Reading FC 1-0 Wigan Athletic: Thank You Jaap Stam

I’d like to start the report by wishing Shaun MacDonald a speedy recovery, I’m sure it’s a sentiment we can all share and no one wants to see an injury like that in a game. At 1-0 10 minutes into the game George Evans and MacDonald went in for a 50-50 challenge with MacDonald suffering a broken leg and having to be stretchered off the pitch so from all at Reading FC we wish him a strong recovery.

As with many games this season it was a case of getting a job done, the season started with a 1-0 win against a Lancashire club with a goal from a corner and the home campaign ended the same way.

Four minutes into the match Garath McCleary played a short pass to Liam Kelly from a corner, when the ball was returned to McCleary his cross was met six yards out by the head of Yann Kermorgant who made no mistake with the finish. Seventeen goals for the season is an impressive haul for the experienced striker who many doubted to lead the line at the start of the season.

After the injury to MacDonald Wigan came back fighting with Nick Powell having their best chances but shooting straight at Al-Habsi in the first half. Reading chances were few and far between in the second half too with Wigan perhaps being unlucky not to find the net from a Dan Burn header and a Nick Powell shot that was drilled inches wide.

Yet again though with Reading it was a case of getting the job done and unlike last season, the majority of the fans stayed to applaud the squad who, by confirming their playoff spot, have achieved something that no fan thought was realistic at the start of the season. Many pundits and opposition fans have described us as lucky Reading this season, after 45 games there is no way you can say that the team in third place is lucky.

Again we have faced adversity and we have won. At Fortress Madjeski this season we have played all 23 teams and only lost twice. We have faced teams who pundits have heaped praise upon and we have won. We’ve taken hammerings at Fulham and Norwich and then the following weekend we have won.

So thank you Jaap Stam for an incredible season and for instilling an incredible mental strength into a team that has been doubted from all angles. Here’s to Reading’s sixth play off campaign, anything can happen! Come on URZZ!