Having only missed a handful of Reading home games in the past twenty years, I could not have been chosen a better game to make a rare excursion to East Anglia for an away fixture. As storm Bert wreaked havoc with rail schedules throughout the country this young Reading side made light of tricky conditions against a Peterborough side unbeaten at home since August and had rattled in fifteen goals their three recent league and cup fixtures. Reading played with an intensity from start to finish and raced into a two-goal lead inside the opening twenty-three minutes. Both goals were superbly created and clinically finished by Harvey Knibbs. Peterborough also carried an attacking threat throughout the match, but Reading were quick on the break, took their chances early in the game and outstanding at the back.

Nine minutes into the game Lewis clipped the perfect ball over a sluggish Boro' back line for Smith to control and blast at 'keeper Bilokapic. The ever-alert Knibbs reacted quickest and tucked away the rebound to give Reading an early lead. Reading were dominant in midfield and after twenty-three minutes Savage sliced open the Boro' defence with another perfect ball. Knibbs was onto it in a flash holding off a robust challenge on the edge of the box before beating Bilokapic with a composed finish inside the far post.

Boro continued to look dangerous particularly on the flanks with Mothersillie and Poku tormenting Dorsett and Craig with their pace. Credit must be given to both Reading full backs for sticking to their task and to Bindon and Mbengue for covering then when they were caught out. Some of the Boro' passing was equally impressive with Collins and De Havilland probing in and around the box. Fortunately for Reading they were slightly of target, and when they were not Pereira was again in good form to frustrate them.

The anticipated onslaught from Boro' after the interval was nullified by Reading taking the game by the scruff of the neck and came close to the third goal which would have killed the game off. Savage ratted the bar with a volley, Smith thumped a header straight at Bilokapic and Elliott had a powerful strike blocked one the line.

Time was running out for Boro' and they started to wilt, making some carless errors until the referee found an extra eight minutes of stoppage time. (There were a lot of stoppages to be fair.) The referee gave Boro' further encouragement giving the home side 'the benefit of the doubt' on a couple of occasions, and when Fernandez rifled the ball into the net from close range six minutes into stoppage time, Reading had to see out an uncomfortable couple of minutes. They managed hang on, but it was undoubtedly a well deserved three points. Seles continues to rotate this young squad successfully although I was more than a little concerned when he declined to make a couple of changes in the last ten minutes as the midfield began to look a bit leg weary and drop deeper. (Knibbs had run his socks off and was suffering from cramp!) Leaving Garcia out was also a sound decision having seen the physical threat of Boro's pacy wingers.

This squad is growing in confidence, plays good football, is prepared to work hard, and defend as a unit. It's good to watch and they are beginning to pick up points away from home.

John Wells