News and Views
Royals Come From Behind To Thrash Huddersfield
19 January 2016
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading came from two goals down to record a huge 5-2 victory over Huddersfield Town in their FA Cup third round replay at the Madejski Stadium. The two sides finished level at 2-2 in the first meeting with Huddersfield scoring a late penalty to force a replay. The visitors looked like they'd come to finish the job by racing into a two goal lead. It looked set to be a miserable night for the crowd of 8,119 on a freezing night at the Madejski Stadium. It could have been worse with Huddersfield almost making it three, before a sending off saw them forced to play out most of the game with ten men - much to Reading's advantage.
Piazon immediately pulled one back from the resulting free-kick, with a great effort that went over the wall and under the bar to beat the keeper. With Nick Blackman no longer at the club, the Royals are in the need of a new top scorer - and Vydra took up that role in the second half with his best 45 minutes in a Reading shirt. He pulled Reading level on 57 minutes - starting the move in his own half before Hal Robson-Kanu put in a great run before forcing the Huddersfield keeper into a save. The ball came out to Vydra to score the equaliser.
Vydra's second put Reading ahead just three minutes later. Again the combination of Robson-Kanu, John and Vydra created the goal with John providing the goal to allow Vydra to score from close range. However, at 3-2, The game was far from over and Huddersfield nearly equalised with an effort that beat Al Habsi in the Reading goal but failed to beat the corner of the crossbar. However, Reading gradually looked in control with the Terriers chasing the game, away from home and with ten men.
Vydra claimed his hat-trick on 90 minutes when he was played in by Norwood's ball through the middle. Vydra twisted round his defender to calmly finish and secure the win at 4-2. Vydra was replaced by Orlando Sa in stoppage time - and there was still time for another Reading goal to turn it into a thrashing. Ferdandez scored with a low long range effort into the bottom corner to seal at 5-2 victory - a scoreline that never looked likely after the opening 45 minutes.
Reading will now go on to face League One Walsall in the fourth round on Saturday 30 January as they look to put together another cup run. Ticket prices will be 10 pounds for adults and 5 pounds for concessions, as the club try to get a reasonable crowd in for the next round.
Discussion On This Story:
PieEater
Well that was oxf*rd freezing.
We started off as we left off at MK Dons and for the first quarter of an hour we were utterly shit, this time Huddersfield were a better team than we played Saturday and looked pretty threatening coming forward. They scored two but could of had 3 or 4. Then came the sending off and the game changed.
IMHO the Saturday incident that wasn't given was a 10/10, this one was more like a 7/10 but we got it. Scoring from the free kick (a cracker from Piazon) and suddenly we were back in the game.
The score flattered us but it was really all down to the red card, and for once us taking advantage of it. We're still shit at corners and crossing in general but this will give the squad a confidence boost for Saturday.
We started off as we left off at MK Dons and for the first quarter of an hour we were utterly shit, this time Huddersfield were a better team than we played Saturday and looked pretty threatening coming forward. They scored two but could of had 3 or 4. Then came the sending off and the game changed.
IMHO the Saturday incident that wasn't given was a 10/10, this one was more like a 7/10 but we got it. Scoring from the free kick (a cracker from Piazon) and suddenly we were back in the game.
The score flattered us but it was really all down to the red card, and for once us taking advantage of it. We're still shit at corners and crossing in general but this will give the squad a confidence boost for Saturday.
Silver Fox
That'd be 8-man Yeovil!
Anyway, tonight I thought we were OK for the first 8 minutes, bossing possession but Matej and Piazon couldn't do anything when confronted with Lynch's physicality. Then we might have had our worst 20 minutes since Adkins, giving the ball away, completely incapable of stopping Huddersfield from doing whatever the hell they wanted.
Then Matej gets dragged down , their man deservedly sees red and Piazon smacks in a delightful free kick and we didn't really look back, although the defence did fall asleep again to get done by a decent run from Wells who luckily did a Ronnie Rosenthal.
Let's hope we can take this performance and build on it on Saturday.
Finally, I don't care about Tim Dellor, but I do hope he enjoyed his plate of words.
Anyway, tonight I thought we were OK for the first 8 minutes, bossing possession but Matej and Piazon couldn't do anything when confronted with Lynch's physicality. Then we might have had our worst 20 minutes since Adkins, giving the ball away, completely incapable of stopping Huddersfield from doing whatever the hell they wanted.
Then Matej gets dragged down , their man deservedly sees red and Piazon smacks in a delightful free kick and we didn't really look back, although the defence did fall asleep again to get done by a decent run from Wells who luckily did a Ronnie Rosenthal.
Let's hope we can take this performance and build on it on Saturday.
