Mixed bag of performances, but our energy was decisive.

[Olé]

Odd game. Reading passing was far more fluid and with Aluko bags of pace but they missed three or four sitters in the box and Fielding made a cracking save to tip a long range shot wide, before their ponderous patient football eventually ran out of steam and finally surrendered midfield.

On the other hand we were largely disjointed first half with very little cutting edge but undoubtedly adjusted better at half time, got closer to one another in the midfield and played short passing with more pace through them in the second half along with a brilliant press if we lost the ball, didn't get our reward and looked like the game was heading for a 0-0, but our youthful energy and the addition of Leko gave us some new life, producing pressure culminating in Flint's drilled winner - which for our energy alone was deserved.

A feature of the game was the diversity of performances in our team. Bobby Reid was once again out of this world - he leads the team in everything, the press without the ball, the forward passing, the movement - but alongside him Diedhiou was a virtual non-entity and awful: slow, tired, static and apparently unable to win or to control the ball despite his size and strength. 

Similarly Joe Bryan and Paterson on the left were solid, Bryan in particular largely getting his positioning spot on and Pato drifting into great positions - setup for our best chance of the game during our dominant spell at the start of the second half - but on the right Vyner really struggled against very good opponents and got caught out repeatedly (I wish someone had put an arm round him at times) while O'Dowda on the wing was hugely frustrating and should have gone off sooner - I'm more and more convinced he is a physical asset (bright and pacy) rather than a smart footballer, his positioning with and without the ball was repeatedly poor, drifting all over the place, and he got into trouble too often, where the likes of Reid and Paterson and Brownhill were much more intuitive with their one touch passing.

Our best in the first half were a couple of attempts to play Reid in behind their back line, a Joe Bryan shot having cut inside and an O'Dowda header at the far post (one of the few times we caused problems with crosses - today our better football was through the middle) but overall Reading looked a far more accomplished side in the  first 45 and we depended on Flint and Baker more than anyone, Baker somewhat lucky not to get a red card for a desperate tackle, to my eyes the referee was going to his back pocket as he ran towards the incident but then stopped and assessed rightly that we had Flint dropping back.

Second half we got our press going and we played close fast passing between the lines, led by an absolutely irrepressible Reid, who now has more energy than any City player I can remember in my lifetime. I thought Brownhill got into the game more when we played closer passing, and Korey Smith was solid passing from in front of our back four. Several times we sliced through their back line, always orchestrated by intelligent touches, back heels and movement by Reid. On one such occasion Paterson was teed up behind their defence with only the keeper to beat, but his shot on the turn was across the face of goal - the type of miss Reading had been specialising in when in our box.

Removing the anonymous Diedhiou should have pushed us over the line but in truth it took about ten minutes for Leko to settle having initially drifted about too much in his anxiety to get in the game, and for that period Reading flashed several shots across our goal and brought one brilliant diving save from Fielding. But it was all they had and they had no joy in the air where Flint and Baker were dominant.

When Leko got going, it was all too much for a Reading defence and keeper who by then looked utterly harassed by our high press whenever we lost the ball in the second half. Into that pressure Leko's slick ball control and touches only added to the problems Reid and Paterson were causing their back line, and creating gaps for teammates. But if our weakness using that space to that point had been outside the box (shots - non existent, crosses - routinely poor culminating in Bryan getting put clear on the left and lifting a nothing ball into the stand) then it inevitably needed something to change - and with 6 minutes to go it did. The ball broke to Flint outside the box with space to shoot, and in front of 3500 fans he did what no one on either side had managed and just drilled the ball low at goal. The keeper got down to it but in a carbon copy of Fielding's best save, this time not with enough strength in his touch, and the ball skidded off his gloves into the bottom corner. In front of a typically silent Reading crowd delirium.

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the final ten minutes (five minutes of injury time included) was how fit our team look compared to Reading and how confident they were with the ball. Of all the forward players only O'Dowda was second best of his opposite number but Brownhill, Reid, Paterson, Leko all got the game by the throat with the sort of assuredness and 'streetwise' game management so rarely associated with our side, aided by Flint and Baker by now comfortably mopping up everything played forward to them.

Overall it was hardly a vintage performance and on another day if Reading could finish we could have been several behind, but in spite of a mixed bag of performances (and you could make a strong case that without the 2017 model Reid we would be a very average team) the energy and effort in the second half earned the result and while there are still plenty of causes for concern (Fielding kicking, Diedhiou everything) I owe it to Lee Johnson (as one of his critics) to commend his small adjustments and instructions at half time.

