News and Views
Six Without Win As Derby Win By Three
18 October 2014
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading fell to a sixth game without a win as Derby County secured a 0-3 victory against the Royals at the Madejski Stadium. Despite the convincing score line, Reading might have done better after having been the superior side for periods of the game. However Derby were the more clinical up front and also better organised defensively. This certainly wasn't the worst performance of the season but the latest defeat, and another three goals leaked, leaves Reading struggling in 16th place.
Reading started the game brightly and might have taken the lead themselves when Cox put a header just over the crossbar. Derby scored on 18 minutes with their first effort on target as Reading failed to deal with a corner and the ball was headed through the legs of Robson-Kanu on the line. Reading were nearly on the scoresheet when Murray saw his headed effort hit the Derby crossbar. Before half time it was 0-2 when Reading's defence was split enabling Derby to cut in and score with an impressive finish inside the far post.
Nigel Adkins was forced to make a triple substitution with twenty minutes left to play to try and get back into the game. Pogrebnyak really should have dragged Reading back into contention when the ball came to him from a rebound - it was a simple finish from close range but he managed to put it wide.
Had Reading made it 1-2 at a stage of the game when they were well on top it might have been different outcome. Instead the visitors scored a third and killed the game off. Apart from a double save from Adam Federici, Derby had scored with their only real efforts on target.
Share this article: