Wigan Fans Verdict: Royals Snatch A Point From The Latics

There are two ways at looking at Saturday’s 0-0 against Wigan Athletic. It’s either a good point and clean sheet or another pretty poor performance where we looked toothless in attack and vulnerable at the back.

With games coming up against Leeds United, Stoke City and Sheffield United, Reading should really have been looking at getting all three points in this one if they are to turn around their fortunes. The Latics were there for the taking, and we did cause them a few problems every now and then, but we just lacked the killer touch. We also lacked any defensive awareness in the first half as Wigan had two or three clear-cut chances.

The only real notable chances were from Yakou Meite; the Ivorian hitting the post in the first half and getting a well-saved shot away after some good hassling in the second. Other than those, Reading created absolutely nothing.

Here’s how the fans reacted to some of the key talking points from the game...

Danny Loader

One highlight from Saturday afternoon was the long-awaited Championship debut for under-20 World Cup Winner Danny Loader. The young forward has really impressed in the U23s this season and got his reward against Wigan, coming on for Sone Aluko midway through the second half.

It was a good little cameo from Loader, you can clearly see that he’s got bundles of natural talent, and if nurtured correctly, could be a really good player for Reading going forward. The fan’s certainly loved his debut...

Chris Gunter

I would imagine that Gunter is a manager’s dream, but he sure splits the opinion of the fans. I was in the crowd at Wigan, and the amount of stick Gunter was getting was incredible.

He does have a tendency to pass the ball backwards, and Yiadom would get into our strongest starting eleven over him any day of the week, but Gunter is a good player and has been here for a long time. He’s genuinely cares about our club, and those kind of players are hard to come across these days.

Here’s what the fans said about his performance on Saturday...

Paul Clement’s starting line-up

It’s something that’s got the fans talking a lot this season. Clement has continuously made big decisions in his starting lineups, and Saturday was no different. Leaving usual fixtures in the side Andy Yiadom and Leandro Bacuna on the bench was a big one. He may have had one eye on Leeds on Tuesday, but we’re surely not in a position to be resting two of our most important players?

Sone Aluko managed to get into the team again, to some astonishment from the fans. I don’t understand where it’s gone wrong for Aluko at Reading but it’s clear to see he’s just not up to scratch. The midfield trio of Kelly, Swift and Rinomhota also raised a few eyebrows, with no real ball-winning midfielder in there. Here’s how the fans reacted...

Conclusion

I feel this was a bigger game than people thought. We have a seriously tough group of fixtures coming up now that we need to get points from.

It’s looking bleaker by the minute for Clement, as you would have to think if he doesn’t get at least one win in the next couple of games, he’ll be under even more pressure than he already is. Up next, it’s Leeds United away on Tuesday.

URZ