Fielding 7

Vyner 5

Bryan 7

Baker 8

Flint 8

Smith 8

Brownhill 7

Paterson 7

O'Dowda 5 (Pack)

Reid 9

Diedhiou 4 (Leko 7)

 

[cidered abroad]

Excellent report, as always Olé. Muito obrigado.

[chinapig]

Another excellent write up, thanks.

I actually think our style of play doesn't require or benefit from a big man up front. 2 quick, mobile, energetic players would make more sense imo. Think Aguero and Jesus.

But this is England and there would probably be outrage if we went down that road.

 

[Davefevs]

Nice read @Olé  

You do need a bit more faith pre-game on Twitter  

[Numero Uno]

8 minutes ago, chinapig said:

Another excellent write up, thanks.

I actually think our style of play doesn't require or benefit from a big man up front. 2 quick, mobile, energetic players would make more sense imo. Think Aguero and Jesus.

But this is England and there would probably be outrage if we went down that road.

 

Difference being Man City have midfield players who keep the ball and they can play their way out of trouble. We don't have that quality so need someone up top who can hold on to the ball and give us a breather. Although that isn't really happening anyway!!!

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, chinapig said:

Another excellent write up, thanks.

I actually think our style of play doesn't require or benefit from a big man up front. 2 quick, mobile, energetic players would make more sense imo. Think Aguero and Jesus.

But this is England and there would probably be outrage if we went down that road.

 

Wonder if we might go Reid /Leko from start against Wolves. Bet he'd be well up for putting one past his own clubs rivals

[bristolcitysweden]

We were solid. The one thing missing was tempo shifting getting hold of the ball attacking.

[chinapig]

3 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

Difference being Man City have midfield players who keep the ball and they can play their way out of trouble. We don't have that quality so need someone up top who can hold on to the ball and give us a breather. Although that isn't really happening anyway!!!

Fair point, yet Bobby keeps and uses the ball better than most and seems to be much stronger this season.  I could see Leko doing similarly alongside him. Centre backs tend to prefer having a traditional big centre forward to mark.

Agreed though that periods of keeping possession are the best way of taking a breather. One of a mobile front 2 dropping into midfield would help imo.

Even today Man City had periods passing it slowly backwards and sideways, though that sort of thing tends to enrage some of our fans, the 'get rid of it' tendency.

[The Gambler]

Very good write up that.

It almost felt for a while after he was subbed that we really missed Diedhiou (however ineffective he seemed).

Reading style is incredibly dull. If for nothing else we deserved to win for trying to play the game a better way.

[Up The City!]

What I liked was our defending right from the front. Reid in particular excelled at this.

What I am pleased about us we are beginning to see a style of play emerge. We are far from competent at playing that way but the beginnings of it are showing and are very positive. 

Although early days I am also pleased about our strength in character,  last season when under pressure we would have conceaded as mentally we were fragile. This season we are more able to weather any storms. 

I was a little worried about conceding once we scored but I was pleasently surprised with how well we saw the game out.

[Rossi the Robin]

My Reading mate said Bobby played well but Famara was a lump 

 

[Cider red]

Disagree entirely about vyner, had a solid game along with our entire back four, was also a threat going forward. The boy did well!

[bearded_red]

Can't wait for Bobby's inevitable Ballon d'Or victory.

[Chairman Mao]

Reid's fitness is amazing.

[reddoc]

Largely agree, although accepting a couple of glaring misses, never thought Reading seriously troubled us, and I liked the fact that even when we were put under pressure, we continued to try and play the ball out , never reverted to hoofing it and played the last five plus added time in pretty much complete control.

Smith and Brownhill bossed the midfield, closing down was superb , Joe Bryan complete class and even though first half I thought Reid went missing largely, second half he changed the game. Electric.

I'd also give credit to O'Dowda. Nothing spectacular but getting a lot of flak on here currently and I think he fitted the system, worked tirelessly throughout and looked dangerous on occasions. 

Very impressed by the bunch of them

[BRISTOL86]

Great write up as always @Olé

[Ian M]

Joe Bryan has come on leaps and bounds since Jamie McAllister got involved with the first team. He's clearly gaining confidence in the role as on at least 3 occasions he outmuscled his winger and sent him the wrong way with a Cruyff turn to start a City attacks.

If there's now a better left back in this division, their club is very very lucky. 

...and to be fair to Vyner, I think he did fairly well against one of the fastest players in the division in Modou Barrow. 

