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Bournemouth Fans Verdict: A Royal Victory For Pauno’s Men

Harry rounds up the best tweets from the Reading faithful after they witnessed a wonderful win over the Cherries.

PA Images via Getty Images

Knowing how important this game was to our season, all week I was alternating between faith and optimism to gut-wrenching nerves. And when I woke up on Friday morning it was the nerves that had won that battle, and I'm sure I wasn't the only Reading fan in that boat.

Yes it’s only January, and yes there was nothing directly riding on the outcome of the game, but the opportunity to go seven points clear in the play-offs with a win over one of your fiercest promotion rivals was a mouth-watering prospect. And the players duly delivered.

What a performance. In the first half we saw Pauno’s relentless, clinical attacking style in full flow as we dominated the visitors all over the pitch, and managed to bag three goals, the third of which being particularly dreamy. I don’t think I’ve stopped watching that ball roll from Lucas Joao since.

And then in the second half, we saw something that maybe wasn't as aesthetically pleasing but just as important, and potentially even more satisfying as a fan. The fight, spirit and aggression that we defended our penalty box with in that second 45 was outstanding.

There were a couple of stand-out individual performances, but other than that I’ve decided to ditch the key talking points method and just show you the best tweets from the ecstatic Loyal Royals...

Tom McIntyre

It’s been said before I know, but it’s just an incredible feeling watching one of your own fulfill all of our dreams. After a rocky start to the season, McIntyre has really stepped up to the plate recently and on Friday evening he was the best player on the pitch.

He not only bagged himself a goal, but also kept one of the most dangerous set of players in the league desperately quiet, with help from the rest of his team mates.

The fans love him, he loves the fans. Please, Dai, just give him a new contract...

Joao’s Goal

After last week’s disappointment, we were all eager to see how Joao would react - it was a huge game for him. And after a few half chances that he didn't make the most of, you feared that it may be another frustrating evening for the big man - but then he popped up the kind of magic moment that we’ve all become accustomed to this season.

The composure from Richards to fool Billing, the interplay between Ejaria and Swift, the pass from Ovie and then the filthy footwork from Joao and a finish to match. Wow.

It was a goal that certainly pleased the Royal fans...

Sheer joy

It was very, very close to the perfect performance from Pauno’s men - with only the failure to keep a clean sheet letting us down.

Everything else though was sublime. The attacking in the first half, the defending in the second, the spirit, the fight, the will and want to win. This team is just special, and if the fans didn't realise it before Friday night, they certainly do now...

Conclusion

The performance of the season so far in the biggest game of the season so far. I don't have enough superlatives in my vocabulary to describe how special this team is and how much I bloody love them. Also, does anyone know if Veljko Paunovic is single? Asking for a mate. What a bloke.

URZ.