Once again a fairly ordinary, but well organised side came to the Madjeski Stadium and took all three points. Today’s performance underlined why the Royals will struggle to maintain their place in the top six until the end of the season. Having impressively outplayed high flying QPR away from home last week confidence and expectations were high. Poor passing, poor finishing and finally poor refereeing prevented Reading from salvaging a point from a game they were expected to win. The game turned on two key moments. A poorly directed header by Jobi McAnuff on the half way line allowed Rovers to hit Reading with a counter attack to take the lead against the run of play. Later Reading were denied an equaliser in the second half when the referee and his assistant failed to acknowledge the most blatant hand ball in front of goal I have seen for a long time.

It was game high on incidents but low on quality. The game punctuated by frequent stoppages for injuries and lethargic substitutions by Rovers to such an extent a total of eleven minutes of time had to be added by referee Scott. It was all very well indicating he was adding time as Rovers players provocatively ambled off when their number came up but they were actually deliberately disrupting the play and slowing the game down without any reprimand. Apart from the appalling error over the penalty decision, he made a meal of the ludicrous drop-ball situations, and was inconsistent in his interpretation of the laws of the game throughout. Most of that would not have mattered if Reading had shown the quality evident in some their recent performances.

Rovers successfully stifled Reading’s midfield and attack limiting them to one shot on target in the entire game. Too often Reading resorted to crossing the ball from deep positions which made life easy for Robinson. Most ‘keepers are happy when the ball is launched straight at them from some distance. Pearce continued to look shaky at the back and was repeatedly beaten in the air. Reading’s passing was predictable, lacking in penetration and frequently misplaced. Rovers were defending extremely well, so when they scored on thirty-five minutes, an away win looked a real possibility. Following a Reading free-kick on the edge of the box the ball came back to the half way line. McAnuff gave the ball away, Rovers broke through, and although Gunther almost recovered possession, he was impeded as he attempted to clear and Conway ran in unmarked to hit a shot which was diverted past McCarthy by the unfortunate McAnuff. McCarthy had to save from Rhodes at full stretch moments later or the game would have been over by half time. Obita stood out with the quality of his long passing, composure on the ball, and willingness to get forward. Playing at left back is allowing him to rapidly develop into a very good player. Reading’s best chance when McAnuff worked himself an opening but feebly hit his shot too close to Robinson. Pogrebnyak let fly inside the box and sent the ball high and wide as half time approached. It was beginning to look like one of those days.

In the second half Reading seemed to believe their best outlet was Obita but he was unable to get past the full back to unlock the Rovers defence. McCleary and Gunther had no better luck on the other wing and in desperation Reading resorted to playing a long ball game which favoured the Rovers defence. A triple substitution saw the arrival of Drenthe, Guthrie and Robson-Kanu and the departure of Pogrebnyak, Akpan and Mc Cleary. Drenthe, as always, created a sense of urgency but when the ball dropped to him at the far post he ballooned the ball high into the South Stand. The nine minutes of stoppage time was even more disjointed and ill-tempered than the rest of the game except by now Reading had lost their shape completely and looked even less likely to score. Let’s hope for a better performance next week at home to Yeovil.
John Wells

Surprised at all the negativity with Akpan's performance today. He's got his limitations for sure, but for my money, him and Williams have been the best centre midfield partnership this season. As others have noted, it's a real shame that Ledge hasn't been available this season. Thought it interesting how the dynamics in the Williams / Guthrie partnership have changed, with Williams very much the leader these last few games. His progression has been one of the few bright spots this year.

Today was another disappointment in a season of disappointing performances. No idea why we continually revert to long ball at the merest hint of trouble, especially with our current front two. Even when we got it wide our final ball was piss poor. As indeed was every single set piece. Sustaining a play-off place looks a long-shot at best, in a quite frankly, very average division.
Whore Jackie

Always hesitant about triple substitution, always associated it with desperation and reflecting now I guess we were just that!! Akpan is awful, mind you guthrie as a replacement is not much better and I think we do need someone else next to williams Worry about the two centre backs next to each other, both as useless on the ball as each other. Passing game/style is not going to work with these group of players. I know it seems NA has worked that out now but I think it is going to be too little too late for a serious push for promotion
loyalroyal4life

Another game lost and it was all our own doing. Unfortunately the goal itself was McAnuffs fault. But these things happen. I was more pissed off with the good opportunities that McAnuff didnt take and the fact that he has to be involved with all set pieces. Obita has a better freekick than Jobi and what was he doing stepping in front as royston and buggering the whole thing up.

It was a bad day at the office for the team and Jobi in particular and another game we shouldnt have lost but there are too many of these this season.
Basingstoke Royal

In-form Reading, unchanged for the eighth match running, created the first chance of a tight first half five minutes in... Rovers had more of the ball in the opening stages but it was not until the 26th minute that they threatened the Royals’ goal as Rudy Gestede showed strength to hold off his marker before firing wide from 22 yards.

Ten minutes later, however, they were in front thanks to their new Scottish winger. The goal came from a Jordan Obita free kick at the other end of the field that was blocked by the Rovers wall and then cleared. McAnuff raced back in an attempt to win back possession but his back header was under hit and that enabled Jason Lowe to play the ball into the path of Rhodes.

Reading, chasing their sixth win in eight games, were rocking and McCarthy was forced into a fantastic flying stop after Rhodes spun and sent in a superbly struck half-volley from 20 yards... Nigel Adkins responded by making a triple substitution... The hosts were turning up the pressure and they had an appeal for a penalty turned down after Matt Kilgallon seemingly handled the ball on the ground in the box.

As well as the five second-half substitutions there were a number of stoppages, leading to a nerve-jangling nine minutes to be added on at the end of normal time. Resilient Rovers, however, refused to be beaten, despite the referee adding a further two minutes.
Lancashire Telegraph