Five Things: Wigan vs Reading

1) It wasn’t as bad as everyone was expecting

Okay, so it’s still reasonably annoying to lose a lead in the final moments of the game, but I would have personally taken a point if it was offered at the start of the game, considering our recent record against Wigan and the state of our squad. So there’s definitely still a lot to work on, but if we can put in a performance like that (particularly like the one witnessed in the second half) with a sparse squad, things can only get more positive when we eventually have our full strength squad back, right?

2) Shaun Cummings is awesome

Even though Cummings has rarely been first choice left back since joining the Royals in 2009, whenever he returns to the side, he always puts in a decent shift and Saturday was no exception. Scoring such a good goal was a fitting way to top off a great performance and hopefully he gets more of an opportunity to prove himself this season.

3) Our wing play needs some work

I know it was the first game of the season so I’m trying not to be too harsh, but our attacking down the wing wasn’t up to the standards it usually is. Like I said in my first point, the squad is lacking in depth but we need to be able to rely on others when the likes of Garath McCleary are injured.

4) Adam Federici back in goal isn’t a bad thing

So, there’s no denying Alex McCarthy is a good keeper, like I said last season there’s not much to separate them on their day. Okay, Feders let in a couple of goals but I personally think they came from sloppy defensive errors. Even though he didn’t have loads to do I feel that he looked confident, and his clearances were a lot quicker than McCarthy’s and his goals kicks were, on the whole, more accurate.

5) It’s amazing what people go through for their love of football

It wouldn’t be normal if we travelled to a game up north without some kind of delay on the M6. I travelled for 7 hours on Friday from West Sussex to my Mum’s in Shropshire, then another three hours to do the 80 mile trip to Wigan. I’m pretty sure all the people who travelled up to Lancashire would have been slightly more annoyed had we lost the game, but all in all I reckon it was worth the trip, and hopefully there are some more decent away days to come this season (minus the delays!).