It is difficult in hindsight to gauge which apparent certainty was the harder to predict; that Reading would fail once again to take maximum points from a fellow struggler or that the game against a Villa side struggling to score goals would be a diabolical spectacle. In the end, Reading supporters - who, according to manager Brian McDermott, should be enjoying these alleged best-of-times - suffered both inevitable outcomes at the end of another dispiriting evening in this most depressingly predictable of seasons.

In all fairness to Reading, Villa were as abysmal on the night as we were. But at least the Villa supporters had the satisfaction of a win at the end of an entirely awful 90 minutes devoid of quality. 90 minutes. You could have boiled 30 eggs in the time wasted watching this utterly unmemorable travesty of a match. Or 3 episodes of Last of the Summer Wine. McDermott resisted selecting Compo and Cleggy to replace Gorkss and Gunter - for a duo of pensioners couldn't have done any worse on the evidence of Saturday's showing at Wigan - opting instead for the more tried and no less trusted options of Mariappa and Cummings. Gorkss has been a fantastic servant for Reading FC, his part in last season's remarkable title triumph should never be forgotten and who would bet against him re-inventing himself in the remainder of the season and becoming a dependable part of the side. But the plain truth is that he has utterly failed to adjuts to the step up required at this level. Given that Gunter himself was bombed out at Spurs you tend to wonder whether he is himself capable of the leap.

The winning goal that this turgid contest did not deserve came again in the closing stages and was a result of a set piece. The clues, as Loyd Grossman used to say, are there. 3 goals have already been shipped as a result of corner kicks this season, Fulham once and Arsenal twice the beneficaries. Christopher Benteke became the latest beneficiary of buffet defending, allowed a far post free header which drifted apologetically into the net albeit with a hint of a foul as Reading ultimately failed to clear the looping header at the near post. The alarm bells had already been rining with a number of free headers from Villa corners flicked wide of the gaping Reading goal and after we conceded so late at Wigan it was no surprise whatsoever to see us capitulate again so late, so meekly.

Reading had chances, but they were few and far between. In the first half the frankly anonymous Le Fondre turned an ambitious overhead flick following a scramble wide of the net and in the second half the matchwinner against Everton put a presentable headed opportunity from a corner of our own over the top. Top quality Premier League players would score those chances, sadly Reading have few - if any - of those kind of match-winners at this level. From a first half corner the ever-improving Morrison steered a firm header fractionally wide. Reading's best opportunity of scoring a goal seemed to be from hard-running source of Jason Roberts who used all his experience to win several ultimately non-threatening free kicks with his willingness and ability to run the channels. Sadly, both Roberts and Le Fondre were ill-rewarded in their efforts by quite ineffective performances by HRK and McAnuff on the flanks. Leigertwood and Tabb put their usual shifts in but once again demonstrated their lack of creative talent. Villa were able to bring the likes of Stephen Ireland and Marc Allbrighton from their bench, Reading in response used the option of the tyro Garath McLeary to shake up the underperforming flank options. That a side misfiring in this league as Villa are were able to call on replacements of this calibre sums up neatly just why Reading - until January at least - are absolute relegation certs. By contrast, our bench included Brynjar Gunnarsson, himself in semi-retirement.

The game was crying out for a nuisance to stretch Villa's defence. It seemed that Noel Hunt's endeavours might be best suited to our attempts at nicking something from this game and when he was belatedly introduced with 11 minutes remaining following the depressed, meagre away support's vocal pleading for the manager to make a much needed change, it was incredibly Roberts who was withdrawn rather than Le Fondre. Another baffling decision from a manager who has had a stinker of a season himself. Reading resorted to banging long balls up in the general direction of the midget front pairing, by which time we has fallen behind barely a minute after Hunt's introduction. McDermott after the game seemed to suggest, with some sarcasm, that the substitution craved by the supporters had hardly been the greatest idea in hindsight. Perhaps, Brian, if you had been more positive earlier against a side there for the taking then we could have had control of the game long before your players played Musical Statues at a corner.

Reading's neanderthal style of football must be by some way the least entertaining to watch in this division. Stoke City receive many barbed comments from (usually defeated) opposition managers and supporters, but their style is well suited to the personnel they have available. Is percentage football really suited to the likes of Adam Le Fondre? You simply cannot expect two sub-six footers such as Le Fondre and Hunt to thrive on long balls. Perhaps if there was a semblance of creativity from the middle of the park then they may achieve some success, but together with the likes of HRK and McAnuff failing to provide any consistently good delivery you suspect that Reading could have played all night and failed to seriously test Guzan. The positive note is that the recalibrated back 4 looked a little more composed, albeit against a side without a goal in 5 hours. And we still conceded a soft goal from a set piece. Natch.

It gives me no pleasure whatsoever to write in such negative terms about Reading, but there is a growing sense of realisation that relegation is inevitable which is such complacency on the part of the football club given the promises of TSI and the magnificent efforts to secure promotion in the first place. As supporters we wish fror our team to be successful and to be entertaining in their endeavours. We will settle for the former if we cannot have the latter as well. If it is just the latter then that is some miniscule crumb of comfort. When you have neither, you begin to wonder why you have bothered to make the effort at all. So much for good times, Brian.
Neil Maskell

Although I will not be asking for Brian’s head as I want him to have another crack at the Championship, I think we all have to accept that we are doomed this season. I think this was a must win game for our survival at this level and we did not. It was a big ask for the limited and over achieving squad that we had at the end of last season to survive the rigours of the PL and we simply spent nowhere near enough.

