Nervy last 20 but good to be back

Lauren was immense and Joao and Swift look like perfect pair (hope to fukk Joao isn't out too long)
Azeez looked lively, must be ace to score in your first league home game. Though second half he was drifting everywhere and that greedy break really irked me. We need points and but for the keeper saving us twice in injury time that greed would have cost us. All in all I liked the cut of his jib and we look good going forward with him

Bristow was ok, not great (certainly defensively, kept leaving big gaps) but hopefully he grows and grows as we're gonna need these youngsters


But fukking hell that defence
Please Pauno for the love of God let our defenders do what they're good at (hint, making space isn't it)

Yep reasonable summary

Out my thoughts on the other threads. Thought we were pretty good up to the last 10-15 when we feel apart (tiredness?). Rafael saved us at the end and the back 3 didn’t do their job at all in that period

Was comfortable before that. Azeez, Swift, Laurent star men. Add some depth and we’ll be good

Was more than fine with Azeez having that shot on the break; sign of a young hungry striker. Agree with the rest though. Defence looked dodge. Swift & Laurent class. Brilliant save from Rafa when it mattered. Atmosphere fantastic.

Also well done RFC on the well engineered COVID super spreader event in C1871. Food only available inside at 1 massively crowded and slow moving bar. Genius not to have even 1 food place outside in the massive parking area. Someone needs firing for that.

Yes good game good atmosphere. We scored 2 goals with 2 shots on target but felt we could have scored more. Relied on Rafael at the end who didn't let us down. Agree that break it was 3 v 2 and azeez went alone. Frustrating and I felt like he made the wrong decision a few times but I'm sure that will improve given more games. Thought the pen seemed soft. Swift is another level this season.

Bit shocked about how poor Preston were;they must have lost quite a few players from last season.We almost threw it away though,and should have capitalised during that period early in the 2nd half when we choked on several chances.
Moore had a few hiccups and Mac had some good and bad moments in equal measure;the rest however performed really well.After last weeks reports I was expecting the worst from Bristow,but the lad did OK .Femi should have done more with his opportunities in the 2nd half;but his mobility means he is an upgrade on Puscas.Poor old George,his touch totally deserted him when he came on,and it was all a bit embarrassing.
Don’t know what sort of physical shape we are going to be in on Tuesday;a couple of players were out on their feet.Fingers crossed.

Swift man of the match. Great link up with Joao for the second goal.

Defence a worry, it's OK to put your foot through it once in a while.

Should have won by more with the chances we created.

Hanging on during an injury time that would have probably been shorter if the brainiacs in Club1871 hadn't lengthened it by playing catch for a minute earlier in the half.

Failed my fitness test with a thigh strain so I couldn`t attend today so can`t really comment on the game but it sounds a lot like numerous games in the past, make chances, don`t put it to bed and end up hanging on, welcome 3 points but I sense we need to improve esp at the back.

Should be fine for Tuesday. Still very early season and they had last midweek off

Look a bit short of match fitness more than anything. Hopefully that’ll improve over the next week or two

Rafa takes some stick from muppets on here...he was OUTSTANDING when it mattered today.

As for c1871......I chatted to a couple of PNE fans in the hotel bar after the game. I quote "Those bastards to our right never stopped singing. What a racket". I echo these sentiments...take a bow c1871, you have your critics from those that know no better, but you were IMMENSE.

Great day. Sunshine. Three points. Roll on Tuesday. And for those that moan or complain or stay away....please continue staying away

I thought we really deserved that win, with the first team all fit we have a pretty decent team and Swift scored a fantastic goal.

Preston look like relegation material and apart from the injury time stuff and the pen they really deserved nothing from the game.

If we can keep Swift and Joao fit we'll be ok.

Nice to be back!

That should have been a much more comfortable win than it was. We almost threw that away.

Know it’s very early days but seen enough of Azeez to think he can be a good pro at this level

Definitely one to look at an extended contract if we can. The likes of East and Smith got 3 years on far less impressive performances - aware times are different of course

Joao on crutches apparently.

