Reading's season continued to falter this afternoon with yet another defeat, this time at home against Championship strugglers Coventry City. League form continues to move from bad to worse for the Royals as the hard work earlier in the season is being thrown away. This latest result means Reading have picked up just four points from eight league fixtures - the kind of form that would see us fighting relegation if we hadn't had such an impressive run of results in the first half of the campaign. West Ham's big 5-0 home victory was enough to move them above Reading, pushing the Royals out of the play-off positions for the first time since last August. We're going to have our work cut-out for the rest of the season to win back a play-off place. Surely the most likely outcome is now a mid-table finish.

However, it had all started brightly for the Royals this afternoon as they took an early lead against Coventry, with our third league goal in the current run of eight winless fixtures. Reading fans were treated to a rare goal celebration when Shorey provided the ball to Ferdinand who headed home from the left to score his first goal in a Reading shirt. After going ahead the signs were good with Reading starting to pass the ball around well. We looked set to increase the lead with a couple of good moves seeing Little narrowly miss connecting for a certain goal. A long series of short passes saw Kitson, returning from injury and completing a whole ninety minutes, get in a straight forward shot that was easily saved. Again we failed to press our advantage and went in just the single goal up at half time.

The second half belonged to the visitors as Reading looked short of ideas and seriously lacking in midfield. Both Harper and Sidwell had very poor performances but Sidwell should be very disappointed with his showing after continually gifting the ball to the opposition. It turned out to be a very happy return for ex-Reading central defender Adie Williams as Reading rarely threatened in the second half. Instead Reading's weaknesses were exposed when Coventry pulled level just after the hour when they cut in from the left and McSheffrey danced round three or four players before blasting the ball in the opposite side of the net to make it 1-1. Coventry sealed the win within ten minutes of the equaliser when the Reading defence was static and an unmarked player was allowed to volley home from deep inside the Reading area.

Morgan came off the bench and added something to Reading who had become very jaded but it wasn't enough to have an serious impact. Andy Hughes forced a late save from the keeper and Kitson should have done better from close range but failed to get in a shot. In the end Coventry held on with ease and were good for their win. City, going through a bad patch of form themselves, looked a poor side but were still that much better than the Royals.

Following report by John Wells:
Reading continued their slide down the table today with an awful second half performance against a poor Coventry side on a run of five consecutive defeats. Having taken an early lead and dominating the first half there seemed only one likely outcome. The first half performance was not too bad, with good early crosses coming in especially from Little, and had Little been more determined in front of goal, he might have converted equally good crosses from the left wing into goals. Ferdinand tucked his goal away nicely after Shorey wriggled free of a defender tugging at his shorts to send in a good ball to the near post. Nobody could have anticipated such a feeble surrender in the second half.

Steve Coppell defended his players in the post match press conference blaming himself for the poor performance. He was surely protecting his players when he claimed not to understand where it all went wrong. He must have noticed the sloppy defending which allowed McSheffrey to race through and equalise. He must have noticed how easily Benjamin nodded the ball back across goal to an unmarked John in front of goal. If he wants to show his players what is wrong, he should make them sit and watch a video of their performances before Christmas and compare it with today's miserable offering. At that time the team was full of energy and effort and a single goal would have been enough to win the game. Reading's success this season has come from a solid base of good organisation and high work rate. Neither were evident today when it mattered.

The organisation went to pieces at times. I can recall Ferdinand and Kitson holding the ball up superbly but found no passing options. It's hard to say if team mates did not know what to do off the ball, didn't want the ball, or simply could not be bothered! Defensively, apart from lacking concentration Reading did not defend well as unit and often looked vulnerable. The quality of Kitson's play reminded us of what we had been missing even though I suspect he was slightly apprehensive about getting involved in a heavy challenge so soon after his serious injury. He must have been exasperated by the poor play of the rest of the team. When things are going wrong the weaknesses stand out even more and there were plenty on show today. Sidwell's passing has deteriorated unbelievably, Hughes' touch was poor, and Sonko looked very uncomfortable in possession.

Had Hahnemann not been at his best again it might have been a heavier defeat. He pulled off a superb save to deny McSheffrey when he left exposed by slack defending on the half way line and saved well with his legs from John immediatlely after the equaliser. The confidence has drained out a team that were full of it two months ago. The back four were guilty of hoofing the ball forward without any sense of purpose and they were gradually joined by the rest of the team. Attempts on goal were embarrassing poor especially from Hughes and Sidwell, although Hughes did force one good save out of Bennett in the second half.

The home crowd contributed to the gloom by suffering in silence. Once a gain our support was put to shame by visiting fans from a relegation threatened team. The only way out of a rut is to work harder and at least try to pass the ball with a bit more care and purpose. A greater sense of urgency might get the crowd going because, in spite of claims to the contrary, I don't think the players are working hard enough. There is no point in even thinking about a play-off spot if we continue to play with such a lack of quality and committment. Talking of committment - it was nice to see Adie Williams get such a warm reception from the home fans. His leadership would be a real asset now.