Reading FC Match Report: 2017/2018 Season - Championship
IPSWICH 2 READING 0
Reading: --
Ipswich: C Connolly (3), J Garner (27)
Post Match Fans' Opinion
Norfolk Royal
In some ways a typical game at Ipswich, ie we contrived to beat ourselves, a poor ref, we lost our discipline, goals from nowhere, a sly opponent.
Reading were dominant in the first half and created around four excellent openings which on another day may have been taken, two wonder/lucky blocks by Ipswich defenders ensuring we did not score.
Gunter overlapped to great effect, more than I have ever seen him do before in a game and put in several half decent crosses, one in particular where it looked certain that Kermorgant would score, one of the aforementioned blocks.
So how did we go in at half-time two-nil down? The first Ipswich goal came in the third minute, Mannone on the face of it being a bit out of position for a shot by the impressive Connolly which all but dribbled into the corner.
Kermorgant argued long and hard that Barrow, I think, had been fouled while losing possession for the break that led to the goal, but to no avail. In fact, it appeared that some of the Reading defenders were concentrating more on that incident than playing to the whistle as they perhaps should have done.
Reading went on to completely dominate the first half but were undone again on only the second occasion I recall Ipswich getting into our half during the first 35 minutes. A corner to the near post was back headed across goal and nodded in unchallenged by the Ipswich player.
If you were being picky you could say that McShane's challenge was weak on the initial flick on and the player who scored was unmarked, but those things sometimes happen. Look at the corner count, we had plenty of opportunity to right that Ipswich goal but never really threatened from a set piece.
Most people around me were muttering that we needed a goal before half-time to give us a chance in the game. Sadly, despite some enterprising play at times, we did not do that. And the familiar script duly followed.
The second half was more scrappy than the first with Reading marginally in the ascendancy chasing the game while Ipswich were happy to counter, on one occasion Connolly, again, after a mazy run perhaps should have increased their advantage. He looked an impressive player of skill that Reading were lacking on the day.
Ipswich under McCarthy are a sly team and it was notable that whenever Reading looked like breaking a foul went in to block the forward surge. That in part led to the frustration and arguing with the referee that was continuous throughout the game.
The referee was poor, particularly in the first half. He was desperate to send someone off. The Ipswich fans sensed this and every time a Reading player put in a questionable foul the 'off, off, off' chants went up and the ref was on to it like a shot. The same could not really be said for his treatment of Ipswich's blatant blocking of runs and 'professional' fouls.
In truth we never really looked like scoring in the second half. The game was won or lost in the first half. The second half might as well not have been played to be honest.
It would be tempting to say that Stam's tinkering with the team again today was partly responsible for this rather disappointing and disjointed performance but I don't see enough games to rule on that really. It appeared that Van den Berg, who had a good game, took up Kelly's usual position. He did well but lacks Kelly's range of passing.
Blackett, who had a poor game, was brought in at left-back, Gunter, who had a good game, moved back to his usual position, and Bacuna played in midfield. The fans got on Blackett's back and it is puzzling as to why our young left back Richards? did not play as he is so highly rated. He was on the bench after all.
On the fans, who were generally good today, why spend ages taunting the Ipswich fans about their empty seats when we are as bad, if not worse than them.
Ratings:
Mannone: 5. Suspicion that he could have done more with the first Ipswich goal. Looked comfortable in his distribution though.
Gunter: 6.5. Overlapped to great effect in the first half but faded thereafter.
Blackett: 4. Just don't see him as a left back.
McShane: 5. He probably wouldn't say that was one of his better games and enraged the home crowd by going down at one stage, on apparent orders from the bench, for an injury which involved changing his shirt for some reason.
Moore: 7. MOM. Looks our most accomplished player and one block in the second half was fantastic. Stopped a certain goal.
Bacuna: 5. Was expecting more from him today. Frustrating, think he could do a lot more.
Edwards: 5. Did not really influence proceedings despite getting in promising positions at times.
Van den Berg: 6.5. Was influential and passed the ball well.
Aluko: 5.5. Flattered to deceive.
Kermorgant: 4.5. Looks off the pace at the moment, perhaps not surprising given his long injury lay off but should be doing a bit more given he has had a few games now. A chap next to me commented that he thought Kermorgant was carrying too much timber. Bit harsh as he is stocky in any case.
Barrow: 6. He looked our most likely outlet but most of his best efforts failed with the final ball. Felt he could have cut inside more and exposed the Ipswich defence rather than always going on the outside and cutting down his options.
Reading were dominant in the first half and created around four excellent openings which on another day may have been taken, two wonder/lucky blocks by Ipswich defenders ensuring we did not score.
Gunter overlapped to great effect, more than I have ever seen him do before in a game and put in several half decent crosses, one in particular where it looked certain that Kermorgant would score, one of the aforementioned blocks.
So how did we go in at half-time two-nil down? The first Ipswich goal came in the third minute, Mannone on the face of it being a bit out of position for a shot by the impressive Connolly which all but dribbled into the corner.
