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The second game of the season saw the Royals travel to one of the Championship big spenders, Nottingham Forest, and they turned in another impressive display. However, a lack of cutting edge upfront – again – meant Reading lived to rue missed chances as it was Forest who came away with all three points.
Reading are clearly a much better team than they were last year but we need to start putting chances away and turning positive performances into positive results. Here’s how the fans reacted to some of the key issues of Saturday’s game.
Tiago Ilori
A player who certainly has split opinion during his time in the blue and white hoops, but so far this season, albeit just two games, he has been nothing short of superb. For a centre back he’s certainly not the strongest or most powerful, but he is quick across the ground, reads the game brilliantly and is comfortable on the ball.
Tiago Ilori was a class above again today, he has definitely kicked on under Clement. Him and Moore could turn out to be a formidable centre back partnership #readingfc
— Modou (@BlissfulBarrow) August 11, 2018
So happy to see Ilori playing well, I’m a huge fan #readingfc
— Nick Houlton (@Houlton11) August 12, 2018
Postives from today. Ilori was great, some cracking tackles and recoveries. Yiadom a threat when we did get it wide. #ReadingFC
— Jonathan Holdstock (@JH7123) August 11, 2018
Frustrations in attack
Saturday afternoon was almost a carbon copy of the first game of the season against Derby. Reading had the better of the chances, were solid at the back for the majority of the game but just couldn’t find that end product in the final third.
Bodvarsson - once again – the main culprit as he missed two good chances in the second half, after Yakou Meite should’ve put the Royals in the lead after missing a one on one in the opening 45. One thing we do not want to become is the ‘nearly’ team, we need to start putting these chances away whilst we are on top in the game.
#readingfc bodvasson lack of finishing has cost us two games. Had he taken his chances which were straight forward we would have beaten derby at half time. Same here. He's not good enough. Works hard but not prolific
— steve richardson (@Rich1Steve) August 12, 2018
Yes we've lost both games but we look more organised and playing better than we did in the majority of games last season. Only negative is we're not taking our chances when on top. Goals and results will come #readingfc
— Ryan (@Ryan_RFC_93) August 11, 2018
Chances not taken again #readingfc https://t.co/U27hIwAKIu
— Joshua Lamb (@lambeyyy1871) August 11, 2018
Another positive performance
Despite the frustrations in front of goal, it was another very good performance from Reading. For large portions of the game, we were the better team and looked solid and compact in defence, limiting one of the promotion favourites to very few clear cut chances.
As previously stated, Ilori was immense, as was McShane. Yiadom, Meyler and Barrow all did well again and the signs are there for Reading to have a good season - we just need to start finishing our chances, which will come eventually.
Two tough fixtures to start. Two good performances. Results will come. Keep the faith #readingfc @readingfc
— Dan (@DanHindmarsh16) August 11, 2018
I’ll worry about the results after ten games played, for now, I’m happy to see progress from last season. More positive and competitive performances. Just need to believe and it will come, shake off this losing feeling #readingfc
— Dave Roberts (@LaughingLima) August 11, 2018
Shame about the defeat but a great performance. So much to be positive with Clements team. Sad to read negativity from arm chair fans, anyone there today would count us as the better team. Luck in front of goal needs to turn and we will be between 10-8th at the end. #readingfc
— 2018 Terrier (@Yourrrs) August 11, 2018
I imagine the usual suspects will throw their toys out of the pram - but two promising performances, given our tough start. I think we will be okay. I’ll be concerned if we come away with nothing against the weaker sides. #readingfc
— tilehurst royal (@tilehurstroyal) August 11, 2018
Two games in and two disappointing results. Performances indicate we will be finishing higher than we did last season. Much more effort being put in. #readingfc
— Nath St Paul (@NathStPaul) August 11, 2018
Conclusion
Another positve performance but another disappointing result, we cannot become the team that keeps saying ‘the results will come’, we need to turn good performances into good results, but personally I have full confidence that that will happen, the foundations are there to build a really good team and have a really good season.
Bolton at home next Saturday is a great opportunity to kick-start the league campaign, but all eyes will be on Tuesday night to see if we can shake off that losing feeling at home to Birmingham in the Carabao Cup. URZ