READING TEAM: Hislop, Bernal, Kerr, Wdowczyk, Macca, Holsgrove (Lambert),
Gilkes, Gooding, Quinn, Nogan (Lovell), Taylor.
Att: 7,556
Reading's performance made the midweek defeat at Millwall look like a classy performance. It was that bad. So bad that when the Royals left the pitch at full time they were booed off. A little bit unfair considering our incredible success this season but form recently has gone so far down hill, and all our play off dreams are beginning to fade. Barnsley now look set to overtake the Royals after this win and the piles of games in hand they have. The only consolation was Sheffield United 'doing a Readi ng' away at Notts County. We're not out of it yet but we are looking less likely play-off contenders all the time. We're going to need an amazing run of results now! Still whatever happens its still been an amazing season. Anyway enough of my ramblings and onto the game.
Quinn had received a lot of praise for his decision to drop himself in favour of Uwe for the past few games. Maybe after the hopeless display at Milwall he felt he was needed to bring back something to the team. But it hasn't been his season and it wasn't to change. At half time the South Bank faithful were shouting for Archie Lovell... the obvious choice would be to replace Quinn who was the worst on the pitch but it wasn't be be.
The first half was a fairly even affair and it looked like the game could go either way. Reading created a few chances, Scott Taylor having the best of them but failing to make them count. The first a chance from close in which really should have found the net but instead went soaring over and his second went narrowly wide. Barnsley struck right on the stoke of half time with a headed goal which killed off Reading. In the second half Reading showed a complete lack of heart and passion as Barnsley bega n to control the game. Barnsley gained what must have been their easiest away win of the season, scoring midway through the second half and sealing victory in the last minute with a third.
It wouldn't have been so bad if Gilkes had had a 'normal' match with about 15 minutes of action but he didn't even play a minute. But his performance was fairly typical of the team. Quinn might as well have not been on the pitch - I can't remember any c ontribution he made to the game. Nogan too is still yet to show any talent except for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Adie Williams was forced to sit the game out on suspension and Gooding starts his suspension next week. So once again our squad is not at full strength, but I don't think that would have made much difference. Maybe we will start to win again with the return of Osbourn. Reading 6 Swindon 0.
Graham
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