Kermorgant argued long and hard that Barrow, I think, had been fouled while losing possession for the break that led to the goal, but to no avail. In fact, it appeared that some of the Reading defenders were concentrating more on that incident than playing to the whistle as they perhaps should have done.
Reading went on to completely dominate the first half but were undone again on only the second occasion I recall Ipswich getting into our half during the first 35 minutes. A corner to the near post was back headed across goal and nodded in unchallenged by the Ipswich player.
If you were being picky you could say that McShane's challenge was weak on the initial flick on and the player who scored was unmarked, but those things sometimes happen. Look at the corner count, we had plenty of opportunity to right that Ipswich goal but never really threatened from a set piece.
Most people around me were muttering that we needed a goal before half-time to give us a chance in the game. Sadly, despite some enterprising play at times, we did not do that. And the familiar script duly followed.
The second half was more scrappy than the first with Reading marginally in the ascendancy chasing the game while Ipswich were happy to counter, on one occasion Connolly, again, after a mazy run perhaps should have increased their advantage. He looked an impressive player of skill that Reading were lacking on the day.
Ipswich under McCarthy are a sly team and it was notable that whenever Reading looked like breaking a foul went in to block the forward surge. That in part led to the frustration and arguing with the referee that was continuous throughout the game.
The referee was poor, particularly in the first half. He was desperate to send someone off. The Ipswich fans sensed this and every time a Reading player put in a questionable foul the 'off, off, off' chants went up and the ref was on to it like a shot. The same could not really be said for his treatment of Ipswich's blatant blocking of runs and 'professional' fouls.
In truth we never really looked like scoring in the second half. The game was won or lost in the first half. The second half might as well not have been played to be honest.
It would be tempting to say that Stam's tinkering with the team again today was partly responsible for this rather disappointing and disjointed performance but I don't see enough games to rule on that really. It appeared that Van den Berg, who had a good game, took up Kelly's usual position. He did well but lacks Kelly's range of passing.
Blackett, who had a poor game, was brought in at left-back, Gunter, who had a good game, moved back to his usual position, and Bacuna played in midfield. The fans got on Blackett's back and it is puzzling as to why our young left back Richards? did not play as he is so highly rated. He was on the bench after all.
On the fans, who were generally good today, why spend ages taunting the Ipswich fans about their empty seats when we are as bad, if not worse than them.
Ratings:
Mannone: 5. Suspicion that he could have done more with the first Ipswich goal. Looked comfortable in his distribution though.
Gunter: 6.5. Overlapped to great effect in the first half but faded thereafter.
Blackett: 4. Just don't see him as a left back.
McShane: 5. He probably wouldn't say that was one of his better games and enraged the home crowd by going down at one stage, on apparent orders from the bench, for an injury which involved changing his shirt for some reason.
Moore: 7. MOM. Looks our most accomplished player and one block in the second half was fantastic. Stopped a certain goal.
Bacuna: 5. Was expecting more from him today. Frustrating, think he could do a lot more.
Edwards: 5. Did not really influence proceedings despite getting in promising positions at times.
Van den Berg: 6.5. Was influential and passed the ball well.
Aluko: 5.5. Flattered to deceive.
Kermorgant: 4.5. Looks off the pace at the moment, perhaps not surprising given his long injury lay off but should be doing a bit more given he has had a few games now. A chap next to me commented that he thought Kermorgant was carrying too much timber. Bit harsh as he is stocky in any case.
Barrow: 6. He looked our most likely outlet but most of his best efforts failed with the final ball. Felt he could have cut inside more and exposed the Ipswich defence rather than always going on the outside and cutting down his options.
windermereROYAL
I`ve just got in with my beer goggles on, but I don't need to write a report now because that's exactly how I saw the game , top class BFTG too.
Just a quick word on Kermagent though, he looks a shadow of his former self, I know we need to give time time after his long lay off,
but I cant remember him having a single touch in the 2nd half.
Ohh and our juvenile support now are a serious embarrassment.
Just a quick word on Kermagent though, he looks a shadow of his former self, I know we need to give time time after his long lay off,
but I cant remember him having a single touch in the 2nd half.
Ohh and our juvenile support now are a serious embarrassment.
eddiegrundy
McShane: 5. He probably wouldn't say that was one of his better games and enraged the home crowd by going down at one stage, on apparent orders from the bench, for an injury which involved changing his shirt for some reason.
McShane came out of the dressing room at full-time with stiches in a cut over his right eye.
windermereROYAL
McShane came out of the dressing room at full-time with stiches in a cut over his right eye.
That injury was quite interesting because he had a few minutes treatment, the Ipswich fans were booing him every time he touched the ball after that. who the f*ck wastes time when you are 2-0 down?
Kitsondinho
McShane came out of the dressing room at full-time with stiches in a cut over his right eye.
That injury was quite interesting because he had a few minutes treatment, the Ipswich fans were booing him every time he touched the ball after that. who the f*ck wastes time when you are 2-0 down?
Us....at Bolton a few weeks ago.
This Championship game took place 2321 days ago in the 2017/2018 season.