Back from the game - Doncaster

[Elmer Park]

A Fed didn't have much chance with any of the goals we conceded and to be honest didn't have much else to do. Defending of the back four was extremely disappointing. With that line up I don't expect the opponents striker to get an unchallenged header nor for their tallest player to be allowed to head in so easily. To be honest I am not sure which of the centre backs should have been picking up Hayter but whoever it was clearly made an error. For the second Mills got beaten too easily. For a guy with his attributes and who can look so dominant at times this is not the first time he has been outfought for the ball from a set piece. Harte's defending for the third goal was poor although I don't recollect any occasions when he was 'rinsed' in this particular match. I think that is what made the defending so disappointing. I expect us to have some problems with really quick attackers but not with a side who do not really have that sort of player such as Doncaster.

Midfield really upped their work rate once we went 4-4-2. Howard and Jem played well once we made the changes but allowed Doncaster to control the midfield for a long spell before that. Am not a fan of Oster but thought he played well for them today and we allowed him too much time. Useful decision by O'Driscoll to take him off when we changed system. Contributed to handing the initiative to us, Thought Jobi started well but faded and HRK stuck to his task well although he couldn't seem to get over any quality crosses. Antonio was his usual mixture but set up the winner well.

Big fan of Tabby but today he looked like a player who was coming back from injury and although I am not a fan of Howard could not argue at all with the decision to take him off and leave Howard on. Not at all sure about Tabb's suitability for the attacking midfield role anyway but may be better there when fit and in away games although at Burnley it looked more like a 4-5-1 with players breaking than a 4-2-3-1. Surely any player who plays in that role has to be more of a goal threat too.

Now to the strikers. Felt sorry for Long. Really seems to have started feeling the pressure of not being able to score. Looked terrific at Burnley but today I thought he was pitiful and his head seemed to go down. His state of mind was typified when he got that one on one and practically ran down the wing instead of straight for goal which meant that he ended up having to cut on and shoot with his weaker foot with the expected result. Thought it put him out of his misery when they took him off. I still think he is going to come good again at some point this season but needs a confidence boost soon. Churchy looked good when he came on. Hunty had a lot of energy and produced one bit of quality.

[pea]

Watching the highlights I think our defending was poor for their goals but Feds will look back at them and be very disappointed with his basic positioning.

Its encouraging to see, bar the free kick, at least two other players in good positions for the deliveries of each goal. If were going to succeed without replacing Doyle then we need midfielders getting in those positions when the crosses come in so its very encouraging.

[under the tin]

I kind of agree with Snowball in that there were 3 phases in the game.
The game started very brightly, with two sides playing snappy passes, and lots of quick movement.
We went ahead due to some distinctly average defending by Donny, then they equalised as a result of some very average defending of our own.

In the next phase, we were out footballed by Donny. Several times, I saw O'Driscoll urging his team to play higher up the pitch, which they did, and the supply to Shane Long degenerated more and more into long aerial balls, which, to be fair, he won a large percentage of, but because of the the Donny tactics, made him isolated, with no one to feed off his headers. During this period, Donny were much the better side, and scored again.
At half time, O'Driscoll obviously told his troops that this was the way to beat Reading, and some more below average defending on our part saw them score again.

We all know Brian's character, and knew that the kitchen sink was about to be launched. I confess I groaned when Long was removed, because he was not having a bad game, he was just a victim of our approach play that clearly wasn't working. Full credit to Brian, however, because the changes also changed they way we attacked Donny, by exploiting the space behind their high up back line. Playing on the shoulder of the last defender is what Church is all about, and in this period, although the offside flag was more prominent, we began to see their defence in two minds as to how far up the pitch to form the defensive line. The tide was turning.
Karacan capped a typical industrious performance with a great header, and Harte's free kick was indeed a pearler, although from where I sit in the North stand, the free kick looked more like ball to hand than the other way round, and I can understand why O'Driscoll went mental at the decision. A great poacher's finish by Church, and I enjoyed his celebration in front of the East stand. Maybe he reads some of the comments about him on here.
All in all, full Kudos to Brian, being tactically astute when up against one of the very best upand coming managers in British football. Well done.

[PieEater]

Firstly a big LOL at Sullivan for his timewasting.

I thought both Long and Howard were poor. Long must have been reading HNA because his confidence looked shot and that was the worst he's played this season. Howard harried and tackled in midfield but then seemed to pass the ball straight back to Donny too often.

At half time I felt like we'd been robbed, we'd missed some great chances and given away two soft goals. When the third went in I was resigned to losing, so you have to commend the team spirit to come back and win. The second goal went in with half an hour to spare and you could see Donny getting nervous.

Oh and LOL again at Sullivan for his timewasting, in the end it was your time you were wasting.

[Royal Lady]

Interesting post match comments from McD - basically wouldn't hear of any criticism for Shane Long - reckons he's a "great lad", gives his all for this club, blah blah. Also mentioned that NHunt wasn't too pleased with not being picked last week. I can see why tbh.

For my tuppence worth, thought first half was pretty dire - didn't create anything and don't think Sullivan had to make a save. Second half, particularly after the substitutions, we seemed to have a bit more fight and determination. Couldn't name a MOM. The "never say die" attitude from the players second half shows that they are gelling together and did, at least, appear to want to win. I predict a 0-0 score bore next week though.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Great opening 10/15 minutes followed by a quite dreadful 50 minutes then a really good meaningful 30 minutes where we looked like a side who would score from every move.

