with this column for over six years. I needed a break and, honestly, I wouldn’t have brought it back if at least one person hadn’t messaged and said: “Where’s the column gone Ben?” So here we are, the first one since the Dons cup […]
about 2 months ago | 1 read
The Royals picked up a big three points in a thrilling 3-2 victory against Luton Town at the SCL Stadium on Thursday night. Reading went 2-0 up with goals from Lewis Wing and Jack Marriott, but Luton staged a comeback to make it 2-2 with 15 minutes to go. Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan scored the winner to […]
about 2 months ago | 1 read
I’ll start this by saying that, when I usually do a match report, I like to take down notes of things that happened and when they happened to create a storyboard that I can bring to life through the medium of written word. Sometimes, these scribblings may even make sense. However, for reasons unbeknownst to […]
about 2 months ago | 4 reads
Joel Pereira: 6 Called into action for the first time in the 17th minute, making a really strong save from an effort deflected off Wing’s foot from a corner. Followed that up with a low claim along the floor from a shot in the box. Threw himself across his goal in the 35th minute to […]
about 2 months ago | 0 reads
Form Luton Town were relegated from the Championship last season after finishing 22nd in the league. They finished on the same number of points as Hull City, however their significantly worse goal difference sent them down on the final day. It’s been a whirlwind few years for the Hatters, having secured back-to-back promotions to reach the […]
about 2 months ago | 3 reads
From Premier League to League One in three years, Reading’s opponents Luton Town are looking to improve their form and get back to how they were when they were very few games off surviving in the top flight. It hasn’t been a great start for either side involved in today’s game, with the Royals sitting […]
about 2 months ago | 4 reads
Oh dear: the Leam Richardson bump comes crashing down as Reading lose two games with a whimper in the space of four days. TTE writer Bobbins joins Ross to discuss the fallout from the two games and helps dissect a mailbag full of frustrated Royals. Plus, the pair discuss Lewis Wing’s recent impact on the […]
about 2 months ago | 1 read
Reading lined up in a 3-4-1-2 formation. We had a back three of John Ryan, Michael Stickland and Tyler Sackey – this was interesting as Peter Scott could have played Philip Duah but opted for Ryan, with Jeremiah Okine-Peters as a left-wing-back instead of Ryan. Sackey, thanks to his physicality and ball-playing ability as a […]
about 2 months ago | 1 read
I am putting pen to paper (well actually I am not, quite clearly – I am on the keyboard in front of a computer, but hopefully you get the point) as I made the mistake of going on X recently. Having done so, I think I may join Ross in not bothering again! To put […]
about 2 months ago | 1 read
The Royals suffered their second defeat on the bounce after a 2-0 loss to Bradford City at Valley Parade on Saturday. Both goals came in the second half after a goalless first half. The Royals had their chances but couldn’t convert. The Royals are now 18th, level on points with Plymouth Argyle in 21st. Here […]
2 months ago | 3 reads
Nothing. That appears to be what Leam Richardson has learned about his team six games into his tenure. It’s also the number of points we looked like taking at Bradford, and increasingly, the amount of faith supporters have that this group can turn things around. At face value, Richardson’s comment could be dismissed as the […]
2 months ago | 3 reads
Aimless, sloppy, turgid, vacuous, uninspired – take your pick of depressing adjective. The bottom line is that this was for the most part as bad as Reading have been this season… …is what I wrote for my match report on Tuesday night’s home loss to Peterborough United, and if you’d rather get as quick an […]
2 months ago | 3 reads
Joel Pereira: 5 Called into action within the first 30 seconds, collecting a cross. Made a good low save in the left corner of his goal, palming away a strong shot from outside of the box. Not to blame for either of the goals, with his defenders allowing free shots for both players in incredibly […]
2 months ago | 3 reads
Form Bradford City were promoted to League One last season, gaining automatic promotion after finishing third in League Two. Promotion ended their six-year stay in the fourth tier, following their relegation from League One in 2019. City are having a great first season back in League One and are right in the promotion hunt, currently […]
2 months ago | 2 reads
After five league games unbeaten, the Royals are back to where they started. A poor display against Peterborough United – in what I would class as the worst we’ve played all season – brings the Royals ever so close to the relegation spots. In my opinion there needs to be a complete change in either personnel or formation. Bradford City are in mighty […]
2 months ago | 3 reads
That was a painful watch! After the euphoria of winning an away game so convincingly at Blackpool, we then proceed to dish up one of the worst home performances that I can remember for a long time. A bad performance because we lost, a bad performance because I can’t name one player who took any […]
2 months ago | 2 reads
What on earth was that gallimaufry? One moment we’re still basking in the glow of an away win that should have lit a small bonfire under the season, and the next we’re staring at what might be the most inexplicable display so far. Everything that made the previous outing so heartening had evaporated. Whatever fuelled […]
2 months ago | 4 reads
The Royals’ good home form came to an end after a 2-1 defeat to Peterborough United at the SCL Stadium on Tuesday night. Jimmy-Jay Morgan gave the visitors the lead in the second minute. Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan equalised just after the hour mark before Posh scored the winner to secure all three points. The defeat leaves […]
2 months ago | 3 reads
Football is a deeply, deeply odd game at the best of times. Especially so when Reading put in their best display of the season to win 3-0 at Blackpool, then have 10 days of rest and preparation time, before… whatever on earth that was tonight. Aimless, sloppy, turgid, vacuous, uninspired – take your pick of […]
2 months ago | 2 reads
Joel Pereira: 5 Caught out moving across his goal in the bizarre pinball for the early Posh opener, taking a step that gave him no chance of picking up the scrambled shot. Got his knees down well to block away a hard low shot from a tight angle from Lisbie. Will probably want the second […]
2 months ago | 4 reads
Form Peterborough United finished last season in 18th, five points clear of the League One relegation places. This season marks their fourth straight year in the third tier, having been relegated from the Championship in 2022, finishing 22nd. The Posh have struggled so far this season and currently sit in the relegation zone in 22nd place, […]
2 months ago | 5 reads
The Royals are in fine form, unbeaten in five and defeating teams with conviction. The last game, against Blackpool, was a great win and one that fans are very happy with – especially so for specific players such as Daniel Kyerewaa and Joel Pereira. Kyerewaa might be the greatest to ever play at the club. Peterborough United are […]
2 months ago | 5 reads
Reading Women shocked league leaders Wycombe Wanderers to become the first team to take points off them this season, in a tense, hard-fought but entertaining goalless match at the 1878 Stadium in Burnham on Sunday. The Royals also became the first team in any competition to not concede against the high-scoring Chairgirls, who’d notched up […]
2 months ago | 2 reads
In the first of three successive Slough Town home games I attended, Jacob Borgnis started an FA Trophy tie at home to Gloucester City as a central midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 for Scott Davies’ side. It was very interesting to see whether he would be ready for first-team football, being thrown into the starting lineup […]
2 months ago | 2 reads