Derby (a) Match Thread - Sponsored by Nick Blackman

[Top Flight]

From what I can gather, it sounds like we put up a really good fight tonight.

Well done RFC. Good work!

We probably have too steep a mountain to climb to get into the play-offs unfortunately. But you never know with Super Mac in charge. If anyone can get us there, it will be Big Mac!

[Oilroyal]

There was understandable negativity when we went routinely 1-0 down but as we grew into the game optimism went up and I don't think there was a drop of negativity after the equaliser.

Going 1 down with 79 minutes to play should fans automatically become negative. Before kick off most we're excited by the selection. Just wish we as supporters would have a bit more faith. Palace fans do it brilliantly ... We go a goal down and as supporters just cave in.

[maffff]

Don't think the kids on twitter appreciated the good old fashioned late winner RT

[tidus_mi2]

Don't think the kids on twitter appreciated the good old fashioned late winner RT

but you do that all the time.

[RG7Fan]

From what I can gather, it sounds like we put up a really good fight tonight.

Well done RFC. Good work!

We probably have too steep a mountain to climb to get into the play-offs unfortunately. But you never know with Super Mac in charge. If anyone can get us there, it will be Big Mac!

10 points off the play off - a tough one. Brighton of all teams - who are now 11 off the top. Weren't they top when we drew with them at home (and we were not far off)?

[RG7Fan]

That must be the only time (in my short football viewing career) where a team didn't make any subs ...

[Avon Royal]

Decent point earned at a good side.

Happy with that.

[CountryRoyal]

Good point and hopefully we can carry this level of performances into the next game against an MK Dons side who got destroyed tonight.

[JIM]

We need a reliable goal scorer, Then a lot of supporters will be satisfied. '

Owners shell out some money. Gamble on promotion. like Bmth, Stay up get your money back. relegation. parachute money.

[stickywhisky]

Back at the hotel..

First 10 mins we were on top until their goal, then very even until the equaliser which was a very well worked goal.

We never really looked back after that and should have scored at least 3 times in the second half. The problem for me was that no one (Vydra in particular) was willing to pull the trigger and ended up losing the ball or giving to the opposition.

Even so great performance against a good side which shows promise for the second half of the season.

[Oilroyal]

From the Derby fans forum.


Absolute dogs hit. We got a lucky goal against the run of play and had a ten minute spell after. Apart from that they outclassed us and it was painful to watch. Lucky as hell to come out with a point.

Wrong formation. They just passed through us. Crying out for an extra body in the middle and never happened. Clement has to take the blame again. Worst performance as a manager since he came in.

Like the look of Camara, Blackman meh.


Should make some of our negative supporters feel at home reading this.

[paultheroyal]

Most comments on that site are saying Reading FC best performance of the season at their place and fancy us for play offs!

[genome]

Decent point.
Good performance.
No Blackman goal.

I will take that

[3points]

Was at the game with a Derby fan. He said it was the most toothless they've looked in attack for two seasons. No system. Guess what, they changed formation to put Blackman in, just like we've done in the past, and it has upset their style. MOTM - Danny Danny Danny Williams. I'm not his biggest fan but he was excellent tonight.

[Oilroyal]

Got to luv him!

Royals boss reacts to an away display that impressed all at the iPro

Having watched Reading outperform second-placed Derby County on their own turf, the press were expecting a beaming Brian McDermott to be openly thrilled by an away display some bosses would sing and dance about. But while delighted with his players' display and the effort put in by every man out on the iPro pitch this evening, the Royals boss continued to take a measured approach to his post-match analysis.

"I know I don't look pleased, I apologise for my face. I can't alter my face, it's the only one I've got," he quipped with the chuckling press towards the end of a press conference held after the 1-1 draw. "So I do apologise that I don't look really, really happy," he wryly smiled. "But I am happy with everything that's gone on tonight. I'm proud of the players and I will try to liven my face up!"

"We had good pace and passed it really well in the final third - everyone in the dressing room contributed to tonight, but unfortunately we just couldn't kick on and win the game.

"They are really trying to have a go at getting into the Premier League here and Paul Clement is a top manager - they've got good staff here, good players, so I'm sure they're going to be close come the end of the season.

"And it's never easy when you concede a goal in front of 28,000 people. It naturally gives them a lift...but it gave us a lift too. I thought our goal was fabulous, a great passing move.

"I've seen a lot of teams at Reading over the years and this team can really play, they can pass it, they move the ball. And I didn't make any changes tonight because I felt all the time that we were going to go on to win the game.

"We played very well tonight. We've done our jobs tonight which is important. We showed good quality and good spirit. The players have tried everything to win the game, so I can't be disappointed by just a point, I can never be disappointed when I see the players giving us everything.

"We haven't come here for a draw, we've come here to win this game - and we'll try to win every game we're involved in. We've got to be proud of what we've done tonight.

"We're trying to build something, we're trying to build a good side going forward. We've got good players in our dressing room, a good spirit and they can play. We've shown that over the last three games or so; we've won one and drawn two and we probably should have won them all. We're just trying to improve, day in, day out.

"The camaraderie in that dressing room, going over to the fans at the end of the game as one, it showed everyone is going in the same direction - and that is really important. That's the identity I'm talking about."

[camb-royal]

I'll take the point. Still very much work in progress but progress it is. Didn't go to the game but judging by the comments on Radio Berks and Derby fans forum, we were by far the better side for the majority of the game.
Three things worry me though .... Still need another proven striker, still can't score from a corner, still can't defend a corner! Get these sorted and the future will look a lot brighter

[3points]

I'll take the point. Still very much work in progress but progress it is. Didn't go to the game but judging by the comments on Radio Berks and Derby fans forum, we were by far the better side for the majority of the game.
Three things worry me though .... Still need another proven striker, still can't score from a corner, still can't defend a corner! Get these sorted and the future will look a lot brighter

Seeing it live either Cooper slipped or he was tripped which is why Shackell had so much time and space

[camb-royal]

I'll take the point. Still very much work in progress but progress it is. Didn't go to the game but judging by the comments on Radio Berks and Derby fans forum, we were by far the better side for the majority of the game.
Three things worry me though .... Still need another proven striker, still can't score from a corner, still can't defend a corner! Get these sorted and the future will look a lot brighter

Seeing it live either Cooper slipped or he was tripped which is why Shackell had so much time and space

Oh ok. I haven't seen it so will have to take your word for it. I'm not blaming Cooper though. He's an emerging talent. It just seems to have happened a lot since the Fulham game (that I was at). Still think we need to defend better from set pieces.

[melonhead]

Decent point.
Good performance.
No Blackman goal.

I will take that

[floyd__streete]

Good result.