:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68448388/1289107135.0.jpg)
Reading travelled to Hillsborough on the back of a couple of decent results against Millwall and fellow promotion hopefuls Bristol City. The Owls have had a turbulent start this season with the points deduction, sacking manager Garry Monk and replacing him with a manager - Tony Pulis - that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
The game itself was interesting; there was no doubt that the tactics prior to the red card were clear to see with Reading playing their normal passing game and effectively trying to pass the Owls off the pitch, with Sheffield Wednesday quite happy for the Royals defenders to have the ball and played in true Pulis “style”, with the majority of the team behind the ball.
A counter attack opened the game up for the Owls with Liam Moore and Josh Laurent probably at fault for not closing Callum Paterson down. Liam Shaw got sent off for an “agricultural tackle” which, to be fair, 10 years ago probably would have been a yellow, and which split the Owls fanbase. Lucas Joao pulled us level with a free kick which also was disputed by the Wednesday faithful, then the madness of the second half.
Pulis did his ‘Park the Bus’ tactic and the referee took centre stage by denying the Royals four penalties, two of which may have been a little dubious and would have gone in the ‘soft’ category. However, two of them were pretty much defined by the phrase ‘stonewall’.
The Sheffield Wednesday fans are a divided bunch this season - many not over-enamoured with the tactics that Pulis plays, many defining him as a dinosaur.
Oooooh #Salty #ComicGenius
Apparently Reading were gonna write a letter of complaint to the EFL,but they haven't got any pens. #SWFC
— SteelOwl (@SteelOwl) December 3, 2020
This - seriously...
We was infront and well in the game last night when shaw was sent off for a yellow card offence? Then defending valiantly at 1-0 and they get a free kick for nothing offence to make it 1-1. Refs shouldn’t be able to change games like that, it’s bloody pathetic #swfc
— Shane Levitt (@ShaneLevitt11) December 3, 2020
So the ref denies four potential penalties and you’re still moaning?
I turned off at half time last night, I stand by what I said about the ref even though it looks like he’s helped us get a point with his calls in the 2nd half #swfc
— Shane Levitt (@ShaneLevitt11) December 3, 2020
12 men really... (btw thanks for Joao - decent cutting edge...)
Proud of the lads tonight. Proper dug in and fought for that result. 10 men v 12 for most of the game.
— {SCO/TFHM} Jimi ™ (@jimimanovsteel) December 2, 2020
We're hard to beat. Just need that cutting edge.#swfc
Organised(!), is that another way of saying “park the bus”?
Under Monk we’d have lost that by three or four after the sending off , say what you want about Pulis but he gets them organised and makes them put a shift in #swfc
— Coops_1867 (@philcooper15) December 2, 2020
Any more laid back and he’s horizontal
That Reading manager is a chilled out fella. #swfc #Readingfc #SkySportsfootball
— Dave Iggo (@Daveiggo66) December 2, 2020
Dinosaur...
Reading manager spoke very well. Wish we had him. Now for an interview with our big daft baseball capped dinosaur #swfc
— el Tav (@elTav) December 2, 2020
Or maybe not
2nd half Pulis got his tactics and substitution spot on. #swfc
— John Russell. (@JackRussell1867) December 2, 2020
Sort of went in at half time, thought he might get yelled at and compounded it
Convinced ref has gone in at half-time, seen replay and thought I messed that up and then tried to make amends 2nd half. Terrible performance. #swfc
— David Cooke (@hirsty9) December 2, 2020
Men or defenders behind the ball?
Be interesting to see what Pulis could do with a side that plays with eleven men #swfc
— Al Maplo (@Maplo16) December 2, 2020
Now, now...
Bit slippy out there was it lads @ReadingFC #swfc pic.twitter.com/LQqO6EnFaU
— Andy (@andyh_20) December 2, 2020
Every cloud...
Don't like Pulis. Dont like his style. Don't like the "football" #swfc are playing. Convinced a "fire fighter" manager isnt going to get us promoted. Easy to lose interest with this turgid football. But we wouldnt previously have got a point down to 10 men for 60 minutes.
— Peter Dadswell (@Dadders) December 2, 2020
Closing thoughts
Firstly it has to be said that Reading’s results this season have been overall fairly decent. A decent run, followed by a blip then recovery with decent away points and a home battering of Bristol City have reignited the hope. Veljko Paunović has come in and to be fair his appointment did raise a few eyebrows, but he has proven that he can get this team playing. The interview of him after the Sheffield Wednesday game was interesting, as while he kept his cool and refused to blame the penalty claims, there was some veiled comments about “accountability”.
There is a difference this season though and that is players performing to their highest levels. An example of this is Omar Richards who, for me, wasn’t great last season. This season he has established himself as our first-choice left back and is playing like it.
Combining his development with the continual emergence of Michael Olise, supported by Ovie Ejaria (who for me has been up and down) and Joao, we are starting to see the makings of a decent team. Throw in Tom Holmes, who has been a steady and dependable right back, and the biggest challenge we may face this season is keeping hold of them!
We move onto a home fixture against Nottingham Forest who are struggling, and with supporters back in the stands we can but pray that this will kick-start and energise the team to three points.