Considering Reading's difficult start to the season it must be a good sign that we're so disappointed to have only the three points so far. Before the season kicked off we might not have seen it as a too bad return after games with Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry City. Two of those sides are likely to be making a return to the Premiership come the end of the season and we've more than competed in all these fixtures. The table above shows Reading in fifteenth place - a reasonably healthy start to the season. It remains disappointing however, because we could have won today's game and were definately good for a draw. This was a good performance from the Royals today and would have been a certain win last season against a team of less quality - but were were punished for being able to extend the lead after going ahead so early on.

Reading approached the game in entirely the right manner from the start and it was difficult to suggest improvements for the line-up with Igoe and Salako playing wide and Hughes and Watson in the middle. The central midfielders were to have an excellent game, particually in the first half, as Reading played some excellent football. We looked like a Division One side today and it was pleasing to see - despite the manner of the defeat. Hughes looked as determined as ever and went on some great charging runs through the middle of the pitch and at other times just did the job of keeping possession. Watson's passes around the park are sometimes unbelievable - he's a player for this Division who can create chances from nothing with one great ball. He nearly succeeded in that today with a long ball in front of Murty who nearly managed to get on the score sheet himself.

Up front Jamie Cureton remains the man and had another active game today. Cureton gave Reading the lead after just thirteen minutes. His third goal of the season, in just three games, came from the penalty spot. It was a strange penalty for the visitors to conceed. The ball came across the edge of the area and under little Reading pressure at all one of the three central defenders near the ball put their arm on it. A stupid penalty to give away and the kind of gift Cureton doesn't turn down. The penalty was confidently dispatched into the right side of the net. 1-0 to Reading. Either side of the goal Cureton could have been on the score sheet. Just before he sent a great header on target that required a save and just after he connected with a cross from the right and sent a difficult shot that was dipping in until the keeper made the stop. Cureton would have scored again given the chances but it was a first half of few clear chances with the majority of play in midfield as both sides showed some good passing football.

Down the other end Reading's defence looked solid as Coventry were restricted to a couple of long range efforts. However, they could have pulled level after breaking into the area on the right and firing a powerful shot across Whitehead. It looked to be going wide but hit the far post and went away to safety. Another rare opportunity saw the ball floated into the Reading area and needed Whitehead to tip it over for the corner at the last minute - a good save.

The second half continued much the same, but the game turned towards the second half of the half after a series of substitutions. Reading's substitutions failed to help our chances. On the other hand, Coventry's changes earlier in the half seemed to have the desired effort and earnt them two goals to turn the scoreline around. Reading had successfully restricted Coventry to long range efforts in the first half but our defence struggled in the second with a fast City attack. Shorey looked exposed a couple of times and it needed the ability of Mackie to keep Reading ahead. Mackie made a couple of superb goal saving tackles as the visitors so nearly broke through. However, they did break through with sixteen minutes left to play when the ball was crossed from the right with Shorey beaten. The cross was met with a good header in the middle, giving Whitehead no chance and making it 1-1. Coventry's second came with Reading still disagreeing with a foul given in the Coventry half. Parkinson was penalised for cleanly winning the ball and within moment it was worked straight up the other end and crossed from the left and stuck home. 1-2.

Cureton was replaced after being taken out with what appeared to an off the ball stamp in the middle of midfield - he seemed determined to have his revenge on Safri and Pardew seemed keen for him to not pick up a card or two! Forster came on and proved himself to be fit and capable of creating chances - but we lost the ability to add the second goal with Cureton missing. Butler continued to work hard to failed to work himself into the right place at the right time.

Salako, after a great first half, seemed off the pace a little when he was replaced by Rougier - but Rougier failed to get involved in the game despite running around like a nutter for his short time on the pitch. However, Reading really lost their shape and the ability to win or draw the game when Watson was removed from the action. Reading's ability to work the ball forward successfully seemed to vanish - and the limited chances were restricted to just the one. Right near the end when Reading were 1-2 down we should have pulled level. Forster did well to work his way down the left and cut into the area - he wasn't greedy and played a nice ball to Butler. Butler should have buried it and earned up a point - but instead sent the ball well over the crossbar.

