Hob Nob Anyone? News and Views

Points Dropped But Undefeated Run Continues

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 10:45:27 +0000

Reading extended their unbeaten run to ten games with a draw in a scrappy, and at times chaotic, match. Reading dominated possession over the ninety minutes but created few chances. Both sides squandered good chances in the first half. Borough skipper Carl Piergianni scored a goal at either end in the space of eleven minutes early in the second half before the quality of the football, which was not that good at any stage, rapidly declined further.
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Match Report: Reading 1 Stevenage 1

Now Nine Game Undefeated After Win Against Wrexham

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 10:54:47 +0000

Apart from a stunning second half goal scored by Lewis Wing, two significant moments stood out for me on a night of some excellent individual performances by this young Reading side. Finding himself the wrong side of his winger, Andre Garcia raced back, dispossessed the Wrexham forward and dribbled up field to initiate a counter-attack. Late in the game, after running unselfishly all evening, Jayden Wareham accelerated past a Wrexham defender to reach a loose ball to comfortably beat his opponent to the ball as it rolled back towards his own half. Those two moments epitomises the commitment and spirit of this squad that has gradually grown in confidence and maturity as the season has progressed.
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Match Report: Reading 2 Wrexham 0

Another Goalless Draw

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:09:21 +0000

At the final whistle a scuffle broke out on the halfway line which pretty much summed the evening up. It was a scrappy ill-tempered affair in which either side could have come away with three points, but probably neither deserved. With a foul committed at rate of approximately one every three minutes the referee must take some responsibility for the lack of discipline by failing, in spite of showing City five yellow cards, to take control of the game. Players were allowed steal a few yards at most throw-ins, a blatant dive went unpunished, and an injured City player took over a minute to meander off the pitch instead of leaving at the nearest point.

Expectations were high for Reading fans with their team fresh from an impressive away win at Wigan and City struggling at the wrong end of the table. Reading dominated possession, and City pressed in midfield and sat deep, frustrating their attempts to create chances. Wing and Knibbs had shots blocked in the opening minutes and Garcia was brought down outside the box. From the free kick Savage teed up Wing who was way off target. Garcia was frequently involved going forward but was either unceremoniously stopped or gave the ball away with a poor choice of passing option.
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Match Report: Reading 0 Exeter City 0

Knibbs Double As Reading Get Late Win

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 16:02:44 +0000

A dramatic climax to a match, which Reading should have wrapped up by half time, was provided by a stoppage time penalty converted by the ever-reliable Harvey Knibbs, giving Reading the three points they deserved in a lively and entertaining match, slightly marred by some abysmal refereeing. Playing with greater urgency and commitment Reading had their opponents on the back foot from the kick off. Wareham set the tone for the afternoon in the first minute, holding off a couple of strong challenges to release Wing on the right who was immediately fouled. The free kick produced a chance for Ehibhatiomhan who fired wide. A minute later Wing squared a pass outside the box to Savage strike first time. Phillips reacted well to push his attempt over the bar at full stretch.
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MATCH REPORT: Reading 2 Rotherham 1

Points Shared In Scrappy Draw With Shrewsbury

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 16:01:11 +0000

Shrewsbury Town came to town scrapping for points to climb out of the bottom four, so this fixture was never likely to provide great entertainment. Statistics rarely tell the whole story, but on this occasion the passing accuracy of both sides reflected the nature of the game. With Town playing a long ball game, only just over a half their passes (56% compared to 73% by Reading) reached the intended destination. It was hardly surprising their second half equalising goal came from a speculative 'route one' punt which Reading were unable to clear.
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Match Report: Reading 1 Shrewsbury Town 1

Late Penalty Gives Reading Win After Run Of Defeats

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 17:38:51 +0000

A last-minute penalty, the first awarded at home for Reading in over a year, gave Reading a much needed, and thoroughly deserved three points in this highly entertaining game. It ended a run of four defeats for Reading and denied visitors Bolton Wanderers a third successive league victory.
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MATCH REPORT: Reading 1 Bolton Wanderers 0

Reading Drop Out Of Top Six

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 11:45:53 +0000

The outcome of a football matches is, to a greater or lesser extent, determined by overall team performances or, more often than not, by specific lapses in concentration and basic errors. This result was a perfect example of all those elements coming together to produce a resounding defeat for a buoyant Reading team against a team in the middle of a poor run of results. Reading dominated possession, mainly due to playing football in their own half, while County dictated the play recording eight shots on target to Reading's one. Too often Reading resorted to the long ball, playing into the hands of County with their significant height advantage at the back. READ MORE...

