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Coventry City Fans Verdict: Loyal Royals React To First Loss Of The Season

A round up of some of the fan’s reaction to some of the big talking points to come from Friday nights game.

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That’s that, then. The near-perfect start to the season has come to an end - it was always going to at some point. And based on the performance against newly promoted Coventry City, it deserved to end too.

The players just weren’t really at the races. They started pretty well, with Lucas Joao missing a glorious one-on-one chance to put us 1-0 up - one you would’ve put your house on him scoring. If Joao had scored that, you would’ve backed the players to defend a lead the way they have all season so far.

However, maybe that was the first sign that it just wasn't our night. Coventry went on to score three goals, all of which came directly from shots from outside the box, and despite Joao’s equalising strike to make it 1-1, and a late Puscas consolation, it was the home side that secured the points.

Now, all eyes will be on next Wednesday, and it’ll be the Preston North End game that really shows us what this team is made of, and how they react to a first league loss of the season.

Here’s how the fans summed up their opinions on Twitter on Friday night...

Moore injury

It was a double whammy for Paunovic against the Sky Blues, as not only did he have his first league loss as gaffer, he may have also lost his skipper. Moore was left worse for wear after a hefty challenge midway through the second half, and although the captain tried to continue, McIntyre was forced to replace him later on in the game.

As we all know, Liam Moore has been imperious so far this season, and with Pauno confirming that Moore will see a specialist, the fans will be hoping it’s not another long-term injury to another key player.

Here's what they had to say...

Lucas Joao

As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. Reading’s silver lining on Friday night came in the shape of Lucas Joao, who despite missing the guilt-edged chance at 0-0, was again our best player.

His superb goal proved that he’s a man in a truly sensational run of form. Not only did he bag a goal, he even managed to get an assist for Puscas late on - when, in truth, the game was already lost.

With injuries already to Ejaria, Swift, Yiadom, Meite and now Moore - Joao is the man we absolutely have to keep fit. Judging by their reaction on Twitter, I think the fans agree with me on that one...

The Preston game

Next Wednesday evening we host Preston at the Mad Stad, and it it this game that'll give us a much, much better idea of the kind of team this group of players really are.

It’s how you react to the losses that really make you promotion contenders, and I'm sure the players and Paunovic will be more than keen to prove to the rest of the league that this start hasn’t been a fluke.

I have total faith that the players will just do that, but it is completely down to them now. The fans were positive in defeat after the Coventry game, and also agree that next Wednesday’s game has just got a lot bigger...

Conclusion

Wasn’t to be, wasn't our night. But i also think there were positives to take - some teams may have completely crumbled when going behind for the first time in a season, but we didn't.

We kept going, kept fighting and kept trying to go and score, but it just wasn’t to be. And in the end it was a really uncharacteristic mistake from Rafael that’s ultimately cost us.

All about how we react now, and next Wednesday’s game is now absolutely massive. I’m already nervous.

URZ