This performance shows we have the basis of a good Division One side - but perhaps not a great one. It would be unfair to single players out but Butler seems off form. You can rely on Cureton to make the most of his chances, but Butler doesn't carry such a high hit rate. With our current squad we're not going to create chance after chance so it's hard to imagine a high scoring victory on the horizon. In defence the back four will deal with the average teams of the Division but are likely to slip up against some of the better ones. Igoe had an off day and seemed to want to go backwards to keep possesion rather than run forwards to create a chance. After starting the second half a goal up we seemed far too cautious and not keen to take risks by pushing players forward. Perhaps this is where it all fell down - it's just not safe attempting to hang onto single goal leads. Coventry weren't a patch on Derby today but remain one of the better sides this Division will offer - and we so nearly matched them today.
Graham

Following report from John Wells:
What a disappointing result this turned out to be although the first half performance from the Royals was very encouraging. Apart from a Coventry hitting the post on a quick counter attack, Reading , playing some quick incisive football, looked far more likely to score. Looking at the fixture list before the season began, I couldn't help feeling there was a possibility of losing our opening four games. However here we are with three points after three games and feeling disappointed because it could easily have been, and probably should have been, six points.

In sweltering heat Reading had losy that look of a side over-awed by playing in a higher division and took the game to their opponents. As early as the second minute Butler had his header headed off the line following a Williams flick from an Igoe corner. Coventry issued a warning by hitting the post a few minutes later but after that were restricted to speculative long-range shots from outside the box. Reading were playing good controlled football. They were holding the ball at the right time and hitting a good range of short and long passes. A perfect of example of this was a long pass driven diagonally out to the right by Watson to Murty who quickly rolled it into the path of Igoe breaching from midfield. Igoe's first touch put him into a scoring position and his fiercely driven shot produced a good save form the City keeper. A bizarre hand ball gave Cureton the chance to put Reading ahead from the spot and he put it away with confidence and style. Reading were deservedly ahead. Cureton almost made it two with a well controlled volley but again the save was superb.

Coventry enjoyed some long spells of possession and were helped by some sloppy Reading passing. City seemed to want to play the ball through the centre of the Reading defence. The Royals midfield and defence were playing well as a tight unit and always looked secure. I was impressed with Salako's defensive contribution. He closed down players quickly and made some good defensive headers.

The start of the second half was equally encouraging with Butler shooting just wide of the far post. Williams ran through the entire City midfield and defence before shooting tamely wide. Shaw was booked for bringing down Salako.

The last fifteen minutes were a nightmare. The decline started when Shorey failed to make a routine tackle wide on the left and then tried to compensate by hauling down Chippo. The free kick was whipped in and powerfully headed home by Davenport who was promptly booked for tossing his shirt into the crowd. Seven minute later it was all over, substitute Bothroyd shrugged off a challenge inside the box and from a tight angle blasted the ball inside the far post. Reading never looked like getting back into it and the substitutions certainly did not help. Rougier and Forster were easily stifled by a strong City back line and Parkinson, who was looking a little slow in Division Two, looked even slower today. Surely Harper is worth a place on the bench at least. He did make some naive challenges on Wednesday but he is a good enough player for this division at least.

Reading are going to find it tough this season and in spite of Pardew stating the defence needs strengthening, I think we are short of a forward capable of holding the ball and winning it convincingly in the air. There are some young players with potential that should develop into good players this season, but we will be scrapping for points after Christmas and might need a bit more strength and experience in all departments.

I can't see us getting any points from the next match so a win against Burnley will be crucial in restoring confidence. It has been a tough start but it great to be playing in Division One at last!
John