Finally, I don't care about Tim Dellor, but I do hope he enjoyed his plate of words.
genome
Bolton was colder.
Putting aside the shambles of a first 25 mins, excellent performance. Vydra, Norwood, Cooper and Ferdinand all brilliant. Al-Habsi made a cracking sliding save on Wells to stop them going 3-0 up which would've killed us off in the first 20 minutes. Top marks to him too.
Also LOL at the pre-match Royals Anagram on the big screen for Simon Church being "Chronic Mush"
Putting aside the shambles of a first 25 mins, excellent performance. Vydra, Norwood, Cooper and Ferdinand all brilliant. Al-Habsi made a cracking sliding save on Wells to stop them going 3-0 up which would've killed us off in the first 20 minutes. Top marks to him too.
Also LOL at the pre-match Royals Anagram on the big screen for Simon Church being "Chronic Mush"
RG7Fan
Utter shyte for the first 25/30 mins - red card (easily I would say from my angle, but wasnt anywhere near level enough in reality) and the free kick changed the game. They obviously got the hairdrier at half time, but lets not forget we were against 10 for most of the game. At 3-2 Wells hit the woodwork and it could have been dfferent.
Great confidence booster, especially for Vydra. A win is a win in the end.
oxf*rd me it was cold.
Great confidence booster, especially for Vydra. A win is a win in the end.
oxf*rd me it was cold.
Royality creeps In
Well that was a freezing cold LOLZ
We were absolutely woeful/dreadful/shit (Delete as appropriate) for the first 25 minutes and Huddersfield were in cruise control, could and should have been three or four up. We came out like we couldn't be bothered. (Except Al Habsi and Mr post who kept us in the game)
They then commit Kamikaze. Player sent off when Vydra was through and subsequently bought down. We score from resulting free kick.
(Very similar sending of decision to the one at MK Dons on Saturday. This time it went in our favour)
We suddenly realised that there was a game on and won comfortably in the end.
Vydra caused them all sorts of problems and hopefully shut a few of his critics up.
Please lets hope we don't draw that lot again next season.
We were absolutely woeful/dreadful/shit (Delete as appropriate) for the first 25 minutes and Huddersfield were in cruise control, could and should have been three or four up. We came out like we couldn't be bothered. (Except Al Habsi and Mr post who kept us in the game)
They then commit Kamikaze. Player sent off when Vydra was through and subsequently bought down. We score from resulting free kick.
(Very similar sending of decision to the one at MK Dons on Saturday. This time it went in our favour)
We suddenly realised that there was a game on and won comfortably in the end.
Vydra caused them all sorts of problems and hopefully shut a few of his critics up.
Please lets hope we don't draw that lot again next season.
harry
Al Habsi did well to keep it at 2-0.
Defending was a shambles for their 2nd goal. After that it improved as their possession reduced. But it was only at 4-2 that we looked safe for the win. Full backs were regularly giving options wide as we tried to get back into the game & then later kill it off.
Norwood - good display, quality through ball for (I think) Vydra's 3rd. Up until the sending off he was the only midfielder having a good game.
Williams - more dynamic with space against 10 & prepared to run with the ball. Against 11 he didn't seem to have the time.
McCleary - off his game up to the injury. Hopefully he'll be back soon.
HRK - needs to look up & understand that no good beating 1st man if you've lost possession to the guy behind him. Couple of decent shots that were saved well by the keeper, one of which Vydra followed up on for his 1st.
Piazon - quality free kick for 2-1. Could have probably been subbed immediately after that since the rest of his performance was a mix of almost decent touches and powder puff being muscled off the ball by a crisp packet.
Vydra - good run for the red card, the goals reminded me of Alfie. Hopefully that lot will give him enough confidence to realise his potential.
John - dynamic with the ball at his feet, assist for Vydra's 2nd. Tried a number of little flicks or touches that didn't come off. Seems a better approach for him is getting the ball under control & running at defenders.
Fernandez - good strike for 5-2. Looked assured on the ball.
And I'm still thawing out
Defending was a shambles for their 2nd goal. After that it improved as their possession reduced. But it was only at 4-2 that we looked safe for the win. Full backs were regularly giving options wide as we tried to get back into the game & then later kill it off.
Norwood - good display, quality through ball for (I think) Vydra's 3rd. Up until the sending off he was the only midfielder having a good game.
Williams - more dynamic with space against 10 & prepared to run with the ball. Against 11 he didn't seem to have the time.
McCleary - off his game up to the injury. Hopefully he'll be back soon.
HRK - needs to look up & understand that no good beating 1st man if you've lost possession to the guy behind him. Couple of decent shots that were saved well by the keeper, one of which Vydra followed up on for his 1st.
