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Reading FC Loan Report: February 26th

This week on the loan round-up, we've got news of a brace from a highly-rated striker, as well as a win for Tanner's Wimbledon and Hyam's Hemel Hempstead. Plus, find out who this week's loanee of the week is as we enter the final stretch of the domestic season across the UK (and Turkey).

Dom Hyam - Hemel Hempstead (Vanarama Conference South) Appearances: 3

No appearances for Dom this week, as Saturday's game against Chelmsford had to be postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Hemel then hosted Watford in the Herts Senior Cup, in a game that had already been postponed three times, the latest one due to a frozen pitch, with Hemel leading 3-0 at half-time! Dom didn't play a part in this one though, as Hemel saw off a young Watford team 5-2.

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Rob Dickie/Stuart Moore - Basingstoke Town (Vanarama Conference South) Appearances: 12/35

Just the one fixture for our two loanees at Basingstoke this week, as both Dickie and Moore started the game as Town hosted Bishop's Stortford. And it was a game that only required one goal, which Bishop's Stortford scored midway through the first half, as they held on to take three points off their promotion-chasing opponents. To add insult to injury, Nathan Smart was dismissed with 8 minutes to go for Basingstoke for a second bookable offence, so they'll be without him ahead of next week's clash with Concord Rangers.

It was just as tough an afternoon individually for Dickie and Moore as it was for the team as a whole, as both were given match ratings of 6. A source said that it was "a difficult afternoon (for Dickie), who got caught out of position trying to run the ball out of defence on several occasions and didn’t provide much in the way of cover for (Tom) Bird." Stuart was also said to have not had "much to do in terms of shots to save and narrowly avoided being embarrassed when he fumbled Tabiri’s effort. Not always comfortable under the high ball.

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Jon Henly - Welling United (Vanarama Conference South) Appearances: 17

Much like Hyam, there as no fixture for Jon Henly's side, Welling United, this week. They will hope to halt their miserable run of form on Saturday, against Nuneaton.

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Aaron Tshibola - Hartlepool United (SkyBet League Two) Appearances: 9

With every defeat, Hartlepool's miracle escape becomes increasingly more difficult. They went down 1-0 to Bury last week, as the gap between them and survival stretched to 8 points. Bury midfielder Andrew Tutte scored the only goal of the came with 15 minutes to play, scoring at the far post after a surging run and cross from Danny Mayor to break the hearts of Pools. Tshibola played 81 minutes, before being replaced by Walker, as United pushed for an equaliser that never came.

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Craig Tanner - AFC Wimbledon (SkyBet League Two) Appearances: 5

AFC Wimbledon played two fixtures, with Craig Tanner completing 80 minutes in last weekend's 3-2 victory over Luton Town. Goals from Alfie Potter, Dannie Bulman and a stoppage time winner from veteran striker David Connolly, gave the 'Dons all three points, as they rise to 12th in League Two.

Tanner, who was replaced with ten minutes to go for Azeez as Wimbledon searched for the winner, received mixed reviews for his performance. One fan said "apart from his contribution to the 1st goal, extremely average", whereas another argued that it "might be interesting to see Connolly and Tanner up front together at some point." Despite the mixed reviews, one fan also said that he "liked the look of Tanner; I thought he played well in the first half with a lot of good touches. His lay off to Akinfenwa which lead to Potter's goal was perfectly weighted."

Tanner was dropped to the bench on Tuesday though, as the 'Dons played out a 0-0 draw with Cambridge United. They stay in the play-off hunt though, but their task looks increasingly difficult, the gap between them and 7th placed Bury is 7 points.

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Dom Samuel - Coventry City (SkyBet League One) Appearances: 4

Dominic Samuel scored a brace last week, but his Coventry side couldn't hold on to what would have been a vital three points, as 10-man Sheffield United clawed back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 thanks to Doyle (78') and Murphy (80'). The result cost manager Steve Pressley his job, after almost two years at the helm. His departure came after his side surrendered a seemingly comfortable 2-0 lead, which dropped them into the relegation zone of League One.

Lasha Dvali - Kasimpasa (Turkish Super Lig) Appearances: 2

Following last week's impressive clean sheet against Karabukspor, it came as no surprise to see Dvali retain his place in the side for visit of Trabzonspor. 5th placed Trabzonspor took the lead on the stroke of half time through Mehmet Ekici, but a stoppage time equaliser from Ryan Donk kept Kasimpasa 9th.

LOANEE OF THE WEEK:

There's only one winner this week, as Dom Samuel scored twice to see his Coventry side to a 2-2 draw with Sheffield United.

On his two goals, Samuel said

"Not every chance will go in but you've got to keep going. You've got to stay calm as a striker, particularly as the team relies on you for goals."

"The first goal was a great clearance from Jamie, I knew he was going to hit me. I had two on the back but I was confident I had them for pace, so he put me on my bike and I was delighted."

"As a striker, you've got to make sure you're always on your toes, and the second goal proved that. I missed the first but got to the rebound first and scored."