Reading's much anticipated return to Division One was a disappointment, but not a massive disappointment. It wasn't an unexpected result by any stretch of the imagination - few Reading fans would have realistically expected the Royals to take anything from a trip to Derby County. Derby have mostly retained the strong side that took part in last season's Premiership campaign. Reading have retained the same squad that hasn't won a league fixture since March this year - and that was in Division Two of course. We couldn't expect to break the run at Pride Park, and when we didn't there were still plenty of positives to be taken from the game.

Reading took a huge away following up to Derby and the stadium was filled to near capacity with the biggest crowd to watch the Royals since the 2000/2001 play-off final. The stage was magnificent in the summer sun - it was impossible to forget we were back in Division One. It could have easily been a Premiership game until we were reminded that Reading remain so inexperienced even at Division One level. It was a crash down to earth and a reminder how strong this new Division will be for the Royals, but we worked hard and did well to hold the home side to 0-0 at half time. There was also plenty to be said for our tactics and performance playing away against one of the Division's favourites, that shows Pardew will be the man to ensure we remain in Division One come the end of the season.

Pardew's approach to the game was to start with the much talked about 4-5-1 formation, with Martin Butler playing as the loan striker. We didn't alter from this formation or starting eleven for the opening sixty minutes of the game - and during that period we kept the score at 0-0. We would have all settled for a goalless draw at the final whistle. We didn't really look like creating much up front and Derby found the single threat of Butler all to easy to deal with, however, they struggled to create many chances for a long period against a Reading side determined to defend and keep hold of the ball. There was no faulting Reading for effort as we chased everything down and put in plenty of tackles. Reading's approach to the game must have frustrated the home side who were restricted to virtually no shots on target during the first 45 minutes play.

Derby were restricted to a couple of dangerous crosses into the Reading box that were cleared each time, and they seemed to find no way through the middle against a packed Reading midfield and defence. Whitehead had to make no real saves of note during the first half. Reading on the other hand didn't really look like finding the net themselves but had their best spell midway through the half when Hughes connected with a cross to send the ball just over the bar and into the Reading fans packed behind the goal. Watson also got a shot in on target which posed no real danger - it was to be Reading's only effort on target of the half. A couple of rather dodgy penalty appeals, one for each side, were both quite rightly ignored, and it was 0-0 at the break.

After the break it was a different story as Derby stepped up the pace of the game straight away and immediately looked a class above the Royals. They were knocking the ball around with such ease all around the pitch and on the floor that Reading struggled to contain the attacks in the way they had in the first half. Murty and Shorey had impressed in the first half, and although their positioning remained strong they were being run ragged as the home side surged forward at speed. Right after the break Derby could twice have been ahead. First Whitehead made a great reaction have from a close range effort and that was quickly followed up by a Derby corner from the left which was connected with and set towards goal, on target, only to find Watson on the post to clear off the line.

From this moment onwards it was always going to be case of Reading desperately trying to hang on for a draw - but there was far too much of the game remaining. The game changed dramatically on the hour when Jamie Cureton was bought on and Igoe left the field. From that moment onwards it was just a question of how many Derby would win by. In the end we perhaps relived to have only lost by the three goals. The substitution seemed to upset the 5-4-1 formation that had been holding Derby, with Hughes pushed wide and with two strikers we immediately lost the midfield battle and Derby found it even easier to storm down the wings with little resistance. Two Derby goals were followed within two minutes of each other putting the game past the Royals. Both were similar - the first was a cross met from the Derby right in the middle by Lee who had far too much time to pick his spot. The second made a joke of the Reading defence as Christie ran straight past the Reading defence with ease, cut in and looked to be going all the way without a tackle. Eventually he prodded it along to Ravanelli who stuck it home from well inside the box to make it 0-2.

There was little for Reading to complain about but special attention should be paid to Ravanelli who did himself no favours at all. Quite why a player of such obvious skill needs to resort to all that rolling around on the ground in faked agony is beyond me. He made himself look like a complete idiot on more than one occasion and in the end was lucky to stay on the pitch. After picking up a yellow card he was guilty of a dreadful deliberate hand ball in the Reading area as he tried to push the ball on with his hand. The referee totally bottled it when he should have produced the second yellow. Down the other end Butler was given no favours from the referee and every Reading attack ended with Butler conceding a foul or being caught off-side. After the introduction of Cureton it was easy to forget we had any strikers out there at all when we just couldn't work the ball forward at all with Derby having all the play.

The game was wrapped up for Derby with 18 minutes still to play when another fast passing movement from the Derby left saw the Reading defence offer no real resistance. A whole series of quick Derby passes saw the ball worked well into the box with the Reading defence clueless how to prevent the goal. It was played into the middle and again driven home giving Whitehead no chance. 0-3. Reading had a good closing five minutes when Derby were content to settle for the three goals with Cureton getting a rare bit of action after picking up the ball from the left. Cureton got to the edge of the area before firing a low effort well wide of the left post. It was a rare attempt on goal for the Royals though who were well beaten by a superior Derby side. Pardew will probably be disappointed at his choice to change the formation on the hour. We can only guess it was an attempt to win the game and that was probably far too optimistic. We probably still wouldn't have sneaked the draw, but that was always going to be best thing to aim for against opposition of such quality. Tuesday night at the Madejski Stadium will of course be a different story.
Graham