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West Brom Fans Verdict: The Royals Show They Can Compete

Reading travelled to the Hawthorns on Wednesday night hoping to build on their convincing victory against Cardiff. Here’s how the fans reacted to another valiant performance from their team.

After the jubilation of Sunday afternoon, I’m sure that every Reading fan travelling to West Brom on Wednesday night - like me - was just praying that it wasn’t yet another false-dawn performance.

However, the team put in another fantastic performance to show that they are a good team and that they can go toe-to-toe with the supposed big boys of this division - something that we haven’t had the pleasure of feeling for a very long time.

Just like against Cardiff, Reading’s back line was absolutely superb. They won everything in the air and were calm and assured in possession. Michael Morrison in particular was a colossus, and captain Liam Moore made one of the blocks of the season when we were still 1-0 up.

Going forward we were nowhere near as menacing as Sunday, and that was to be expected going up against one of the best teams in the league. That being said, Ovie Ejaria, John Swift and Lucas Boye all showed glimpses of what they can do - especially the former.

It ended 1-1 which was probably the fairest scoreline as it was a game contested by two very evenly matched teams. Here’s how the fans reacted to some of the key talking points from Wednesday evening...

The defence

How long has it been since we had a defence that, as fans, we can rely on and are comfortable with? Obviously that’s a subjective question but I know it’s been a very long time.

It’s only been two games that these three have lined up together at centre back, but they sure know how to play together. The best thing is is that they all complement each other’s game so well.

Morrison is a no-nonsense old fashioned centre half - as shown by his impressive man-mountain display against the Baggies - whereas Miazga and Moore are more like the modern day centre back, quick and athletic and calm with the ball at their feet.

It’s definitely got the fans impressed over the last two games - with the ‘Three M-igos’ giving the fans a lot of belief and assurance that we’re not going to be conceding a lot of goals...

Ovie Ejaria

£3 million for this lad has to go down as one of the best pieces of business in recent Reading FC history. I don’t know what Ejaria puts on his boots before he goes out onto the pitch, but the ball just never seems to leave them.

There aren’t many better technically gifted players than Ejaria in this league, and he has more than picked up from where he left off last season. In his first three games, he has looked a class above the rest - along with his midfield partner John Swift.

One thing he needs to add to his game though is goal involvement, and he addressed that issue with a wonder goal that flew past Sam Johnstone - and sent the travelling contingent into pandemonium.

The Loyal Royals carried that joy onto Twitter after the game as Ejaria was once again the main talking point after another classy performance...

Another positive performance

Yes, it’s pretty gutting that we lost it last minute to a rash challenge from the otherwise impeccable Ejaria, but we need to look at the bigger picture: we went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the league.

We matched them all over the pitch and defended heroically. The players put their bodies on the line and were more than deserving of taking a point back to Berkshire.

The last two performances have been very impressive and very exciting for us as fans, as shown on Twitter after the game yet again on Wednesday evening. If we can play at home like we did on Sunday, and then fight away like we did against the Baggies - it could be a very, very interesting and exciting season...

Conclusion

Another encouraging display from Gomes’ men, and they’re just getting better and better. And the better they perform, the more fans will turn up and the atmosphere around the club will just get stronger and stronger.

I for one cannot wait for Huddersfield on Saturday, and the rest of the games to come for that matter. This team and this manager could make this season very special, so be a part of it.

URZ