BFTG . Brighton

[handbags_harris]

Blatant push on Van Den Berg causing own goal.

I haven't seen it back but from my vantage point in row S of the Eamo I thought he was blatantly pushed as well...I was beginning to think I was the only one to think that

[Nameless]

I'm interested to see if Gunter was actually in the area or not on the penalty shout. My first thought was that the ref got it right (although that seems unlikely) but those around me were adamant that it was a penalty.

From my seatin the North it looked inside.
The ref had no idea, the Lino gave it outside despite not having a great view and only gave it after the ref had blown for the foul.
To be honest if the officials were not able to see clearly then they did the right thing. But if they were not able to see clearly then maybe basket weaving would be a better way to spend their Saturday than messing up other people's football.

[Westwood52]

I actually enjoyed the game, and I haven't said that for a while.

Brighton are very good-but have too many old men to be serious contenders. They had us on toast for twenty minutes around about when they got their 1st goal-then we had them under the cosh for about twenty minutes 2nd half; however soon as Macca and Beerens tired we fell away-time to bring on the cavalry, Jap at that point.

Habsi 6: Not much to do-couple of flaps-one poor clearance 1st half.
Gunts 6: Normal day at the Office really.
Obita 4: Tough afternoon; against their best player-just about survived. Quinn at LB midweek ?
Joey 7: One great tackle 2nd half-world class-but then took one for the team late on.
McShane 6: Ran ragged & looked clumsy but redeemed his performance with great goal.
Evans 6: Didn't reach any great heights of performance , but once again nice & tidy.
Williams 5: Bit of a mixed bag really-gave the ball away too often-but dangerous once he gets up a head of steam.
Swift 7: Another classy performance; without doing anything special.
Macca 8: MOM-tired late on , but back to his near best.
Kermit 7: His best game for a while-looked a threat and unlucky not to score.
Beerens 7: Pretty good-some nice touches.

Quinn: Looked a bit rusty-not surprising.
Mendes :Hmm-I reserve judgement-early days.

Finally the Ref & East Stand Lino-both were appalling .Players are not allowed to speak to them-but it must be so frustrating for the players-to try and earn a living with this standard of officiating-the Referee Panel have to do better somehow.

The Ref in particular was the worst we have had for a couple of seasons. I know its a tough job-but Brighton's first was clearly a foul & equally it was clearly a Reading pen 2nd half. A number of Brighton players escaped yellow cards for similar offences for which Reading players were booked & TBF Kermit's late lunge was a clear Red -as was The Brighton's players reaction to the McShane foul 2nd half.

End of rant-after an enjoyable afternoon.

[marlowuk]

Top of the league; unbeaten this season; not conceded a goal this season - Brighton were always going to be a test for new-look Reading. So we did our best to help them - gifting them an own goal and getting a man sent off - and, on balance, we still should have beaten them!

The first half was a half of two halves! After we scored in the 2nd minute we hardly got out of our own half for 20 minutes during which time Joey VdB equalised for them. Thereafter we took the game to them with McCleary particularly looking dangerous.

The second half was more open and fairly even although Habsi was never really tested whereas Stockdale made some excellent saves from Kermy and we had one effort cleared off the line. Knockaert was fast, clever and a handful for Obita but I thought Jordan did OK against him.

A few other random observations ...
Sidwell was a shadow of his former self
The booing of Norwood was unnecessary - he has been a good servant to the club
The Brighton fans outsang us
The Ref was very poor

[Hampshire Royal]

As everyone has said, that was a terrific game with us being better than Brighton for most of it.

A lot of people have posted that Brighton were good and that the ref was poor. It's true that Brighton played well, but what will get them in the top 6 this season is the clever way they managed to fool the ref by diving and falling over and by pulling and pushing the Reading players. They did all this on the blind side of the ref. VdB was pushed for their first. and was justifiably upset by this, but shouldn't have badgered the ref, which ultimately led to him being sent off. Kermorgant was belted by Rosenior, which the ref didn't see. I would rather see my team lose fairly than win like Brighton do!! Even Sidwell was acting like a thug, which disappointed me!!

Highlight of the game, for me, was seeing Kermorgant running faster than I've ever seen him to get revenge on Rosenior.

The Jaap Stam style is looking really good and all it needs to become perfect is for a few of the players to have just a little more self-confidence.

[LWJ]

The booing of Norwood was unnecessary - he has been a good servant to the club

2 seasons he was here for, 2 seasons of mediocre football we've had. who jumped ship as soon as someone came in for him. How was he a good servant?!

Need I remind anyone how many corners it took for us to score last year.. And the percentage he would have taken.

[Royal Ginger]

As everyone has said, that was a terrific game with us being better than Brighton for most of it.

A lot of people have posted that Brighton were good and that the ref was poor. It's true that Brighton played well, but what will get them in the top 6 this season is the clever way they managed to fool the ref by diving and falling over and by pulling and pushing the Reading players. They did all this on the blind side of the ref. VdB was pushed for their first. and was justifiably upset by this, but shouldn't have badgered the ref, which ultimately led to him being sent off. Kermorgant was belted by Rosenior, which the ref didn't see. I would rather see my team lose fairly than win like Brighton do!! Even Sidwell was acting like a thug, which disappointed me!!

