Well after our good performance on Saturday I am sure we all felt that progression from last season had been made. On the evidence of tonight then that theory can be put to bed. I do not want to get all doom and gloom but the almost limp display was a little hard to take after the Derby game.

The first thing that was noticeable was the fact that Reading were hurting following the home defeat by Plymouth. They were busy and desperate to make amends for the loss on Saturday. We attempted to get the passing game going again which we used at Pride Park but the Royals would not let us. They closed us down incredibly quick and forced players in errors...This, I always say is one of the best tactics that can be deployed. It is much better to make your opponent play the ball rather than letting him play the ball.

Our passes were hurried and we hardly got any rhythm going. Reading were also attacking and it was clearly worrying from the outset that our defence was looking a little shaky. McShane who can read the game well let himself down when it came to picking up players but he was by no means alone. In fact the whole defence looked dodgy. Dodd, who looked so assured against the Rams was at least 2 yards off the pace. Mayo seemed uncertain in the tackle and with us being harried out of the passing game he tooked to launching poor balls up the line.

After about 10 minutes we did put a move together but just as most of our attacks did on Saturday we were let down by the final ball. By this time though the Royals were already threatening as they found joy down the flanks and one time Sidwell fizzed a ball along the 6 yard box which Kitson was unable to get on the end of.

To highlight the point above of our defence not picking players up, there were a number of occasions when their players found themselves space in the box. One time Kitson was able receive a pass from Convey but his tame shot was straight at Henderson. Luckily for us he held the shot as he has already shown that his handling is not all that assured. I do not want to get on his back too much but I think he is definately a worry, not only for his handling but also his enthusiasm for rushing off his line. He did this in first half when he came to try and claim a free-kick dropped into the edge of the area. The situation was misjudged and the ball fell to a Reading player who again was able to elude his marker. But in the time it took him to get the ball under control we were able to crowd him out and the danger was averted.

Reading decided it was time for them to take the lead and they did. Little took a swinging free-kick over from their left wing which missed everybody and fooled Henderson, who should have had it, as the ball went in. I thought at first that Ibrahima Sonko who, had lost McShane, had got a touch but it turns out that it went straight in. This means the fingers get pointed at Henderson and I think we really need to sign Blayney or get someone else in as Kuipers may still be weeks away from a return.

With the Berkshire club in the lead they took their foot off the pedal somewhat. This should have been our cue to pile on the pressure but although we had plenty of possession Reading kept us at bay fairly easily. Oatway, who had a decent game and was one of those to emerge from the game with some credit, did well in being able to find Kazim-Richards with a couple of reverse passes. Maybe Charlie is striking up a telepathic link with CKR, who himself did not have the best of games.

Colin still has a reluctance to challenge for headers and wants to have a little bit more time on the ball than Championship defenders are prepared to give him. He might have got away with that at League 2 but not at this level. But he does look a good player he will learn and be better for it. CKR was well shackled by the Royals defence but did work hard to find areas where he could receive the ball but generally the service was poor. Hammond and Reid looked good again but Chippy had a very off game by his standards. Shame because Carpenter is the player you would be looking to help create for the strikers but it just was not happening for him today.

We did manage to get a couple of shots off before the interval with both Kazim-Richards and Reid stinging the palms of Hahnemann, although I am not sure CKR's effort was not actually a cross. In both cases the resulting corners were easliy dealt with by the Reading defence.

The second half followed the pattern of most the first half really with us enjoying most of the possession but Reading kept us at arms length with not too much bother. Especially as we kept playing set-pieces straight into the hands of Hahnemann. On that, firstly, we should not be playing balls into an area where we know the 'keeper will claim and secondly on every occasion he was unchallenged. They must have been the simplest catches Hahnemann has ever taken.

Leon Knight was working hard again but it was not enough to save us. The impressive Reid had a fierce shot pushed over the bar. Oatway had a shot deflected for a corner after the ball fell to him following a free-kick. He seemed surprised that ball was going to him as it looked to take him ages to set himself for the first-time shot.

The disappointing Dodd was replaced by Frederico Turienzo who at one point had a good shot tipped over the bar. Other than that I will need to watch more of him before an opinion is formed. I believe he has only trained once this week and it showed. His touch was a little iffy, he was fairly slow and had a McCammon like ability to lose every arial challenge he went for. Hopefully the more he trains and plays then the better he will become.

I often have this habit of going to the bog during the game and missing Brighton's goals. So, thinking that it might aid us in our search for an equaliser I went to point Percy at the porcelain. Well, true to form I missed a goal...Reading's second!! So not only did it backfire but I cannot describe it for you here.

With time running out Colin came off and was replaced by Jake Robinson. He was lively and what we were crying out for as he had them backtracking and worried where before our build-up play was slow. I said our final balls were letting us down but maybe with Robinson playing his movement could help give another option for a pass. So there is 2 decent options I have highlighted that he can give us from the off. But there is only one way to find out and I would love to see him given a proper chance but not at the expense of Knight. We can play both of them.

That pretty much sums it up. I know Reading are a decent side but I am still disappointed as we need to pick up more points at home this season. There is no way we are going to have as much success on our travels as we did last season. We need to get win out of Crewe for a bit of confidence.

Albion & England forever

Thimble Keegan
Worthing BHA