By the way I thought the Doncaster second was a Mills own goal.

Although I appreciate the great amount of work Long does he is not good enough at this level to regularly score goals, which is the primary task of a striker. Perhaps remodeling him into an attacking midfielder might be the way to go there.

[WoodleyRoyal]

@ people complaining about the atmosphere, there are some lads who have popped up at the back of Y24 who were singing all game, and have been all season! maybe only two or three at a time but fair play to them! why not try to join in, instead of coming on here bitching.

[Tilehurst End]

Funny old game, probably one of the least exciting 4-3s ever.

Thought Zurab looked class again and Griff did well. Mills never quite looks at home unless he has a big striker to mark and noticable that all 3 goals came down our left side.

Jem played well, Tabb not at his best and Jobi a little more like himself early on but faded. HRK's final ball was poor and again dissappionted with Howard who seems to spend a lot of time shouting at others about not doing their job and forgetting he's supposed to be doing one as well.

Felt sorry for Long who finally got some chances in front of goal and fluffed his lines but he again worked hard.

Hopefully Jimmy will return for the tough run of games coming up and maybe the time has come to give Churchy an extended run as he does have the knack of being in the right place even if he does miss the odd sitter. Would also like to see Stretch in at left back as he gives us more in defence and going forward.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Brian Howard is a decent player. Played well yesterday and set up the winning goal with a great ball.

When Howard come on against Bristol City, he completely changed the game.

[OldBiscuit]

Harte - 7 - as soon as he got that free-kick I texted a mate saying we were about to equalise otherwise solid.

You must have had that text already written and ready to send before the ref had blown the whistle, that or you are a mega super texter. I bet your the life and soul in your local.

[Sonic]

Long 6 cannot hold up a ball, wasted pocession in good places too often and he is to lead the line, who is he aiming his flick ons at?????

I just don't understand some people on here. If Feds and Mills hit the ball long upto Shane then what on earth is he supposed to do except go up for the header? Of course he could just stand there and let the defender head the ball clear without a challenge! If no-one is running for the second ball from the header then its not Long's fault.

[PEARCEY]

Long 6 cannot hold up a ball, wasted pocession in good places too often and he is to lead the line, who is he aiming his flick ons at?????

I just don't understand some people on here. If Feds and Mills hit the ball long upto Shane then what on earth is he supposed to do except go up for the header? Of course he could just stand there and let the defender head the ball clear without a challenge! If no-one is running for the second ball from the header then its not Long's fault.

Totally agree. Long does well in the air. Its not his fault he is being played as a lone striker with no-one to latch on to any of his headers.

[WoodleyRoyal]

it was long's flick on that created tabbs "one on one" but that was the only time he'd gone beyond the striker throughout the game - you have to have that in the formation we play and no-one seems capable of that in the squad. Change to 442 and im sure we will see alot more from shane long

[floyd__streete]

Donny's number 4 was a treat of ineptitude all game, so glad he got himself in that position at the end

Agreed, I enjoyed his chaotic performance - but it rather sums up the game that he did actually score Donny's second . It was a good thing that they spaffed that very nice chance at the end because I fear I might have shouted my larynx clean out of my throat had they equalised for 4-4

[floyd__streete]

And LOL at Floyd (was it?) who said the home fans stayed with the team throughout - they booed them at 3-1!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 142304.stm

McD > McGuire. Don't get me wrong, I have little time for many of the gormless chavs who support RFC but at 3-1 down the chanting of supporting where I was sat actually got louder.

[Snowball]

For my tuppence worth, thought first half was pretty dire - didn't create anything and don't think Sullivan had to make a save.

Umm, we SCORED a goal.

We "created" a one-on-one for Tabb which the keeper saved.

That'll do for starters

[PieEater]

For my tuppence worth, thought first half was pretty dire - didn't create anything and don't think Sullivan had to make a save. .

We didn't create anything apart from Long through then a crap pass to nobody, Long's free header wide, and Tabby trying to go around Sullivan. 3 great chances that we fluffed and a goal.

[Snowball]

Donny's number 4 was a treat of ineptitude all game, so glad he got himself in that position at the end

Agreed, I enjoyed his chaotic performance - but it rather sums up the game that he did actually score Donny's second . It was a good thing that they spaffed that very nice chance at the end because I fear I might have shouted my larynx clean out of my throat had they equalised for 4-4

They were all offside. The linesman was waiting for one of them to touch the ball. he then flagged

[Kitson12]

Donny's number 4 was a treat of ineptitude all game, so glad he got himself in that position at the end

Agreed, I enjoyed his chaotic performance - but it rather sums up the game that he did actually score Donny's second . It was a good thing that they spaffed that very nice chance at the end because I fear I might have shouted my larynx clean out of my throat had they equalised for 4-4

They were all offside. The linesman was waiting for one of them to touch the ball. he then flagged

Umm. No, he didn't flag.

[Maguire]

And LOL at Floyd (was it?) who said the home fans stayed with the team throughout - they booed them at 3-1!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 142304.stm

McD > McGuire. Don't get me wrong, I have little time for many of the gormless chavs who support RFC but at 3-1 down the chanting of supporting where I was sat actually got louder.

I heard booing, nothing else.

Mainly from Silver Fox.