Things have changed so much over the past few seasons that we now expect to lose at home against teams like Wigan. And when we did on Saturday it hardly caused a ripple across the East Stand. The second half was probably the quietest the Madejski Stadium has ever been. Although in the first half there was plenty of promise it all evaporated in the second as Reading played out time without an idea of how to get back into the game. Passes didn't find targets, players didn't find space, and defensive problems were back once again as Reading seemed clueless as to what to do. To make it even worse this was the first league game this season that we haven't scored a goal. It seems we have problems in all departments all of a sudden, and there is little sign we're moving the right direction - yet. Pardew has a very tough job ahead of him, this season could well turn into a relegation fight unless he can at last get us playing like a team.

However there were some bright moments in the first half. For the first 30 to 40 minutes we had the vast majority of the possession, but Wigan played a very controlled game with a packed defence, and our possession only rarely troubled the Wigan defence. Hodges and Forster looked like they might combine as well as they did towards the end of the Wycombe game with Hodges playing wide left to supply Forster. Unfortunately they couldn't find the space unlike they had before. As we pushed forward we did manage to win several corners and threatened from a couple of them. From a corner on the right Parky found himself with a great chance as the ball past a couple of players and arrived just in front of him. His volley was directly at the keeper for an easy save. Forster had another similar chance that again was shot directly at the keeper. Caskey was the only other Royals player to have a shot in the half - a decent effort but way over the bar.

Although Reading had looked the better side to begin with it was probably only because of the away side's game plan. They'd come for a one goal victory and always looked likely to get it by playing very deep and marching forward on the break. From Wigan's first corner they almost too the lead. The ball was played in from the right and fired towards the top corner of the Reading net with Whitehead nowhere to be seen. Caskey stuck himself in the way and the ball flew across to the other corner where Skippy headed the ball clear. Moments later and just before half time Wigan took the lead. They simply strode past the centre of defence with Casper again having a weak game in the middle, broke the offside trap, legged it forward, played the ball to the left inside the area where it was soundly headed past Whitehead and into the back of the net. 0-1.

The second half went steadily downhill as Reading lost their way more and more. Wigan got more and more into the game without really putting in too much effort - they didn't need to as Reading rarely threatened. In the first half we'd been passing it around quite nicely at times and at least looking like going in the wrong direction. But at 0-1 down it seemed that heads dropped, the concentration went and we just got steadily worse as it all went a bit dull. To Pardew's credit in his first game in full-time charge of the Royals he made an early decision to change it around a bit.

Forster had taken a knock in an earlier challenge and was replaced by McIntyre. Smith who has been almost non-existant throughout was replaced by Paul Brayson - yet to have a real look-in this season. The substitutions made a lot of sense and were done with time to take effect - add more strength up front. However there simply wasn't any supply to the front men, nice idea, but it simply didn't work. Williams was putting in a fair bit of effort winning balls on the wings, but as soon as the ball was played into the box he'd fall over once again. Brayson only got one real chance as did McIntyre who was guilty of a couple of truly appauling balls.

The frustration soon set in as Reading picked up 3 bookings within a few minutes. Parky's summed it up as he went two footed in when the ball was already running out of play to conceede the free kick and earn some disciplinary points for himself. But then even the aggression faded out of Reading's game.

It seemed inevitable that it would be Wigan grabbing a goal and not us. Whitehead made a great save when our defence was sliced in half once again. It was one on one but Whitehead, making his home debut, came out, stood his ground and made a great save It took Wigan until the final minutes to add to their single goal. They chased the ball into the box on the left, Whitehead came out the player dived over him, and despite Whitehead's protests the penalty was awarded. Not that it mattered at this stage. Up they stepped and drove it into the net with no problems. 0-2 to Wigan. Wigan were simply the better team.

On Wednesday Reading face Bury at the Madejski, in a game which promises another low turn out. If we lose we could go bottom. Time that corner was turned please Alan.

Graham