Quick Takes: You Ess Ay, You Ess Ay!

The plot

How about THAT?! Up until the 98th minute, Jose was very much in our minds (still miss you dude). One American goal was all it took, and Jose was seemingly an afterthought. Gone was the sentiment of the past week as Bowen somehow managed to drag everyone under his wing, kudos for that. While we still have very little idea as to this club’s identity right now, this was a big three points for the Royals. At home. In front of the Loyals. Against a very good side.

The performance didn’t look much different to Jose’s men in all honesty. Determination, desire and a strong second-half performance. Wasn’t pretty, but we can’t have everything. It’s a good model as long as you don’t fall behind early. Unfortunately that happened one too many times under Jose. Is it sustainable? Probably not, but Bowen has the next few weeks to build his own blueprint to the top.

Bottom line is the players are evidently united throughout it all. This is a new era. The Mark Bowen era. And so far, it’s an unbeaten one.

The ‘Brian McDermott Appreciation’ Player of the Game

Matt Miazga

Wave that American flag. After a 2-0 loss to Canada last week (Christ almighty), who knows what state of mind that young Patriot was in. But who cares. The boy turned up and delivered the goods. Miazga, we adore thee. USA, USA, USA.

Photo by Zac Goodwin/EMPICS/PA Images via Getty Images

Other Notes

• MB after the game: “I said at half time I’d settle if it’s 0-0 after 70 minutes. The fans get behind the team a lot in the final 10/15 minutes so I always felt we’d be in the ascendancy going into the back half.”
• Ends a run of six games without a win in which the scoring record read: Scored three, Conceded 11.
• Liam Moore completed his 150th appearance for Reading. No better way to mark it than with a win, and how about that reaction to the goal? He’ll have a lot to do with any feel-good factor returning to the MadStad in the coming weeks.
• Rumour has it Rafael is still running through RG2 so if anyone spots him can you stop him and tell him the gaffer’s looking for him. Cheers.
• Up next for Royals, a TV broadcast trip to West London to face off against QPR who are coming off their own win over Hull City. KO 7:45pm, live on Sky Sports Main Event (Yep, Reading on the TV!)

Now let’s sit back, breathe, get irrationally lost in the hysteria and act like we’re the best club in the world for a couple of days.

Long. Live. The ‘Ding.

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