Thought Joao was really up for it today and led the line superbly. He is SO vital for us. Was fuming that Azeez did not put him in on that three-man breakaway. Fantastic combinations for Swift's goal, but we were surprisingly hanging on at the end when we should have been out of sight. Rino, Laurent, Swift and Joao brilliant. Cabral's distribution is utter bobbins.

4 things I took out from that.

I'd be surprised if Joao plays Tuesday or even next Saturday. Puscas will need to stand up and lead the line.

I liked the energy we showed today, I've not seen that from a Reading team for a long long time. That could help set us towards a reasonable season.

We looked ok overall. We lacked cutting edge and there was some poor decision making going forwards on a few occasions. We had enough quality to capitalise on poor Preston defensive attributes. It's early days but I think they'll be one of the teams we'll need to be beating to stay up. Even though we played well today, this season's going to be a long slog and we're banking on having injury luck on our side.

Most of the team played well at a 7/10 or above except Moore and Morrison. A note about Bristow who did a job today, he doesn't look quite ready to play week in week out but he was well protected. Possibly helped by Preston being poor and being easy to counter. Against better sides we won't get away with that.

As for Azeez, amazing he got his first goal for us. He deserved a goal on his performance. He'll learn from his missed chances. Hopefully playing alongside Swift and Ejaria will aid his development and decision making.

While I agree Azeez will learn I don’t want him to stop taking shots. For ages we have moaned that players don’t take responsibility and shoot, but pass it on for someone else to have a go. I’m happy for a young lad to decide that he’s in a reasonable position to have a go and does so rather than taking the easy option and giving it to someone else.

It was good being back especially as all season ticket holders around me had also returned. Good atmosphere and a decent game.
Overall we deserved the win and it was vital that we held on.
Swift is huge for us. He was really struggling in the final stages though with his passing going awry.
He linked up very well with Joao.
Azeez did well but Yids was furious when he went for glory instead of passing through to Joao or playing out to Yids.

Finally a change in formation. Good to see the front 3 interchange rather than remain static as was the case last season. Hopefully a better platform for Pusas to shine. Full backs are areas of obvious concern.

3 valuable points in what is going to be a challenging season.

Regarding Azeez and that break - yes it was the wrong choice but great to see he had that confidence to drive through the centre and have a go. Don’t think it was even the wrong choice necessarily just badly executed

If he can adjust that radar on his left foot he’ll score plenty

He actually seemed to be playing up top with Joao at times and it definitely added a dimension to the forward line

Hopefully Joao is on crutches just as a precaution.

lol

lol
Excuse me for being optimistic.

lol
Excuse me for being optimistic.

Pauno didn't sound hopeful post match. Potentially a scan.

lol
Excuse me for being optimistic.

There is a photo of him after the game smiling with a group of young lads. If it was a bad injury I doubt he would be willing to have photos with anyone. It looked totally innocuous.

Gave my thoughts in the other thread, so instead of repeating myself I’ll give ratings:

Rafa 8
Morrison 6.5
Moore 6
McIntyre 7
Yiadom 6
Rino 8
Laurent 8
Bristow 6
Swift 8
Azeez 8
Joao 7

Great atmosphere and a good result against a very poor PNE team who based on that performance should finish below us in the league wherever we end . Swift really good as for Joao …..when is he not injured !

First match for ages!

Swift MOTM, must keep him

Worried about Joao

But more importantly I now fit a small sized (away) shirt

Old aged muscle wastage

Old aged muscle wastage

Thought Azeez was great as a foil for Joao but despite his goal his shooting was woeful.

Bristow was a warm body in a position we need cover. Maybe he’ll be good, maybe that’s all he is but today he was one of the weaker links.

Yiadom was very good.

Swift was imperious but part of the usual pattern.

Brilliant teams sit on him dominated by a defence injured for months

Rafael saved the game but his distribution has somehow got worse?

Preston are in trouble. CBs were carved open repeatedly and were saved embarrassment by our guys taking too many touches.