Reading secured a much needed dramatic victory in the eighth minute of stoppage time when Matt Miazga fired home the rebound from Jordan Obita's superb strike from outside the box. Newly appointed Mark Bowen could not have wished for a better start to his tenure as Royals manager. Bowen's impact was immediate and obvious for all to see and his reward of three points was richly deserved. In a refreshing change of tactics, the tedious exchange of passes around their own penalty area were replaced by a desire to get the ball forward quicker and more directly. Defensively the marking was tighter and every Reading player was quick to close down opponents on the ball to such an extent North End were restricted a mere four goal attempts on target to Reading's twelve. The players looked more comfortable with the change in tactics and the fans went home happy for the first time since the win against Cardiff way back in August.
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Bowen Starts Managerial Career With Victory
From the Discussion
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SR Snowflake Royal 19 Oct 2019 · 6:32pm
Really good result and quite deserved. A few words of caution to start though. I though Preston were the worst side I've seen this season except us, so baffled how they're riding so high. Plus despite better defending and play in general they still got a couple of alarming free headers they didn't do anything with. We'll need to play better to get a run of results. Ref: 4 no control over the game at all. Let loads of their shithousery go and blew up every time one of them fancied a sit down. Cabral 6 solid. There when called on but nothing spectacular. Couple of shit kicks. Yiadom 6 much more present in defence, but still allergic… More →
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RW royalp-we 19 Oct 2019 · 6:47pm
Subtle changes. Less risky at the back and got it to the strikers, Puscas and Meite, well in the first half. Bowen said we need to do that better, but the players did as they were told. Far better game management, didn’t make wholesale, risky changes throughout the match. Which is wise, really as we have a lot of games coming up and I really hope steady progress can be made with a slightly different, direct but mixed style and confidence from that. We were positive in our play, fought till the end, got lucky and nabbed our THIRD win of the season. Against a high-flying Preston side, too. Delighted for the players, delighted for… More →
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PI PieEater 19 Oct 2019 · 6:50pm
I'm also wondering how Preston were second in the table, they were pretty woeful. A team whose game plan was to get players booked, feign injury, harass the ref , then nick a win from a set piece. We battled as we have done previously, missed our few chances ( Puscas, Ejaria) then nicked it at the end. It couldn't have been sweeter given Preston's antics
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SD Singing Defective 19 Oct 2019 · 6:53pm
Thought Moore enormously improved: Did his part, and was also screaming at players to get back when needed. The captainy sort of behaviour. They were something else: Their No. 12 fouled someone straight in front of us in Y23, then went down on his knees, and head butted the ground. So the key-stone north end air ambulance walked over, wiped his nose. Then his hands. First one. Then the other. Are Southern pitches lethal to northerners? Is it something religious? Why did they not spend another five minutes wiping his ar5e, just for completeness?
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HO Hound 19 Oct 2019 · 6:58pm
No arguments with this ratings Ian, exactly how I saw it. At a push thought Pele was a 7 and did well esp in the first half Preston started well and I was a bit concerned but yeah they didn’t do a lot. Genuine wtf were they doing with all the play acting, time wasting and getting in the refs ear at 0-0 against a bottom 3 side. Bizarre behaviour and deserved their defeat Side note - I enjoyed the game a lot more. More controlled but direct forward play, far better movement up top (esp with Baldock on) and great to see the spirit hasn’t been damaged with Gomes sacking Early days but saw nothing to make me think sacking Gomes was… More →
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ZI Zip 19 Oct 2019 · 7:00pm
Pretty much agree with all of this. We were much more direct today with little of the awful passing between our centre backs. Preston were dreadful and got exactly what they deserved. Just how many times did their players go down injured in the second half? We look much more solid with Miazga in the side. A bit concerned with Obita who struggled to chase back on a couple of occasions when we were caught short at the back but overall a deserved win.
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ZI Zip 19 Oct 2019 · 7:01pm
Yep I thought Pele was better today and loved that thumping tackle to win the 50/50 in the second half.
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PI PieEater 19 Oct 2019 · 7:04pm
Can I just add a message for Bowen for the next game..... KEEP THE SAME FUCKING TEAM!!!
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WE Westwood52 19 Oct 2019 · 7:05pm
Yes I was baffled by how poor Preston were. Apart from once when we were wide open 2nd half they never looked dangerous. Not happy with three at the back,as our LH side was wide open,particularly in the 1st half.But heh ho. We had far more decent shots and chances than they did,and they were happy to settle for a draw late on. IMHO Rafael 6 Really had very little to do Obita 6 Thought he was playing from memory at times and looked rusty,but fair does on the goal. Morrison 6 Looked a bit spare really,but did what was required. Moore 7. The odd difficult moment,but did OK.Why hav’nt we seen his throws before ? Miazga 7 Did ok… More →
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RW royalp-we 19 Oct 2019 · 7:15pm
Can’t see how you have Loader as ‘effective’. Didn’t do much at all tbh. Adam contributes. It’s a joke he makes the squad. But he at least contributed.
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SA sandman 19 Oct 2019 · 7:19pm
Rafael - Nothing to do of any note really. Kicking quite poor but good to see a Reading keeper looking for an intelligent long ball first rather than automatically playing it short every time. Yiadom - Tireless up and down the flank. Couple of good crosses, including one that Puscas could have done better with if he could have been bothered getting across the Centre Back. 8 MotM Miazga - Took the goal well and dealt with everything in defence. Makes such a difference to that back three when he plays. 8 Moore - Shaky start but grew into the game. Probably his best performance of the season. 7 Morrison - Back to form. Did he had to… More →
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WI windermereROYAL 19 Oct 2019 · 7:20pm
I see the Puscas bashing still in full flow, I thought he did very well today, was lively and plenty of good movement off the ball.