Despite the tradition of drab, low-scoring fixtures between these two teams there was never any danger of another yawnfest between Reading and Watford given the abundance of attacking talent on offer. The two clubs are in many ways indistinguishable; two Home Counties peas in a pod, Family Clubs – for whatever that means – who are proud of their cosy reputation. The closest either club gets to a local rivalry these days given that erstwhile traditional foes of old are languishing in the nether regions of English football while these two foreign-owned sides push for the Premier League. This is the Facepaint & Rumblestick derby, with all the animosity of a Morris Dance and with markedly less clamour. The clubs entered the league together in 1920 and the fixture has been played with wearisome regularity since then and there can have been fewer more thrilling chapters in a long-running history than this one.

Watford have a distinctly alien feel to their side. They courted controversy last season with their Rent-a-Player policy which brought half of the Udinese reserve team over to Hertfordshire. The rules have been tightened this time around, but the Hornets still fielded 7 foreign players in their starting XI at the Madejski. Exotically named footballers used to be the preserve of Premier League sides, how times have changed that a provincial backwater club like Watford can now boast such an array of nationalities. These names don’t just represent a nightmarish scrabble hand however, they can genuinely play – 10 goals in Watford’s opening three games of the season, all of which have resulted in victories. This placed Watford at the top of the fledgling league table, prompting a healthy 3,500 contingent to follow their team around the M25 and down the M4. A 20,000 crowd and a decent atmosphere provided a fitting backdrop to a thrilling game of football.

Reading were fantastic in the first half. Last season’s Championship top scorers could only muster a long range effort from McGugan in that opening 45 but more pertinently they were beaten at their own possession game. Adkins has had ample opportunity by now to enforce his philosophy on the team, these are his players now and they are starting to show they are capable of playing some very effective football which is easy on the eye. It took fewer than ten minutes for us to take a lead. A succession of set pieces had already tested the Watford defence before yet another centre was punched away by Almunia who must have been bemused to see the ball fly back past him courtesy of a terrific strike by Le Fondre. Alf was recalled after missing the previous weekend’s draw at Bolton and he proved the usual threat to the opposition, getting free from a sluggish Watford back four midway through a half entirely dominated by Reading but crashing his angled effort wastefully at Almunia’s legs. In the second half he also wasted a presentable left footed chance and it is hard not to think that the burden of being top dog weighs heavily on his shoulders considering Pogrebnyak’s apparent disinterest and the very modest abilities of Nick Blackman.

Reading doubled their lead before half time with a well worked goal which also owed a little to Lady Luck. Guthrie free kick was headed across goal by Pearce and the ball ended up in the net via Karacan’s knees after Jem’s initial effort rebounded back via a despairing Watford clearance. The only thing to fear now was fear itself and perhaps the all too real likelihood of 45-minute Syndrome; thus far we have had a stinker of a first half performance against Ipswich and up at the Reebok last weekend followed by a dominant second period. Watford looked the business after the break and never really looked out of the game at 2-0 and then 3-1 behind. Frankly speaking, they gave Reading an absolute chasing in that second 45 and it took a sensational save from McCarthy to deny Deeney (who had a free header – natch) before the visitors finally notched with a headed goal from a corner, which was defended with familiar fragility. Rather disappointingly Reading looked tired now; Royston Drenthe was withdrawn after fading badly after another sparkling first half and we failed to keep enough decent possession to weather the Watford storm.

A two goal lead was re-established entirely against the run of play when porous Watford defending allowed Karacan all the time and space from 8 yards out to tuck away the remnants of Le Fondre’s approach play following an energetic burst from substitute Williams. Twenty minutes left and you might expect the Reading of old to hold onto a lead in that circumstance, but Adkins side still looks far too open for comfort and the arrears were reduced when Watford pulled us apart down the flanks once again and the otherwise impressive Danny Guthrie made a rash diving tackle on Fabbrini who fell theatrically enough to convince the assistant referee of the merits of his penalty claim. McCarthy could not perform more heroics, Deeeney made it 3-2 and few would have bet against Watford pulling it back at that stage.

Some last ditch defending delayed the inevitable until the 90th minute. McGugan again had a pot shot from range which deflected kindly into the path of Fabbrini who rolled the ball past McCarthy to spark delirious scenes and the popping of a thousand Rumblestix behind the goal as simultaneously on the other three sides of the Stadium facepaint-smeared faces wiped away tears of disappointment. Ultimately it ended George (Friel – one for the older supporters there). Both sides unbeaten still and content enough with their lot in life at this stage. All in all, good clean family fun.
Neil Maskell