Tonight AV were by far the worst team we have faced this season and yet we still lost.
andrew1957

We looked good for pretty much the whole game, it felt like we had most of the possession in the Villa half but we couldn't create any good chances whatsoever. Compare that to Villa who had at least 3 golden opportunities in the first half, the goal, and a few good chances in the second half. The only meaningful shot we had came (surprise) from a corner, which ALF should have got on target.

Leigertwood was dire, lost the ball far too many times and any time he tries to make a pass I wince. Roberts may win free-kicks and try to take a man on but his final touch is atrocious. McAnuff had a decent game and was really unfairly treated by the officials. Defence looked solid aside from the times we got utterly carved open twice in the first half.

Just feel a bit empty after that. A draw was well within our grasp if we had the final ball quality, or the killer finisher. We lack a cutting edge, and players who are difference-makers at this level. We're battlers, yes, but quality will always show in this league.
chilipepper91

Simply not good enough. The accuracy of our passing is utterly woeful. We are dependent upon our wingers to provide decent crosses into the box, but on the rare occasions when they were in a position to do so, the ball went just about everywhere except where it was needed. McAnuff clearly puts his heart and soul into his performance, but he simply is not and never will be an accomplished Premier League player. HRK also seems like a rabbit in the headlights whenever he is given any time and space in which to think and make a decision. Legs got caught dallying on the ball on several occasions. At least we were spared the presence of Gorkss this time, which was a small blessing; likewise Gunter. Mariappa and Cummings did OK, but no more than that. If there is significant investment in new players in January we might stay up, but with this squad the only way is down.
Upper West Ginger

As the black clouds appear over the Madejski and the vultures start to circle, Reading Football Club plummeted to the depths of despair last night losing to a truly shocking Villa side. Words almost fail me, we are a side utterly bereft of confidence, ability and any iota of skill. Talk about YoYo clubs, I'm not sure how long the string is on our YoYo because we can't get much lower than this, actually we can starting this Saturday. The only player that looked anything like resembling a premiership player was Nicky Shorey, the rest of the defence did ok, but as for the midfield, it was embarrassing. The dilemma of McDonut is obvious and it's just a matter of time, I'm actually starting to feeling sorry for him, as he's a decent man and must be going through hell but I'm afraid the sword of Damocles is hovering perilously over his head. Trouble is with Harry now employed, who's out there? Not a lot in my opinion. It's just all rubbish at the moment.
Nick Newbury

As for Reading, a worrying pattern is beginning to emerge in terms of points slipping through their fingers in the latter stages of games. They have now conceded 16 goals in the final half-hour of matches – more than any other Premier League club this season – and, on this evidence, have a long season ahead of them...

Reading looked to be there for the taking at times and were particularly vulnerable when Villa counter-attacked at pace... Reading's threat was sporadic, although the tangible sense of anxiety inside Villa Park, as well as the home side's inexperienced back four, ought to have given them encouragement. Adam le Fondre could have put them ahead in the 10th minute but the striker was unable to make decent contact with an overhead kick inside the six-yard box after Brad Guzan had denied Hal Robson-Kanu at the near post.

Le Fondre squandered an even better opportunity just before the hour mark from a not dissimilar position, his free header from Nicky Shorey's corner kick sailing over the bar and leaving Brian McDermott holding his head in his hands. Within 60 seconds Lambert looked just as frustrated after a glancing header from Ciaran Clark, who timed his run to the near post to meet Bannan's corner superbly, flashed past the far upright.

With the game increasingly stretched, chances were opening up at both ends. Holman cut inside and hit the side-netting while Roberts twisted and turned at the other end before stabbing a shot that Guzan repelled with his legs.

Villa were becoming desperate and Lambert responded by introducing Stephen Ireland and Marc Albrighton. In the end it was a set-piece that delivered the breakthrough, Ashley Westwood's corner headed emphatically beyond Federici by Benteke, who climbed above Sean Morrsion.
The Guardian

After only two home wins in 12 months, the tension was predictably palpable. Reading managed 13 away victories last season as they cantered to the Championship title and have struggled to transfer those results to the higher level, but should have taken the lead in the 10th minute.

Jobi McAnuff’s low cross created havoc with Brad Guzan saving from Hal Robson-Kanu before Adam Le Fondre fluffed an overhead kick after Villa’s defence failed to clear.

But Villa recovered from a hesitant start, only to produce the sort of wayward finishing that underlined why Bent’s exile could be so damaging.

Benteke, the forward who has effectively taken Bent’s place, shot straight at Adam Federici from 10 yards before Andreas Weimann scooped his shot horribly over from even closer range.

With eight players aged 23 or under, Lambert’s emphasis is very much on the future and while his team cannot be accused of lacking endeavour and spirit there was again a distinct lack of cutting edge. Ten Premier League goals before this game tells its own story.

Nathan Baker, the defender, headed over a Barry Bannan corner just after the half hour to crank up the tension and anxiety in the stands. Two minutes before half-time Weimann collapsed under a challenge from Adrian Mariappa in the box but Lee Probert, the referee, was unmoved.
The Telegraph