I thought we played well

And I enjoyed the game. We had enough chances to score a dozen, although they had their fair share in the first half. It could have been 4-4 after 10 minutes.

They then took charge for a while, their right winger causing us all sorts of bother and it made no difference whether it was White or Kpekawa who was marking him, we simply couldn't cope. But then he stupidly got himself sent off, Hourihane laying the trap that he walked straight in to, and from that point forward it was all us. Some poor finishing, a bit of bad luck, some great defending from Reading and a couple of excellent saves preventing us from at least drawing level. But I've no complaints about the result and I've no complaints about our performance. We gave it our all, we didn't quite make it, we move on to the next game.

There was no need for Davies to make the challenge for the penalty, their lad had already kicked it out of play and was heading away from goal, but we all make mistakes. Davies then made a great save, but was a bit unfortunate the ball rebounded straight in to the path of the penalty taker. Reading's second was a great strike, Armstrong's even better as he struck it on the volley after a terrific nod down from Bradshaw.

A bit surprised to see Armstrong and Winnall starting the game again as it was after they were replaced by Watkins and Bradshaw that we started to take Wolves apart in midweek, but I'm not about to start questioning Hecky after the amazing run of results he's had. He can see how sharp his forwards look in training, he's got a much better idea of the defences they'll be playing again and how he believes we can best exploit their weaknesses and Armstrong scored a cracking goal. I did think Bradshaw looked dangerous when he came on though and Watkins can consider himself unlucky after they way he's played so far this season, but we've got four good forwards vying for only two places, so two are always going to miss out. I dare say had Hecky not felt the need to make a change a left back we would have seen Watkins in the second half.

If we continue to play 4-4-2, we are going to get exposed at times, but I hope Hecky continues with it. It means we crerate chances and score goals and it's by far the most exciting brand of football to watch.

Disappointed by the result but proud of the players and the club. Onwards and upwards.

 

I can agree with most of that Jay. I personally thought that we were very poor in the first half. We gave the ball away far too cheaply and were punished by a decent side. The sending off turned the flow of the game and after Hammill missed a decent chance at the end of the first half, I just knew it wasn't going to be our day.

In the 2nd half for all our dominance and pressure, we could just not force the ball home. We've tended to struggle to score from that situation for the last 2 or so years now, when we're chasing a game at home.

The penalty save was annoying, because it was such a poor penalty, that it wasn't anywhere near close enough to the corner for Davies to tip it around the post. It was quite central so that it cannoned back off of him and straight back into play.

It just wasn't our day. It was very similar to the defeat to Southend at the back end of last season. So long as we continue to play the way we have been, we'll be completely fine in this league.

Sent from my phone using my hands

 

Great post. Matched exactly how I saw the game.

Yes - Reading had a period where they looked very good. But even then we weren't completely out of it and we're creating some chances going forward.

Was a bad day at the office where the opposition played well, we probably didn't play quite as well as we'd like but also we probably didn't get the run of the green on a couple of things.

Totally agree with the above re. The Southend game. I said the exact same during the match - that was another game where the opposition manager had done their homework and gave us a tough day.

 

Essentially vyhe same as ive been saying. Although clearly not as articulately presented.

However, people on here have been trying yo make out I'm in another plane.

Ive noidea who Jay is never met him but hrs seldom wrong. And in this case hes100% correct AGAIN

 

i was screaming at hourihane to close the lad down for the 2nd could see what was coming.

 

Trouble is scowern just been had pole axed

 

Thought we played well , but reading played great that first 30 minutes , one of those games .

 

But yet we had the most clear cut chances in the period

 

Oh I don't know, I'd say a dead ball 12 yards from goal with only the keeper in front of you who isn't allowed to move off his line till you've kicked the ball counts as a pretty good chance.

 

That's one we had several clear cut chances rhat on another say we would have converted

 

I thought we put a lot of effort in and that can't be faulted but for whatever reason we were just quite poor especially considering we spent the majority of the game with a man advantage.

If I had to put my finger on why we lost I would say it was three reasons, they had a brilliant right winger who had the beating of white and then kpekawa every time and they used it and exploited it. Secondly with no strong ball winner up front we were unable to find a proper outlet and the ball was coming back. We put quite a lot of crosses into the box but Watkins and Bradshaw seem to be our best strikers with their heads and they were on the bench, it's not winnalls game really. And lastly we didn't change it enough to really stretch them when they went down to 10.

The first one, a team had a player who was better than ours. Oh well, if that never happened our team would be worth £100m per player. We will play plenty of teams this season who have a player perform better than ours.
Second one. I have absolutely no idea why hecky chose those strikers but he does. Watkins may have a slight injury where he couldn't be risked, he may have said himself in the preparations for the game that he doesn't fancy himself against mcshane for example, winnall may have guaranteed hecky that he would score. Anything. We have no idea but what I do know is it wasn't a random move by hecky, it was a decision he made based on his knowledge.
Third one. Ah well, not the first time or last time that a team hasnt capitalised. Maybe we didn't change it because we were scared of going 3-0 down and it being game over.

Heads down, learn from mistakes and move on

 

E

We missed over a dozen clear cut chances

 

Did we really.

 

More clear cut and easier than a penalty?

 

Right Tyrone. list over a dozen clear cut chances. Let's say 13. A clear cut chance not being a shot from distance or a bobble around the penalty area but say a clear header from a couple of yards out or a one on be with the keeper or an unchallenged shot in the area.

 

More in terms of the amount, yes

Yes, more than the one

I don't know why I'm.debating this with you times over you've proved your anti barnsley fc

 

He got up very quickly, there wasn't much wrong with him. Yes it should have been a free kick but it wasn't given so they should have been more professional. Had they just got on with the game then I don't think the second goal would have been scored.

 

I'd say throughout the game we probley missed 2 or 3 clear cut chances. None more clear cut than sam free header 99 times out of 100 he scores that or should do. Just wasn't our day was always hard to score agains 10 men because qpr had everyone back and defended very well. Against 11 they were the better team before their man was sent off.

 

Actually that's one of the issues it's not x 99 out if 100 it's more like 60