Decent point today. Really impressed with our defensive efforts today, looking much more solid under Gomes. Moore was outstanding, as was Martinez.

However, although we had a few decent chances, we do look so toothless upfront. Thought Aluko played well and worked really hard. Barrow was great at tracking back and creating space, but really wasteful in key positions. Felt Swift was our best offesive player today, but he needs a focal point upfront. Bod wasn’t on long enough and Meite seemed to be playing as one of our 16 wingers when he came on. Still pleased with the result mind!

From what I could see on the stream :

Martinez - 8

Yiadom - 7
Moore - 8
Miazga - 7
Blackett - 7

Baker - 5
Swift - 6
Rino - 5

McCleary - 4
Barrow - 5
Aluko - 6

Meite - 4 (why)

Rino's worst game I've seen in a while, sloppy on the ball on one too many occasions. Swift and Aluko best two offensive players but can still do a lot more whilst McCleary was ineffective yet again. Seen Baker four times and just not convinced I'm afraid, would love to see Kelly in on Wednesday

Martinez happily dispelling by scepticism today.

Just when are we going to be a team that looks like scoring a goal?

When Baker’s shot cannons off Hector and just wide of a comedy OG.......

Just seen the highlights, rode our luck at times there, especially the last minute miss, but given luck we could of had a couple ourselves.

Good saves by both keepers

Thanks for the report from somebody who went which is always good to read rather than the comments in the Matchwatch which involves a lot of guessing..
I think I'll have to start going to away games again if only to see the Aluko that we seldom see at home.
Who played centrally up front?

Thanks for the report from somebody who went which is always good to read rather than the comments in the Matchwatch which involves a lot of guessing..
I think I'll have to start going to away games again if only to see the Aluko that we seldom see at home.
Who played centrally up front?
Aluko was the ‘central’ striker....although he had licence to drift. The problem was that Barrow and GMac (as the wingers) had the same licence to switch wings. In one first half move, this ended up with Barrow, Aluko and GMac within about 5 yards of each other. GMac got lost in this set-up.....he didn’t really seem to know where he was meant to be. It certainly suited Aluko and Barrow more. In hindsight , starting with Bod or Meite up front and not playing GMac would probably have been a better fit.

After watching us today I feel like it's just going to be a coin-toss of whether we can stay up. Defensively we looked fairly solid, but it was only good luck and poor finishing from them that stopped us conceding. Whilst upfront we offered very little.

I thought we attacked better in the first half, as soon as the subs came on we seem to lose any coherence. For me it's just a case of playing a fixed forward line for 5-6 games in a row (something that is really just going to be dependent on luck with our injuries).

I have to say that Wednesday were a lot better than what I remembered from the few games I saw of them last year. In a way there are a better version of us - set up to retain possession, with skilful attacking players, but struggling to convert chances.

Can only be a matter of time until we turn those draws into wins. Ipswich look down and out, Bolton very close to joining them then there’s us and Rotherham, with Millwall and Wigan losing their ground on us as we speak. Think it might be too little too late now though, not showing any signs of improvement attacking wise that suggest we can turn those draws into wins however...

Martinez and Miazga were absolutely outstanding yesterday. 2 brilliant signing by the club.

If Oliveira played that might have made the difference between us collecting one point or three.

Martinez and Miazga were absolutely outstanding yesterday. 2 brilliant signing by the club.

If Oliveira played that might have made the difference between us collecting one point or three.

If Nelson had been the one to have Barrow’s key chance (round the keeper) in the first half, he doesn’t hesistate. He wouldn’t switch feet, allowing Westwood back into his goal. He buries it or squares it to GMac. Either way, I’m sure Nelson would have made more of it and fairly sure we’d have gone 1-0 up.

You sound confused.

They looked well up for it and got after it, which I suppose is to be expected in Bruce's home opener.
They have some decent players. Bannan was ok (tho we contained him better than at our place), Westwood is a decent keeper, and I've long admired Steven Fletcher as a Champ striker.
I was looking at their recent results. They've kept 7 clean sheets in their last 11 games. They lost 3-0 twice in that span (to Chelsea and Hull). But in the other 9 games, they only conceded 2 goals total.

They looked well up for it and got after it, which I suppose is to be expected in Bruce's home opener.
They have some decent players. Bannan was ok (tho we contained him better than at our place), Westwood is a decent keeper, and I've long admired Steven Fletcher as a Champ striker.
I was looking at their recent results. They've kept 7 clean sheets in their last 11 games. They lost 3-0 twice in that span (to Chelsea and Hull). But in the other 9 games, they only conceded 2 goals total.

I couldn't believe Fletcher was only 31, I thought he'd be easily 35 or so. Feels like he's been around forever.

Martinez 9
Lady luck 10

Rino 2
Swift 2
Aluko 2

Everyone else 4

We should have lost that 4-0

I honestly do not remember a Reading team as ridiculously unable to score a goal as this lot of ****ing jokers.

I also don't remember as many dangerous mistakes from any team I've watched.

My nostalgic post of a few days ago is giving way to just plain anger game by game. They couldn't score in a brothel.

Id keep Martinez and ship the whole lot of them out.

We deserve to go down.

Sorry but I'm wasting too much time following this lot.

Please tell us who`s forcing you to?

Hark at Strap there

Don't pay too much attention to 2WW1WC, he's a bit of a crank and a classic shit weather poster.

He actually wants us to go down just so he can say he was right.

Would like to think he's alone in wanting that, but sometimes I wonder.

Quite possible.

Agree with world wars, can't remember a Reading team so incapable of scoring goals, its almost like a jinx, would be a miracle if we stay up with this lot

Start by sorting out the defence and work from there.

Hes got the first bit sorted.

Exactly. Under Clement we would have lost that match (and probably season 2 Stam) by at least 2. It may be boring at the moment, but if it keeps us up I for one will not be complaining! The match on Wednesday against Blackburn is now pretty huge. A win would be a massive step forward.

Couple of people don't seem to understand the value of keeping clean sheets which is worrying.

The goals will come. You can visibly see the players are gaining in confidence and that confidence will spread from the defence to attack in time. It's all about our next two home games now, they will make or break our season. 6 points from the Blackburn and Rotherham games gets our heads above water.

Agreed. Keep playing like yesterday and we should stay up.

Exactly. Under Clement we would have lost that match (and probably season 2 Stam) by at least 2. It may be boring at the moment, but if it keeps us up I for one will not be complaining! The match on Wednesday against Blackburn is now pretty huge. A win would be a massive step forward.
Given Clement and Gomes points accumulation is very similar that's not a strong point.

You can't win if you don't score, but you still can if you concede.

It's great we're conceding fewer. But those wins and goals have to start coming soon.

A clean sheet guarantees you something out of the match.

And a point a game is likely to lead to relegation.