Brentford 2-2 Reading: The Alternative View

Let’s be honest with this one, this is a good result. Regardless that Brentford scored an equalising goal in injury time, getting anything from this fixture is better than any other team has done this season.

Reading’s form this season has been up and down to say the least, and when we look at Brentford’s form at home - a 100% record and double the number of goals scored as conceded - Saturday’s match looked daunting. However, they have now dropped points at Griffin Park for the first time this season.

It’s fair to say that Paul Clement won’t be getting a Christmas card from Dean Smith - comments he has made after the game smack of sour grapes, and likewise with the fans it seems our little nice club in Berkshire has managed to upset our big city rivals.

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Had a few of these down the Mad Stad

Sour grapes anyone?

VAR anyone..?

Did we kick the ball? Yes, did we score two goals? Yes - I’m pretty sure that’s playing football!

Good God, you played Leeds United yet?

Anti-football - good God, next time lads roll over and die...

When was there a good ref in the Championship?

What the hell were we meant to do?

Media

Mostly the reports followed the general theme that 10 minutes of added on time is ridiculous, and that our spoiling(!) tactics nearly paid off. Jonathan Low of Football.London basically sits on the fence, saying that Brentford looked more likely to win although a point was probably the fairest result.

Down at the Basingstoke Gazette and they are a lot less happy with the Royals, saying that we threw away two points and should have won.

Both West London Sport and the Wimbledon Gazette lead with the managers slating the referee, with West London Sport taking Smith’s side and Wimbledon Clement’s.

The BBC are a bit more in the middle in terms of reporting, stating that Yoann Barbet recused a point for the Bees. As usual Sky Sports have 1 min 34 of coverage, calling the game niggly but not dirty, and making the point that Reading were happy to sit back and let Brentford have possession. But, as they say, Brentford lacked that killer instinct.

Summary

Backing up last week’s win with something at Brentford was crucial. A win would have been lovely but the most important thing was some sort of result. Admittedly being 2-1 up so late on and letting it slip is frustrating, but given the Bees’ form at home that might have been a little greedy.

Interestingly this result moves Reading 10^th on the away form list, but we are still rock bottom of the league on home points. This has been the script for a number of years and indeed since the Royals got relegated from the Premier League - generally we have been better on the road than at the Mad Stad.

What can we put this down to? Pressure from the fans, Reading being ‘too nice’ or the fact that our away support is like most club’s: that little more ferocious away? Whatever it is we do need to figure our issue back at the Mad Stad as it hasn’t been the fortress it needs to be for many a season.

Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images

I mentioned last week the introduction of Saeid Ezatolahi, and again he played a pivotal role in a result. Given that Rostov are meant to be wanting to offload him, maybe we can get a deal done in January!

What has happened is the focus on Clement’s future has relented somewhat. However, the big test this week isn’t the West Brom fixture on the horizon next Saturday, but the visit of ‘that’ team from West London who stole the hoops. Given their current form, this has turned into a must win.

Win and we build confidence going into WBA. Now, presuming that the Baggies beat us as most would expect, this could mean that we going into the international break with one defeat in four which in reality is a damn good run. Lose against QPR The Fake Hoops and get beat by WBA, then it’s a much more different international window.

Football is all about confidence, momentum and belief. If we can keep this run going then maybe with reinforcements in January we might be able to worry a few teams. What I would give for once for the season to be sorted in March without the threat of relegation for a change!