by Snowball »
25 Oct 2010 11:14
I can't remember any bad misses by Shane but thought I'd go through the reports and see. (And they DO report misses)
No need to read the cuttings but it's clear (as I thought) that Shane has not had any/many "bad misses" this season and has been living off scraps. He pulls a LOT of fouls, has won three penalties and had a few other good penalty shouts. He's also been fouled more than once just as he was about to get away. In other words he's a real handful for defences and wears them down. At least two opposition players have been sent off for fouling Shane. Doesn't that have a considerable effect on our results?
His aggression, power, speed, tenacity wears down the opposition, and as said before, maybe that is why we get so many late goals, because Shane has done the hard work.
But the important point. Shane is not missing many seriously decent chances. He has made a few sitters that were missed by others.
SCUNTHORPE
First game. I'd forgotten how we were "playing with 9 men" at the end
With all three subs on, Shane Long picked up a knock but was forced to bravely battle on when clearly not fit, then the same happened to Matt Mills and we were effectively down to nine fully fit players.
Shane did brilliantly in that game. Badly crocked yet got in a number of crosses
PORTSMOUTH Out Injured
The goal allowed us to step up a gear, and we nearly scored a cracking second when Gylfi Sigurdsson sent Jobi McAnuff down the left but his whipped cross was just too far ahead of the onrushing Long in the middle.
FOREST
Long was giving the home defence no time on the ball, and he shrugged off Ryan Bertrand to win possession in a good area. He picked out Brian Howard with a good pass, but the midfielder miscued badly. It fell straight to McAnuff, but he missed the target and a decent chance had passed.
LEICESTER
Midway through the half, we took a deserved lead with an excellent goal. Brynjar Gunnarsson found Sigurdsson with a good pass down the channel, and his touch and pass were exquisite. Shane Long put Joao Teixeira Moreno under pressure, and our Irishman was clearly fouled but referee Webster played a good advantage. It ran to Kebe, who found Sigurdsson with an excellent low pass, and the Icelander produced a fabulous finish, dinking over the onrushing 'keeper. A top class finish from a top class player.
Just before the break we looked much the more likely to score again, Long getting a good header goalwards from Howard's free kick.
PALACE
Shane Long was instrumental in our first two goals, winning a penalty in each half with pace and quality; stroking home the first spot kick himself.
Matt Mills had also hit the bar in the first half, and there were a number of good individual performances; Long and Harte, not just for their goals, while Jem Karacan was excellent in the centre of the park.
Down the other end, Long did well to cut inside a couple of challenges but shot wide at the near post (MISS)
Long was then withdrawn to a huge ovation, fully deserved after an excellent display of pace, power and quality.
MILLWALL
Soon it was Millwall keeper David Forde's turn to pull off a cracking save, keeping out Long's header at point blank range after McAnuff did exceptionally well to get a cross in to the back post. Long looked destined to score but the home 'keeper denied him with a Schmeichel-style block.
With nine minutes on the clock home captain Paul Robinson was arguably fortunate not to be sent off. Reading won possession in a dangerous area, and Shane Long was put through, darting in from the left channel. Robinson clearly pulled our Irish striker back, but referee Dave Phillips only produced a yellow card despite Long having a clear run at goal.
McAnuff delivered a great cross from the right, and the flag seemed to go up just as Long tried to get his head on it. The Irishman left it for Kebe, who finished with aplomb, and it looked a very close decision against the Malian as he stabbed home a sidefoot volley.
BORO
There was still time for Shane Long to look like he was pushed over by Arca inside the area after Steele had come for a high ball but failed to get to it.
Long had some defending to do and cleared an effort off the line afr a Boro corner. We quickly went up the other end, and Harte had a good strike deflected a foot or so wide - potentially by David Wheater's arm!
BARNSLEY
Despite having ten men we looked far more likely to score, and sub Hal Robson-Kanu seemed to have a chance with his first touch but elected to go for control rather than a first time strike. He got it back in the box for Shane Long, and his header was well saved by Steele
IPSWICH
On 19 minutes Robson-Kanu showed the ability that prompted Brian McDermott to bring him into the starting XI, skinning two Town defenders down our left wing and getting in a brilliant cross that the visitors just about hacked clear after a scramble involving Shane Long and Jimmy Kebe. (MISS?)
Soon afterwards Robson-Kanu played another fabulous ball down the line for Long, and the Irishman found Kebe in the middle, but despite showing great feet the Malian shot wide with his left foot.
before Long and then Town frontman Scotland failed to capitalise on half chances.
Cummings got in a good left footed cross that Long glanced goalwards - fortunately for Fulop it was right at him; anywhere else and it was 1-0.
