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Well, that was pretty awful wasn’t it? Over the last few games performances have begun to worsen again and, when you’re not winning, Mark Bowen’s style of play can be quite painful to watch sometimes - and that was the case on Wednesday night.
The Barnsley game was a continuation from both the Wigan Athletic and Birmingham City matches where performances have not been up to scratch at all. On Wednesday we were slow, sloppy and really shaky at the back - which is something Bowen had improved when he first came in.
In all honesty, we were lucky to get a point after conceding a very, very poor goal from Michael Morrison trying to play out from the back. After that, we had a small spell where we looked mildly dangerous and Lucas Joao managed to grab an equaliser. But let’s just hope this is a small blip in our climb up the table.
Here’s how the fans reacted to some of the key talking points to come from the game...
Another poor performance
If the fans weren’t happy on Saturday, they were fuming on Wednesday evening. When Bowen came in and picked up those positive results, confidence was flying in the camp - but somehow, that confidence has just seemed to vanished and we look devoid of ideas again.
I don’t think it’s any coincidence that these performances have come since John Swift and Ovie Ejaria have been injured - but we cannot be a two-man team. The players need to learn to step up in these situations and you can’t say that’s the case (even with Ejaria back in the team against Barnsley).
The shoddy performance was summed up by Barnsley’s goal which was just comical defending. But the conceded goal wasn’t the only thing that had the fans angry...
#readingfc going backwards rapidly. Relegation is not out of the question if we continue with lack lustre performances like that.
— Biscuiteer (@BelfastBiscuit) December 11, 2019
Poor performance, looked like we have the last 2 or 3 years. No fight, no quality. Looks like it’s going to be another boring 20th place finish.. #readingfc
— Alex Stone (@_alexgstone) December 11, 2019
That’s our worst performance so far this season #readingfc
— Simon (@SimonBedding) December 11, 2019
Poor performance, lucky to get a point. Feel bad for taking two from Barnsley who deserved all 3 #readingfc
— Ross (@RossMT96) December 11, 2019
Absolute shambles tonight. Worst performance I’ve seen from a vast majority of players tonight. We must change this formation as it’s offering nothing and inviting pressure! I saw a better game at Bulpit Lane last Tuesday evening @willow1871 #ReadingFC
— Sam Spencer-Ades (@SamSpencer001) December 11, 2019
Sloppy performance from Reading, lacked energy, lacked quality. Bottom club Barnsley had the better chances, RFC were lucky to get away with a point tonight in truth. #readingfc
— Stevie p (@stevie_p1871) December 11, 2019
That performance was absolutely pathetic. Barnsley had absolutely no quality but were the only team that wanted it and deserved the win. The amount of times we hoofed it out of play under no pressure and lost the second balls were embarrassing. Need a win Saturday. #readingfc
— Louis Stagg (@dinglouis_) December 11, 2019
Just watched the game. I make that 3 poor performances on the spin? Win at Wigan but crap for 80 mins. Isn't morale supposed to be high at the moment? The last few performances suggest that is utter crap. Don't think we needed a back 5 tonight either #readingfc
— Max Howard (@MaxHoward_15) December 11, 2019
Mark Bowen
Bowen was never a popular appointment in the first place, and a few bad results in a row were always going to be the catalyst for criticism and pressure on the former Stoke City assistant.
At the end of the day, we are very early in the Bowen era and - as I said so often with Jose Gomes - managers deserve time to stamp their mark on a team. However, performances like the ones on Wednesday, against the Blues and Wigan, will only fuel the fire of pressure.
Here’s what the fans had to say about Bowen after the game - a game in which he got his tactics all wrong...
Got to say that was a complete pile of rot from #readingfc tonight. No guts, no battle, no clue. If that’s hard to play against Mr Bowen then I’d hate to see soft centred
— Rob Morris (@HertsRoyal) December 11, 2019
Bowen telling a fan to shhh when our fan has travelled that way to watch the pile of rubbish, said it since day 1 and still say it now #BowenOut #readingfc
— Miles (@Milesyyy12) December 11, 2019
First two games Bowen didn’t try get them playing out from the back. Last two games changed tactic. Poor management. Clueless #readingfc
— MHA92 (@MHA_92_) December 11, 2019
First two games Bowen didn’t try get them playing out from the back. Last two games changed tactic. Poor management. Clueless #readingfc
— MHA92 (@MHA_92_) December 11, 2019
Honeymoon period over for Bowen, was never the right man for the job anyway. #readingfc
— Pills (@joepilling10) December 11, 2019
Bowen is in serious trouble, pressure is already building #Readingfc https://t.co/OMCtHY2Lbo
— Ben Brown (@benbrown__) December 11, 2019
We played awful there, but Reading manager, Mark Bowen, still thinks our midfield is good enough without Lewis Baker.#readingfc
— m (@micahrfc19) December 11, 2019
I don’t see what getting rid of Bowen does unless #ReadingFC know who they actually want to bring in, he’s only here till summer isn’t he, not full time after all?
— Alex Everson (@Readingfanman) December 11, 2019
The Mark Bowen honeymoon is well and truly over. Wonder how long it will be until we see one of those 'sorry we let you down gaffer' posts all over social media from the players? #readingfc
— Harrison Mitchell (@harrison1871rfc) December 11, 2019
Injury news
The fans’ night went from bad to worse as Bowen stated his post-match media duties that key player and fans’ favourite Andy Yiadom will be out for around six weeks with the injury he picked up on Saturday afternoon.
Puscas also went off injured with what looked to be a serious shoulder injury after a heavy challenge in the second half. Bowen has also said that it could be a bad one, which is yet another blow to us.
However, there was some positive news with the return of Swift expected to be much sooner than originally expected - which is absolutely huge. Everybody knows how important Swifty is to us so the sooner he is back the better.
Here’s what the fans had to say on Twitter...
To ruin the night Yiadom now out for 6 weeks. Kill me
— m (@micahrfc19) December 11, 2019
Could see Yiadom was injured on bloody Saturday! He should have been taken off then yet Bowen played on with him for 2nd half. Now he has a bad one. Silly.
— Paul Hawkins (@Abbykins2010) December 11, 2019
What angers me about the injury is he got it in first half. Why did the manager keep him on for longer. Hes in charge. We had full backs on bench take him off. Poor management. You cant trust players to tell you when there injured. It never works .
— steve richardson (@Rich1Steve) December 12, 2019
Loosing Yiadom for a game is bad enough...but 6 weeks could be season defining for us.
— Dadros (@dadros70) December 12, 2019
Cant help feeling that we'll be sealing our relegation battle status over the festive period as a consequence.
The irony that in the light of Yiadom’s injury the usual suspects turn to bash Chris. You really wonder about some, not even a well wish to Andy... #readingfc
— Tom (@SaturdayRoyal) December 12, 2019
Unpopular opinion but Puscas being out for a couple of weeks might be a blessing in disguise. Gives him time to refocus, go home and spend time with family and then come back and do the business. #readingfc
— Louis Stagg (@dinglouis_) December 12, 2019
Yiadom out for at least 6 weeks has really topped off a bad night, he's become an absolutely key player for us #readingfc
— Tom Maynard (@ttmaynard) December 11, 2019
Conclusion
A poor performance against bottom of the league and a game we were very much favourites for. It was the kind of performance that we need to eradicate as quickly as possible otherwise we’ll be heading back down the table rather than up it.
Stoke away up next - another huge game and one that we need to get a result in, ideally a lovely Christmas time away win.
URZ