A final word for one pass from Brownhill first half, 40yards cross field and inch perfect but he was at his element in the second half when we were doing quick one touch passing in very crowded areas of the pitch. 

[Offside]

Glad to hear that we were the team who improved in the second half and that we saw the game out strongly.

[bristolcitysweden]

8 minutes ago, Ian M said:

Joe Bryan has come on leaps and bounds since Jamie McAllister got involved with the first team. He's clearly gaining confidence in the role as on at least 3 occasions he outmuscled his winger and sent him the wrong way with a Cruyff turn to start a City attacks.

If there's now a better left back in this division, their club is very very lucky. 

...and to be fair to Vyner, I think he did fairly well against one of the fastest players in the division in Modou Barrow. 

A final word for one pass from Brownhill first half, 40yards cross field and inch perfect but he was at his element in the second half when we were doing quick one touch passing in very crowded areas of the pitch. 

If so Bristol City with Lloyd Kelly

[Davefevs]

6 minutes ago, bristolcitysweden said:

If so Bristol City with Lloyd Kelly

I'm not sure radio co-commentator is gonna be his future!  In fairness he did ok, he's 18, I'd have been sh1tting myself going on live radio at that age....and at 47!

@redcherryberry perhaps it was best I was busy the other week!

[JoeAman08]

I agree with most of that. Think a bit harsh on O'Dowda. Think it could've been worse for Vyner if COD hadn't been playing in front of him. I know people are down on his decision making in the final third but think he is very good in the other parts of his game. Don't think I saw him give the ball away once and always getting back defensively. Think we need to get behind the lad a bit more. I said in another thread, Aluko 7m and Barrow 5m and didn't bring much more than COD and especially comparable to Barrow.

Barrow probably caught the eye a bit more but was going against an inexperienced RB on a side that had 60% possession he was always going to have more opportunity and still he never picked out a good pass or good shot. Point being there is a reason the wingers are in the championship and not premier league. Goal scoring and assisting wingers are in the top leagues. 

[INCRED]

If we were to win at Wolves in the same manner then would other clubs and pundits start considering us as potential play off contenders. There's something about this group of players that gives me the impression that they've got something about them and don't give up, they all get on and buy in to the tactics. I'm not predicting anything but reminds me of that fateful play off season and how we nicked games against more fancied opponents

[Ian M]

A Reading fan was having a phone conversation behind me on the way back to my car and it was pleasing to hear him describe us as a really good side who didn't let them get their game going.  

[The Dolman Pragmatist]

Would someone please explain 'high press' to me?  Thanks.

[wendyredredrobin]

2 things are particularly impressing me.  One is the way we are passing the ball around and the other is the fact that we are constantly pressing when we dont have the ball.

I do think that we are not winning enough 50/50s and loose balls though.

[1bristolcity]

11 minutes ago, The Dolman Pragmatist said:

Would someone please explain 'high press' to me?  Thanks.

Liverpool.

[RedM]

1 hour ago, Chairman Mao said:

Reid's fitness is amazing.

I thought that too, ran and chased everything and piled on the pressure. I think he would work well with Leko as they are both clever players who would instinctively know what the other was going to do. Reid and Diedhieu looked quite a way apart again today, in distance and not being on the same wavelength.  

Leko I thought had a very different style to Bobby, more like Tammy who used his runs efficiently which could make him seem lazy, then he gets the ball and dribbles past a player, switches it on in an instance.  Hard to explain on such a short viewing, maybe it's a Premiership thing they coach into their players, do the good things well but don't  waste energy on lost causes?

[RooknRobin]

Great analysis as per Rob. Maybe a bit harsh on Vyner, feel he had a good game. A few wayward turns from a 7/10 me thinks. Great to see that confidence from a kid.

chris

[RedM]

3 minutes ago, kent red said:

Great analysis as per Rob. Maybe a bit harsh on Vyner, feel he had a good game. A few wayward turns from a 7/10 me thinks. Great to see that confidence from a kid.

chris

I think Reading did try to exoloit the fact he is so inexperienced, of course they would. This put him under a lot of pressure, probably more so than if we had Pisano playing. I thought he grew in confidence after this was recognised and other players covered him a bit better.

[RoystonFoote'snephew]

The 4 for Diedhiou is harsh for me. After all, he is not a member of the England midfield. This point in the season I am more frustrated by him than disappointed. There are times in a game where he wins the ball, spins and shields it well before laying off. In those moments I think he has something about him. But there are oft times too when you wonder if he reads the game at all, allowing defenders to get in front of him too easily. I would have given him a 5 today.