Piazon - quality free kick for 2-1. Could have probably been subbed immediately after that since the rest of his performance was a mix of almost decent touches and powder puff being muscled off the ball by a crisp packet.
Vydra - good run for the red card, the goals reminded me of Alfie. Hopefully that lot will give him enough confidence to realise his potential.
John - dynamic with the ball at his feet, assist for Vydra's 2nd. Tried a number of little flicks or touches that didn't come off. Seems a better approach for him is getting the ball under control & running at defenders.
Fernandez - good strike for 5-2. Looked assured on the ball.
And I'm still thawing out
RG30
Despite the -2 temperatures that was an excellent night's entertainment for £10. Awful start however with Cooper and Ferdinand getting torn to shreds. Cooper at fault for the first misplacing his header and the lack of clearance cost us for the second. Could and should have been 4 with Al-Habsi coming out well to Wells before nearly spilling one in the net.
Game turned on the sending-off which was slightly harsh although Piazon dispatched the resulting free-kick brilliantly. From that point you only felt there was going to be one winner with the extra man advantage and the possibility of extra-time.
Vydra took his goals excellent while Ola John was far better than McCleary who was again awful before picking up another injury.
Good night's work and a winnable fourth round game with Walsall awaits.
Game turned on the sending-off which was slightly harsh although Piazon dispatched the resulting free-kick brilliantly. From that point you only felt there was going to be one winner with the extra man advantage and the possibility of extra-time.
Vydra took his goals excellent while Ola John was far better than McCleary who was again awful before picking up another injury.
Good night's work and a winnable fourth round game with Walsall awaits.
marlowuk
As others have said - dreadful for the first 25 minutes and Town should have been 3 or 4 up if it hadn't been for Al Habsi, especially his smothering of their attacker when one-on-one with him. We just didn't look interested. Huddersfield were bright, especially in attack, and looked dangerous every time they came forward. But - for once - we seemed to get the breaks. Loose balls landed at the feet of Reading players and Huddersfield efforts hit the bar or post (at least 3 times I think).
Cooper's mistake led to their first goal down our right flank but where on earth was Gunter? Smith was given far too much time and space in the penalty area for their second. The turning point was the sending off and the resultant goal from the free kick but Vydra was definitely fouled and was prevented from having a goal-scoring opportunity so there can be no arguments over the sending off. But I did feel, at the time, that we needed to score from that free kick. If not, then there would still be a two goal cushion for Huddersfield and we know how badly Reading perform against 10 men and a massed defence! But Piazon did score beautifully even though he did little else of note in the game.
Thereafter we played better but I wonder what the result would have been had Town 'parked the bus'? But they continued to attack and looked dangerous for a while and that ambition from the 10 men did give us chances at the other end which we did take despite heroics from Murphy in their goal. Great to see a hat-trick from Vydra and hopefully that will fill him with confidence and we can look forward to more goals from him in the second half of the season. Brian brought him off a few minutes before the end of the match so he could take his standing ovation. That was good man-management and we saw him do the same for Kebe a few years ago. The (manly) embrace between striker and manager showed what it meant to both men.
In the end we deserved to win although the score flattered us. I just thank God it wasn't a draw. It was too cold for another 30 minutes!!
Cooper's mistake led to their first goal down our right flank but where on earth was Gunter? Smith was given far too much time and space in the penalty area for their second. The turning point was the sending off and the resultant goal from the free kick but Vydra was definitely fouled and was prevented from having a goal-scoring opportunity so there can be no arguments over the sending off. But I did feel, at the time, that we needed to score from that free kick. If not, then there would still be a two goal cushion for Huddersfield and we know how badly Reading perform against 10 men and a massed defence! But Piazon did score beautifully even though he did little else of note in the game.
Thereafter we played better but I wonder what the result would have been had Town 'parked the bus'? But they continued to attack and looked dangerous for a while and that ambition from the 10 men did give us chances at the other end which we did take despite heroics from Murphy in their goal. Great to see a hat-trick from Vydra and hopefully that will fill him with confidence and we can look forward to more goals from him in the second half of the season. Brian brought him off a few minutes before the end of the match so he could take his standing ovation. That was good man-management and we saw him do the same for Kebe a few years ago. The (manly) embrace between striker and manager showed what it meant to both men.
In the end we deserved to win although the score flattered us. I just thank God it wasn't a draw. It was too cold for another 30 minutes!!
Armadillo Roadkill
It could easily have not been a red card (from where I was sat, the referee might well have considered at least two Huddersfield players could have got to Vydra before he was one-on-one with their (excellent) keeper). But it was also a pretty stupid place to commit a foul, so they can't feel too aggrieved. Amazing support - hats off.
Reading were, from there on, pretty effective against ten men, and the goals went in through sheer persistence as much as anything else.