PRESTON
On ten minutes Reading broke exceptionally well, Simon Church and Shane Long involved in releasing skipper Jobi McAnuff down the left. He cut infield onto his right foot and curled an excellent effort that clipped the top of the bar; Andy Lonergan well beaten in the North End goal.
We had a decent chance to respond almost straight away, but Long didn't get a clean contact on his header from Harte's excellent cross. (MISS?)
Long pulls another card. With 12 minutes gone Preston were reduced to ten men, and Russell was the man sent off for his second bookable offence; a challenge on Long 35 yards from goal. It looked a tight decision but the referee was right on the spot and Russell did not seem to have too many complaints.
SWANSEA
Inside the first couple of minutes Reading had a decent shout for a penalty, and Shane Long made a vociferous claim as his header seemed to hit a Swansea arm but nothing was given.
We had started the brighter of the two sides, and Long flicked a half decent chance over the the bar with his head from Jem Karacan's right wing cross.(MISS)
Long went on an excellent run 12 minutes before the break, and was brought down by Angel Rangel, who was rightly booked. Jobi McAnuff took the resulting spot kick and forced Dorus De Vries to tip over the bar.
Just past the hour we began to up the tempo in our favour, and Long was sent on a good break down the right wing but his cross was just about defended.
Long then headed a decent chance over at the back post from another corner, before Noel Hunt was sent on in search of an equaliser. (MISS)
BRISTOL
A bright opening from the Royals saw Shane Long scamper down the left wing, cut inside and attempt an audacious chip on David James' goal - though it was well wide of the England international's post. (COUGH!) It looked to me like he tried to put in Hunt. Arguably he was "caught in two minds". A player in goal-scoring form would probably have laced it! Remember how well he did to get past the defender in the first place. This IS however, an example of "Had he scored we might well have gone on to win".
It was clear that Ashton Gate was in for a frantic night of entertainment as the game exhibited a breathless tempo, with Long and Stead both finding further glimpses of goal in the first ten minutes.
Once again Long looked to be the man threatening the City goal in the first period, though the Irish international could only hammer a long range effort over the bar after good interplay with Noel Hunt on 39 minutes.
A superb Long backheel allowed McAnuff to sprint through on goal, and the winger's centred cross fell to Kebe - who saw his effort well stopped by James. Somehow in the ensuing battle the Robins backline hooked the ball away for a corner kick.
On 57 minutes a brave challenge from Karacan allowed Long to break upfield and square to McAnuff, who had a clean run at goal from the half way line. The City defence however did brilliantly to track back in time to drop the shot, leaving the winger still searching for his first goal of the season.
BURNLEY
Just three minutes later we had the lead and it was a goal all of Shane Long's making. He picked the ball up perhaps 20 yards inside the Burnley half and left Leon Cort for dead with his pace and power. The Clarets' defender attempted a challenge inside the area, but was much too late and clearly fouled the Irishman as he was in on goal. It looked a clear goalscoring opportunity and there was nobody between Long and the goal, but referee Miller only showed a yellow card.
Four minutes later Long did well again down the wing, showing good strength to win possession. He tried to pick out Hal Robson-Kanu in the middle but the pass was a touch inaccurate and a decent opportunity had slipped by.
Midway through the half Long was again prominent, pouncing on a slip by former Royal Andre Bikey to go clear down the right wing. He bore down on goal, and would have preferred to work the keeper rather than shoot into the side netting from a narrowing angle. (MISS?)
We were hassling the Clarets all over the pitch, and nobody more so than Long, who won the ball in his own half ten minutes before the break and set Jobi McAnuff on the run. He tried to pick out Brian Howard in the middle, and his overhead kick went over the bar.
The second goal was always going to be crucial, and vitally it was the Royals who doubled the advantage. Not for the first time Cort fouled Long, and Harte's wide free kick was aimed to Matt Mills, whose initial effort was blocked. It fell to McAnuff and he turned home a stabbed effort from six yards. The winger had been very influential and deserved his first goal of the season.
Two minutes later Burnley were reduced to ten men, and Cort could have absolutely no complaints. He was fortunate not to be sent off in the penalty incident, and had also fouled Long for the free kick that led to the goal. Then, with Long in another good attacking position, he was rightly shown a second yellow and the Clarets were down to ten men.
First of all Long had a very good chance but just allowed Jensen to smother at his feet (MISS or good save?)
We were always going to be dangerous in search of a third goal, and Michail Antonio was a delighted scorer of his very first in a Reading shirt. Robson-Kanu found Long inside the area, and Long did superbly to beat his man and fire a low cross that Antonio tapped home from a yard.
love the arbitary figures you throw around when deciding what you think is an acceptable level of performance for our forwards. If we lose 4 of the next 8 and draw the other 4 presumably you'll be happy enough with them? And will this all go to prove that we won't lose at home to Bristol City 