MATCH REPORT: Reading 1 Stockport 3

Reading Exit FA Cup After Extra Time

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 11:23:57 +0000

A team looking likely to be playing in the Premier League next season, having only lost two league games conceding only a miserly nine goals in twenty-six matches, was bound to prove difficult to overcome. Nevertheless, Reading must take credit, after a shaky start, for taking Burnley to extra time, before succumbing to two goals from in-form striker Zian Flemming this Third Round cup tie.
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MATCH REPORT: Reading 1 Burnley 1 (FA Cup Third Round)

Happy Christmas For Reading With Another Win

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 11:46:54 +0000

A spectacular Tyler Bindon overhead kick produced the goal which proved to be the winner in a keenly contested match from start to finish. It was a goal worthy of winning any game and crowned yet another excellent performance from Reading's young centre back. Both sides came into the game on the back of a convincing Boxing Day victory knowing a win for Town would displace Reading in the top six. In a physical game dominated by Mansfield, Reading stood up to the challenge and secured their second win in four days courtesy of two superbly taken goals. READ MORE...

Match Report: Reading 2 Mansfield 1

Noel Hunt Gets First Win On Boxing Day

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 12:53:36 +0000

Reading took full advantage of an opportunity against struggling Northampton, to restore some of the confidence lost after a winless run of four games, and the departure of their manager. A deft touch from Knibbs gave Reading an early lead, and Smith doubled that lead before the interval, latching on to a gem of a pass by Wing from inside his own half, before sliding the ball past Town 'keeper Tzanev. Emphatic and impressive second half strikes from Savage and Camara sealed a comfortable four-one win. At three-nil, Eaves scored a consolation goal for the Cobblers when the referee failed to notice he had blatantly controlled the ball with his hand before tucking it away, leaving Pereira and Reading defenders appealing in vain for a free-kick. READ MORE...

Match Report: Reading 4 Northampton Town 1

Optimism Crushed By Blackpool

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 17:09:55 +0000

Setting aside the continued uncertainty of ownership hanging over Reading Football Club, and the recent and sudden departure of an undoubtedly successful manager, this was a very worrying and disappointing result and performance. There were so many factors contributing to the outcome of this fixture it is hard to know where to begin.

Some of the shock and disappointment of Ruben Selles' departure had subsided following last week's fine away result at league leaders Wycombe, giving way to a degree of optimism with the prompt appointment of Noel Hunt. Despite a relatively small contingent of travelling fans, a crowd of over fourteen thousand (second highest of the season) turned up in anticipation of a continuation of the recent run of strong performances from the home side. Sadly, that was not how it turned out.
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Noel Hunt Immediately Replaces Selles

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 21:46:32 +0000

Noel Hunt has immediately been appointed as Reading FC's new first team manager after Ruben Selles left for Championship strugglers Hull City. As soon as Selles was out of the door, Hunt signed a two and a half year contract to keep him as manager until the summer of 2027. This time around the Royals avoided the usual weeks of speculation and had clearly already made arrangements for Hunt to step in well before Selles move to Hull was made official. Hunt is a natural appointment for the club, moving into the role from his previous job as Under 21 team manager and is already being a very familiar face at Reading FC after his playing days as a striker for the Royals. Hunt was also caretaker manager at the end of the 2023/2024 season after Paul Ince was sacked, and oversaw five matches as team manager which included three draws and two defeats.

After retiring from a long and successful playing career which included spells at Dundee United, Reading, Leeds, Ipswich, Portsmouth and Wigan he took his coaching qualifications and was assistant manager at Swindon Town and Doncaster Rovers. Nearly three years ago he came back to the club where he played his best football to manage Reading's under 21s. Reading have relied on their academy players stepping up into the first team in recent seasons, and there is no one that knows them better than Noel Hunt.

Noel will take charge of the Royals for tomorrow's visit to Wycombe Wanderers in the League and will be hoping to continue Reading's good form that has been them move into the play-off positions.