And also, whilst I'm still not getting carried away, a bit disgusted by McDermott bringing on Sa at the end. Nice gesture to give Vydra his chance of an ovation, but putting Sa on for a few seconds looks, to me at least, calculated to humiliate him. And there's no need for that.
Reading were, from there on, pretty effective against ten men, and the goals went in through sheer persistence as much as anything else.
And also, whilst I'm still not getting carried away, a bit disgusted by McDermott bringing on Sa at the end. Nice gesture to give Vydra his chance of an ovation, but putting Sa on for a few seconds looks, to me at least, calculated to humiliate him. And there's no need for that.
Esteban
25 minutes of diabolical defending and chasing shadows, 2-0 down and Huddersfield with a cigar on. Then the sending off (looked harsh from where I was sat), a peach of a free-kick by Piazon followed by a very patient performance to win the game. 5-2 definitely flattered us.
Al-Habsi deserves a lot of credit (still think he'll throw one in every time he has the ball though). I didn't think that Norwood quite hit his usual high standards, but was still very good. We'll do well to hold on to him in the summer. Pleased for Fernández, it was nice to see someone get excited about scoring for us.
Vydra was superb I thought, not just for his goals, but for the effort he puts in. Chases back, defends, not afraid to tackle, gets in the box, creates and got the goals he deserved last night. Quality player.
Huddersfield must be gutted after that, there's no way we'd have got back into it without the sending off.
Good value for money. Looking forward to the Walsall game now.
Al-Habsi deserves a lot of credit (still think he'll throw one in every time he has the ball though). I didn't think that Norwood quite hit his usual high standards, but was still very good. We'll do well to hold on to him in the summer. Pleased for Fernández, it was nice to see someone get excited about scoring for us.
Vydra was superb I thought, not just for his goals, but for the effort he puts in. Chases back, defends, not afraid to tackle, gets in the box, creates and got the goals he deserved last night. Quality player.
Huddersfield must be gutted after that, there's no way we'd have got back into it without the sending off.
Good value for money. Looking forward to the Walsall game now.
West Stand Man
I am loving all the absolute definites about whether or not we would or could have gotten back into that game. No one knows how it might have panned out either way (which is one of the many beauties of the game). Many teams have come back from seeming to be dead and, of course, many have just capitulated and gone on to ignominious defeat.
Let's not forget that Piazon scored the free kick and that Huddersfield being down to 10 men didn't affect that. How often has one goal kick started a come back? Quite often I suspect. Just look at Arsenal, had we gone in to half time 4-0 up who knows how that game might have gone. We didn't though, they got a late goal and went into the half time break on a high that they could build on. If we'd gone in on that high the whole half time would have been very different and then .........
Anyway, the fact remains, we came back from a totally disastrous start against a team that just seems to have something on us at the moment. In the league match here they looked like a much better team than their league position suggests yet they don't seem able to reproduce that form elsewhere on any regular basis.
On to the next game then and another session in the huge outdoor freezer.
Let's not forget that Piazon scored the free kick and that Huddersfield being down to 10 men didn't affect that. How often has one goal kick started a come back? Quite often I suspect. Just look at Arsenal, had we gone in to half time 4-0 up who knows how that game might have gone. We didn't though, they got a late goal and went into the half time break on a high that they could build on. If we'd gone in on that high the whole half time would have been very different and then .........
Anyway, the fact remains, we came back from a totally disastrous start against a team that just seems to have something on us at the moment. In the league match here they looked like a much better team than their league position suggests yet they don't seem able to reproduce that form elsewhere on any regular basis.
On to the next game then and another session in the huge outdoor freezer.
wingnut
As everyone else has said, dreadful first 20-25 minutes. Huddersfield played like we used to, pressing us all over the pitch, giving us no time or space on the ball at all leading to sloppy passes and very heavy first touches. Looked like men vs boys at times with seemingly every Huddesfield player dwarfing our counterpart.
Sending off looked very harsh even without replays, Vydra didn't have the ball under control and there looked to be 2 other covering defenders. Was a yellow all day long for me. The fact that we scored directly from the resulting free kick was as big a factor in turning the game round as the red card, IMHO.
I really hope Vydra and the team can push on from this.
Sending off looked very harsh even without replays, Vydra didn't have the ball under control and there looked to be 2 other covering defenders. Was a yellow all day long for me. The fact that we scored directly from the resulting free kick was as big a factor in turning the game round as the red card, IMHO.
I really hope Vydra and the team can push on from this.
West Stand Man
Please expand. Are you saying that it wasn't a foul? If so then clearly no red card. If it was then it was a foul that clearly prevented a goal scoring opportunity as Vydra was through on goal, right down the middle. That sounds like a red card offence; the law seems quite straightforward?
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