Play Offs Start To Slip Away

By Hob Nob Anyone?

Roared on by a huge contingent of travelling fans, Argyle initially threatened to overwhelm Reading with route one tactics which entailed their team getting as many players (and the ball) forward as rapidly as possible. Reading to their credit were not fazed by the onslaught which saw Pepple receive in a yellow card the first minute. In fact, they delivered the perfect response by taking an early lead. Rendell Williams latched on to a ball on the break, and using his pace and strength, worked himself a position on the right to deliver a cross which caught out Argyle 'keeper Ashby-Hammond drifting over his head inside the far post. The goal certainly didn't dampen the spirits of the travelling fans who remained in good voice and a mere three minutes later reached a crescendo when centre back Mitchell timed his run across the box to meet Curtis's corner to tuck away the equaliser. Reading's defence collectively was slow to react and paid a heavy price being second to the ball. Reading certainly hadn't weathered the early storm but gradually played their way calmly into the game.
READ MORE...

Match Report: Reading 2 Plymouth Argyle 2

From the Discussion

RG Royal Ginger 15 Mar 2026 · 6:40am

Very enjoyable. Credit to Leam and the tactical team, they had identified that Plymouth didn’t like balls in the air and exploited it. Paddy Lane managed to escape a yellow by faking an injury in the second half. Thought the ref was hovering over him to give it but seemed to just forget. Tackle was absolutely worthy of one. Don’t know who pissed in O’Connor’s pint but he wasn’t a happy man for most of that game. Got pissy at Pereira a couple of times, absolutely lost it at the ref once or twice and was claiming all over Argyle backs. Both Williams’ and Doyle standouts for me. Would rather a win but more than that happy to have a… More →
OW Once were Biscuitmen 15 Mar 2026 · 7:14am

It was one of the local school discounts games which always helps a bit
MC MR. CYNICAL 15 Mar 2026 · 9:14am

Shame he and the tactical team can't identify how to stop conceding sloppy goals and how to manage a game when we're in front!
NA nailseabiscuitman 15 Mar 2026 · 12:54pm

Glad to see this opinion, I think these sorts of remarks are what Richardson alluded to in the Q&A session about social media. Pretty sure the younger players read it most and it has an effect on them. There are people on her and especially on Twitter who just won't let is go. By all means if someone has a bad game say it in context, not some of the vitriol I've seen. Often it's lead by people who claim to be long time supporters. People perform better with encouragement, not abuse.
NA nailseabiscuitman 15 Mar 2026 · 12:55pm

Glad to see this opinion, I think these sorts of remarks are what Richardson alluded to in the Q&A session about social media. Pretty sure the younger players read it most and it has an effect on them. There are people on her and especially on Twitter who just won't let is go. By all means if someone has a bad game say it in context, not some of the vitriol I've seen. Often it's lead by people who claim to be long time supporters. People perform better with encouragement, not abuse.
HO Hound 15 Mar 2026 · 2:43pm

Unfortunately didn’t get to watch but sounds pretty encouraging. Nice to be finally matching and beating good sides on possession stats, shots on target etc we’ve played pretty well other than the Mansfield horror show against decent sides recently, since hopefully the nadir which was Wycombe which was embarrassing
MC MR. CYNICAL 15 Mar 2026 · 5:29pm

Agree to a point except Plymouth didn't particularly look like a good side, which surprised me seeing they were on a bit of a run.
LE leon 15 Mar 2026 · 6:09pm

I wasn’t overly impressed with Plymouth apparently they score from a lot of set plays. We seemed to be playing with two defined wingers and looked much better for it. Lane was ok just not a great deal of end product. Williams was excellent first half. Dorsett falling asleep twice in the lead up to the goals but we still had to defend- which we did poorly. I like Plymouth in a strange way. Their fans all joining in the applause on the 13th minute showed a degree of class lacking in the vast majority of away support. (Port Vale being an obvious exception)
BC bcubed 15 Mar 2026 · 6:16pm

Yeh me too Any ideas what that was about?
CL Clyde1998 15 Mar 2026 · 6:17pm

Rotherham or this one? Certainly Rotherham was, and it appears to have been yesterday (I didn't see any marketing about it though).
CL Clyde1998 15 Mar 2026 · 6:23pm

Did Richardson just favour Dorsett for some sort of tactical reason? He was back in yesterday after missing the past few games and wasn't in the squad at all against Mansfield. Has he had some sort of knock we haven't been told about? As others have said, it could just be a fitness thing. Yesterday was the first game he's missed since joining us. Wouldn't be surprised if he started at Burton.
SR Snowflake Royal 15 Mar 2026 · 8:55pm

Someone said on another thread that Ward was rested for some fitness/injury niggles. I think Dorsett was just the only real alternative.

Read all the discussion →