clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Bristol City Fans Verdict: Royals Fall To Another Defeat

How the fans reacted to some of the key talking points from another loss for Reading on Saturday afternoon.

By harry.chafer

So, Reading go into the international break off the back of their fourth defeat in five games. For large parts of the game though, Jose Gomes’ team controlled the game - especially in the second half.

But, as has been the case for so often this season, the final piece of the jigsaw - putting the ball in the back of the net - was the only thing missing (apart from the lack of defending for Bristol City’s goal). Famara Diedhou found himself in acres of space in the penalty area to head past Rafael in the 12th minute, which turned out to be enough for the hosts to seal all three points.

Reading were good in the second half, but there was no killer instinct yet again - especially from record signing George Puscas who squandered a glorious chance to equalise which summed up his confidence at the moment.

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

More woes for Puscas

The Romanian international has been in pretty poor form, and is now without a goal in nine games. It’s also not the first game where he’s been guilty of missing a huge chance as well. The fee he came for (which he has no control over, by the way) is always going to hang over his head when he’s not scoring, but the signs are there that it won’t be long before he sticks a few in the back of the net.

Watching it back, the movement from Puscas to give himself space was wonderful and he probably didn’t see the ball until very late. But it’s still a bad miss. The fans were left frustrated at another game without a goal, and understandably so. When you spend that kind of money, you expect them to deliver. But, he is in an alien country and still very young, the goals will come...

Moore in midfield

As Reading lined up for the second half, I think there was a collective feeling of bemusement amongst the travelling fans when skipper Liam Moore was standing in centre midfield.

But the change actually worked very well. Gomes has been criticised for his tactical decisions in recent weeks, but he got this spot on. Moore coming into midfield allowed Andy Rinomhota to use his energy further up the pitch, and made more space for Ovie Ejaria out on the left hand side to weave his magic.

I don’t think it’s going to be a long-term thing, but we played better with Moore in midfield - much better. The fans were confused at first, of course, but were also impressed with the decision in the end...

Into the relegation zone...

Saturday’s result leaves Reading in the relegation zone with just eight points from ten games. Whether or not they’ll stay there or not remains to be seen, but after building up so much excitement and spending so big in the summer, the fans are certainly angry about the current position.

Personally, I think there is a big overreaction at the moment. The signs are there that this team isn’t far off clicking, and once they do we are going to be a seriously good team. But football is a results business at the end of the day, and the Royals just aren’t getting them at the moment. Here’s how the fans reacted to dropping into the relegation zone...

Conclusion

The players on low on confidence, and it’s showing. But, like Gomes said after the game and I truly believe this, this team needs one win and they will be a completely different team. When it clicks, it’ll be very good - it just needs to click much sooner rather than later.

URZ

In This Stream

Bristol City 1-0 Reading FC: Full Coverage

View all 7 stories
Reading FC News 24/7