MATCHWATCH : Colchester United (h) sponsored by Callum & Sam

[tidus_mi2]

This is a glorified training exercise from the Reading perspective. Not many of these are impressing.

[Zip]

Would have preferred a stronger side. Lose and it will be four defeats on the bounce in competitive fixtures.

[Snowflake Royal]

Colchester very high tempo and direct... and when I say direct I don't mean long ball, I mean not fart arsing around, but powering forward into space at every opportunity.

Meanwhile we're a bit low tempo and casual. Final ball for us leaving a fair amount to be desired. The scratch built forward line is showing in how they're linking.

[Royal_jimmy]

Paunovic out even though he's not in charge yet

[tidus_mi2]

Joao oh how I have missed thee.

[Sutekh]

Joao....... 1-1

[Ascotexgunner]

Paunovic out even though he's not in charge yet

Nice timing.

[Royal Ginger]

Great cross

[Royal_jimmy]

Paunovic out even though he's not in charge yet

Nice timing.

Maybe I should say it when we need a goal so we don't lose

[Snowflake Royal]

First cross actually aimed at someone and it's buried.

Beautiful ball from Araruna. Fab movement and header from Joao.

If only our forwards could cross like that.

[Ascotexgunner]

Joao oh how I have missed thee.

His injury may have been the difference between Bowen losing his job and continuing. I reckon losing him cost us 9 points.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Would have preferred a stronger side. Lose and it will be four defeats on the bounce in competitive fixtures.

Yeah but that hardly means anything...3 diff managers for a start.

This cup is meaningless even without a compressed season so why its going ahead this season is beyond me

[Snowflake Royal]

HT

More of the same from Reading really. Bit slow, bit directionless, pretty disjointed, but some flashes of quality.

Aluko doing ok, but terrible attitude and the difference between his crossing and Araruna's is stark. He can shape a decent ball, but he doesn't play it where it'll do any good.

Olise's crossing needs a bit of work, too much drift / fade on the end and a little long, but the right ideas.

Defensively rather open. Bristow not standing out, which is neither a good or bad sign. Moore doing the sort of amazing blocks he pulls off regularly, but they're only needed because we haven't been in the right shape most of the time.

Few shakey moments all round. Very pre-season vibe to us.

[Fox Talbot]

10 mins gone and it’s already looking like a disgrace.

Club not taking the competition or us seriously, I fear.

Clubs not taking this cup seriously isn’t new information, and 100% doesn’t just apply to us. Most don’t take it seriously until 1/4 final stages.

Tbh, I’m fine with the club treating this like a final pre-season friendly and trying something different.

I want more for me tenner.

We’re at home v a club from two divisions below. We’ve won one home game this calendar year. We need a morale boost. We know Colch will be up for it. We have to integrate an important new player Laurent into our team and develop a coherent playing style.

So what do we do? Play a scratch side as if it were a trial match. Sure that is trying something different. Maybe we’ll scrape a win?

Better if we went out there all gunning blazing with a top side, won 4-0, break the bogey, get some strikers on the scoresheet and improve confidence all round - that would be something different!

Just look at the body language of Joao and Aluko. They’re loving this.

[tidus_mi2]

I'm muting BBCRB during half-time, the people who call in are just frustrating to listen to.

[genome]

Jesus christ the BBCRB callers and texters are a miserable bunch

[Snowball]

I think Aluko has played as well as any Reading player and his crosses have been in the right place if the strikers were having a real go

Araruna looks decent

[Snowflake Royal]

Jesus christ the BBCRB callers and texters are a miserable bunch

Anyone who calls them is either lonely or mad. Or both.

[Sutekh]

And internet BBC Berks coverage suddenly decides it’s not contractually correct to broadcast the match

[Snowflake Royal]

Fuk me Rinomhota makes a difference