News and Views
Reading Go Top Of The Championship
27 August 2022
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading are surprise Championship leaders in the early season after victory at Millwall made it four wins from six league games. The Royals were firm favourites for relegation at the start of the season
but find themselves top of the pile after Naby Sarr, making his first appearance after signing a four year contract, scored on his debut. Sarr's header after just 14 minutes was enough to win the game for Reading, although we should
have wrapped up the victory after both Hendrick and Long missed chances to double Reading's lead late on. Long looked to have sealed the victory but somehow put his shot wide, while the Millwall keeper was able to save Hendrick's
effort.
Sarr's goal was an impressive header after a free-kick from Tom Ince on the left side. Ince continues to impress, as does a very different group of players to last season who seem to have discovered some good form despite many
only just arriving at the club this summer. Reading were the better side thoughout with Millwall finding very few opportunities. A tough fixture away at Sheffield United follows, but after a solid start even a defeat will still
leave Reading in the right end of the table after seven games.
Discussion On This Story:
Snowflake Royal
Don't like McIntyre at LWB, though he played well.
Holmes is looking very good, but he scares the shit out of me at set pieces, he does a lot of wrestling and will give away a few pens this season if he keeps it up.
Very very good run at the mo, all the more confusing because of the big loss to Rotherham. The possession and clean sheets don't feel very sustainable for continued results, but as more players come back, the bench improves and the XI settles doen hopefully we can build on it.
Hendrick is the closest thing we seem to have to a weak link right now and he's still putting in decent 6 or 7 out of 10 performances, something we'd have all cut an arm off for in many recent seasons.
Everyone 7 and up for me. Standouts for me being Holmes, Ince, Loum and Joao, with Sarr taking the bow for a match winning debut.
In previous seasons those misses would have resulted in a defeat and a big blow to confidence. Instead they'll quickly be forgotten and confidence will be sky high.
So many potential monkeys off our backs very quickly,conceding in the first ten,home record, clean sheets, away wins. Speaks of a very strong mentality instilled by Ince. And like Bowen’s managerial aim, I don’t think there will be many sides fancying an easy or comfortable game against us.
paultheroyal
Special mention to that old boy millwall fan in tracksuit with his goading and those 2 little kids, dreary me.
Quite intimidating coming out today as the fans joined up. Against another rogue set of supporters there would be a few scraps. When one bloke was in a headlock my son quickly grabbed hold of me etc.
Well done boys.
PieEater
Millwall tried to annoy us by giving us the lower tier, actually it made for a great atmosphere and a great day out. They closed the walkway from the away end, no problem we'll walk around and mingle with your fans and lol at how shit you were.
Great performances all round from the team although Hendick and in particular Long should have scored to make the result more comfortable,
windermereROYAL
Deserved winners.
The offside goal, in real time Ian said it looked harsh but for me Afobi got the last touch and he wheeled away with his arm in the air, clearly offside, correct decision.
And yet again Millwall were shit according to their fans, isn`t it weird every team we beat turn in their worse performance of the season?
Millsy
I ought to say this as someone who's gloated at how dodgy Lumley is: the lad did good today. No dodginess at all, came for balls confidently, punched convincingly, caught emphatically and safely, wasted time perfectly, kicked well enough and yes he did make IIRC one excellent save early on where a shot was going in he not only dived and stopped it but caught and held onto it too.
Other than that though you're right it was all Reading today and undeniably deserved to win. They tried to bully us and play dirty with dives, penalty shouts every 2 minutes but ref was have none of it and we were givibg as good as we got with the physicality. Tl
gazzer, loyal royal
The Lino who gave the offside goal was in our tube on the way back. He said he waited for confirmation from the ref that Afobe has touched it however they would have given it as offside for line of sight. He also said he didn’t book the millwall player for the tackle on Hendrick when Ling was out through as they lost sight of which player it was which I thought was very open and honest
Gritty performance, nothing spectacular but we should have put the game to bed earlier with the Hendrick and Long chances.
Snowflake Royal
I ought to say this as someone who's gloated at how dodgy Lumley is: the lad did good today. No dodginess at all, came for balls confidently, punched convincingly, caught emphatically and safely, wasted time perfectly, kicked well enough and yes he did make IIRC one excellent save early on where a shot was going in he not only dived and stopped it but caught and held onto it too.
Other than that though you're right it was all Reading today and undeniably deserved to win. They tried to bully us and play dirty with dives, penalty shouts every 2 minutes but ref was have none of it and we were givibg as good as we got with the physicality. Tl
Yep, yesterday was Doctor Jekyll rather than Mr Hyde. That save wasn't especially impressive for the save itself... fairly routine, good height, not at full stretch, the impressive bit was being alert enough to react to make it comfortably, because that header came quickly and as a surprise.
Franchise FC
What’s diabolical about it, honest assessment of his team? Didnt slag off Reading or anything..
Did you click on the link? That's the title of his post - and first thing he says is that their performance was diabolical ...
Losing at home to the (then) relegation favourites is clearly too much to take
Royal_jimmy
Simon's Church
Can see why Mcintyre was picked but was probably the weaker link in the team, some sloppy rushed clearances and think he gave it away leading up to them hitting the post. Stilla decent performance from him though.
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