Match Report: 2011/2012 Season
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20 August 2011: CHAMPIONSHIP
READING 1 BARNSLEY 2
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goals
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Reading: Hal Robson-Kanu (pen 74 mins).
Barnsley: Stephen Foster (27 mins), Matt Done (68 mins). |
Half Time: 0-1. Attendance: 15,878
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teams
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Reading: A Federici, I Harte, A Pearce, B Khumalo, J McAnuff, M Leigertwood, J Kebe, J Karacan, H Robson-Kanu, B Gunnarsson (M Manset, 70), N Hunt (S Church, 84).
Subs not used: S Morrison, J Obita, A McCarthy. Barnsley: L Steele, S Foster, J McEveley (J McNulty, 63), R Edwards, S Wiseman, B Hassell, M Done, D Perkins, J Butterfield (J O'Brien, 80), C Davies, D Haynes (A Gray, 58). Subs not used: G Lovre, D Preece. |
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bookings
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Reading: -
Barnsley: Foster, McEveley, Wiseman. Ref: Brendan Malone. |
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report
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Losing at home to a team on a run of three consecutive defeats and yet to score a goal in the league is clearly a cause for concern. In spite of completely dominating the second half the Royals failed to take advantage of several promising situations, missed two penalties, and conceded two sloppy goals. Karacan worked tirelessly and Kebe tormented the Barnsley defence but overall it was a poor performance. Last season Long emerged to compensate for Sigurdsson’s departure but there does not appear to be anyone in the current squad ready to step into his shoes and provide sufficient goals to make the Royals serious promotion contenders.
McAnuff started the game by snapping up a loose ball in the centre of midfield and racing on to shoot from distance but generally he had little impact on the game. Liegertwood was also quiet and seemed to lack the commitment he showed last season. Khumalo and Pearce looked steady but lacked authority, and questions will need to be asked about the nature of the goals conceded. A soft goal from a set piece (again), and a gaping hole left through the centre of the defence for Barnsley’s second and killer goal. Barnsley looked unlikely to score until defensive sloppiness allowed Foster to nod in from close range from a rare Barnsley corner which should have been cleared. Reading waited until half time before mounting a serious assault. Robson-Kanu showing skill, strength and determination went on a run before releasing a superbly weighted pass into the path of Karacan. After skilfully outmanoeuvring the covering defender he screwed his shot wide of the upright but it was an encouraging passage of play. Further pressure brought two penalties in quick succession missed respectively by Harte and Hunt. Barnsley made it two nil hitting Reading on the break through Done. It has to be said the Royals did look vulnerable on the break even against such relatively weak opposition. Harte looked particularly exposed at left back. Remarkably Reading were awarded a third penalty and amidst ironic demands from the home fans for Federici to take the kick, Robson-Kanu slotted the spot kick confidently past Steele. Having saved leaping to his left twice previously, Steele lost the battle of wits with the Reading striker making the same choice only to see the ball roll inside the opposite post. By now Barnsley had grown in confidence and were prepared to compete more assuredly in midfield. Brian McDermott brought on Manset and Church to snatch point but neither had the quality or composure to allow Reading to mount a sustained period of pressure and the game drifted away as Barnsley continued to defend doggedly and waste time from throw-ins. Even having been switched to right back in the re-shuffle, Karacan stood out with eagerness to press forward purposefully. The frustration of conceding a second goal prompted some fans to question the use of the money generated by the sale of Mills and Long. They do have a point. John Wells |
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