Highlight of the game, for me, was seeing Kermorgant running faster than I've ever seen him to get revenge on Rosenior.

The Jaap Stam style is looking really good and all it needs to become perfect is for a few of the players to have just a little more self-confidence.

Reading were at it just the same as Brighton but weren't as good at it.

Kermorgant's ugly tackle on Rosenior was just that. It has no place in the game and your support of it is a little shameful.

[Royal Ginger]

The booing of Norwood was unnecessary - he has been a good servant to the club

2 seasons he was here for, 2 seasons of mediocre football we've had. who jumped ship as soon as someone came in for him. How was he a good servant?!

Need I remind anyone how many corners it took for us to score last year.. And the percentage he would have taken.

I disagree about how good he was but that's besides the point. Even if he was mediocre I don't think anyone could realistically say he didn't put in any effort. Ignoring his arrival as 'just another player' would be fine, but booing him suggests he did something bad, which he didn't. It was a bizarre reaction.

[Nameless]

Joey didn't get sent off for anything to do with his OG. His yellow was for a different incident. Having seen the goal on TV I'm not sure it was such an obvious foul anyway !

Kermogant's foul was not great, but there were several other incidents which were as bad. Disappointed that Sidwell seemed to think it was ok to tackle any time within 3 seconds of a player releasing the ball...

[Nameless]

The booing of Norwood was unnecessary - he has been a good servant to the club

2 seasons he was here for, 2 seasons of mediocre football we've had. who jumped ship as soon as someone came in for him. How was he a good servant?!

Need I remind anyone how many corners it took for us to score last year.. And the percentage he would have taken.

I disagree about how good he was but that's besides the point. Even if he was mediocre I don't think anyone could realistically say he didn't put in any effort. Ignoring his arrival as 'just another player' would be fine, but booing him suggests he did something bad, which he didn't. It was a bizarre reaction.

There wasn't much booing though, the applause drowned it out. I suspect the booing was down more to Norwood's rather two faced 'message' to us sent via GetReading. Better to say nothing than insult our intelligence Ollie.

[Royal Ginger]

I thought there was significant booing, but i may have been wrong. I was applauding and tutting about the booing with the bloke behind me.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Just like the previous two seasons, I was pretty disinterested with Ollies presence on the Madejski pitch.

Great to see Sidders survive the 90 minutes

Decent game for a change......feeling more optimistic having watched that

[Lower West]

Surprised to see what Norwoods position was when he came on. Never regarded him as an attacking midfield player.

[Royal Ginger]

Just like the previous two seasons, I was pretty disinterested with Ollies presence on the Madejski pitch.

Great to see Sidders survive the 90 minutes

Decent game for a change......feeling more optimistic having watched that

Agree with that. We're not getting promoted, so if we can have a bunch of entertaining, closely contested games like that i'll be a very happy customer this year.

[NewCorkSeth]

Missed it all due to a funeral but it's interesting to read that VDB had a great game! I read og and a red and thought it's good we bought a cb! Glad to see him rated so highly despite the 2 most obvious footballing no-no's

[Top Flight]

Great point today lads. Getting closer to our 40 point survival target.

[Hampshire Royal]

Joey didn't get sent off for anything to do with his OG. His yellow was for a different incident. Having seen the goal on TV I'm not sure it was such an obvious foul anyway !

Kermogant's foul was not great, but there were several other incidents which were as bad. Disappointed that Sidwell seemed to think it was ok to tackle any time within 3 seconds of a player releasing the ball...

I suggest you look at the og again. The ball came over and Murray made no attempt to go for it. Instead he preferred to push Joey in the side with his forearm. Clear as day from where I was sitting, but hidden from the ref. If Joey wasn't booked for his moaning at the ref, what 'other incident' was it for? That was the first of two bookings which led to his sending off, by the way.

[Hampshire Royal]

Reading were at it just the same as Brighton but weren't as good at it.

Kermorgant's ugly tackle on Rosenior was just that. It has no place in the game and your support of it is a little shameful.

I agree that Kermorgant's tackle on Rosenior looked bad, but Rosenior thumped him just before. If he insists on living by the sword etc. In any case, my point was that Kermorgant ran towards him like a greyhound!!

I know we all just see what we want to see, but I didn't see us do anything like the blatant cheating that Brighton committed. Even Sidwell was at it!!

[windermereROYAL]

Great point today lads. Getting closer to our 40 point survival target.

It`s nearer to 50 points in the championship. on todays petformance we have no worries

[Lower West]

It`s nearer to 50 points in the championship. on todays petformance we have no worries

Stam has got to instil discipline. Accumulating too many cheap bookings.

In 4 league games that's 13 yellows and a red already.

Kermorgant has been booked in the last 3 games.

Obita, Evans and Williams also already on 2 a piece.