Sheffield Wednesday Fans Verdict: Rearguard Performance Earns Another Point

After a controversy-filled week due to the reaction to the Nelson Oliveira and Tyrone Mings incident last weekend, it was back to the football on Saturday afternoon as the Royals travelled to Sheffield Wednesday. All in all it was a pretty scrappy game, with the conditions having a negative effect on any plans to get the ball on the deck and play some decent football.

Reading had Emiliano Martinez to thank yet again as big saves throughout the game - especially from Sam Hutchinson at the end of the first half - kept the hosts at bay. The Royals’ best chances fell to Modou Barrow and John Swift but, as ever, the finishing touch was never quite right. Without Oliveira in the team, there was no out and out finisher - and it showed.

You can’t argue with the fact that Gomes has made us a much harder team to beat, but impressive defensive performances needs to be backed up with ruthlessness up top. Here’s how the fans reacted on social media after the game to some of the key talking points...

Another clean sheet

It’s no coincidence that the introduction of Emiliano Martinez and Matt Miazga has seen us keep back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since November 2017. Yes, it’s been that long. The two Premier League loanees have tightened a defence that was conceding awful goals at will earlier in the season, and long may their influence continue.

Liam Moore has also benefited from the two new defensive arrivals, with the skipper going through his best patch of the season and looking more like the player he was last campaign. The fans were rightly impressed with another rock solid performance by the back five...

Another blank in front of goal

We certainly had chances to score on Saturday afternoon, but it was another frustrating afternoon in front of goal. Barrow, Lewis Baker and Swift all had great openings to get on the scoresheet, but failed to capitalise. The absence of Oliveira was clear to see, and we may well have come away with three points if he were on the end of some of those chances.

In the grand scheme of things, a point and clean sheet away from home is a good return from a trip to Hillsborough, but Reading will need to start finishing these kind of chances sooner rather than later. It was a bit of cause for concern among the fans after the game, who obviously don’t want to this trend of missing chances to continue...

Emi Martinez

I have already mentioned the plaudits that another clean sheet got from the fans after the game, but this man deserves special recognition. Desperately unlucky not to keep a clean sheet on his debut, he has gone and backed that up with two on the bounce where he’s made some outstanding saves.

What a signing he’s been. More than comfortable with the ball at his feet and a fantastic shot stopper, he could be the difference between us staying up and going down. He is definitely already a fans favourite, and the love just keeps pouring in for the on loan Arsenal man...

Conclusion

An important point away from home, but it puts big pressure on the upcoming home games where we need the three points. However, the way Gomes has got them playing gives me confidence that we’ll get the right results at the right time.

URZ