Another away match, another reasonable showing and another addition to City’s points tally. The transformation in our fortunes on the road since the start of the season is scarcely believable; where once, leaving Kingston-upon-Hull meant certain defeat and quite possibly a debilitating hammering, now positive results are almost expected. Despite the obvious dismay that comes with a late leveller for the opposition, this can be considered a positive result.
Achieving it were: Guzan; Rosenior, Gerrard, Chester, Dawson; Stewart, Ashbee (c), Harper, Koren; Mclean, Fryatt. That meant only change from the side that eventually bested Barnsley seven days earlier, and meant appearances for Rosenior and Harper against their former employers.
We knew it’d be a stern test after a fairly kindly run of games. Reading were seventh at kick-off, with only two home defeats all season and sporting an impressive record of two losses in 15 games, including victory over Premier League West Brom in the Cup. They made two changes to the side that won 3-0 at Doncaster last week, bringing in Mills and Church for Hunt and Ingimarsson.
On a cool, overcast afternoon in Berkshire City began the game kicking away from the visiting support, just over a thousand strong and housed in one half of a stand behind the goal. The match started bittily and remained that way for the entire afternoon. Fryatt had the day’s first attempt on goal with a weakly-struck shot that Adam Federici easily saved, while Shane Long was denied by a solid challenge by Gerrard as he looked set to provide Guzan with a serious test.
Reading had a penalty claim waved away by referee James Linington when Kebe went down under a challenge from Dawson – the appeals were genuine and it felt like a penalty, however the official spurned their entreaties. A possible reprieve for City.
Reading gained the upper hand as the half progressed, with Jobi McAnuff having a shot batted away by Guzan and then being denied by a sparkling save by the American keeper to deny Long – a downward header looked certain to find the net but an acrobatic leap across goal and a strong palm kept it out. A fine intervention; almost Myhillesque, in fact.
The sprightly McAnuff went close again with a shot that flew narrowly wide after good work on the Reading left, and it was something of a relief that City went in at half-time with the scores level, via cautions for Dawson and Ashbee.
This’ll have been noted before, elsewhere and doubtless with greater eloquence, but there’s something faintly depressing about the Madejski experience. It’s a ground on the outskirts of the city, there are no pubs nearby, it’s a boxy arena, there’s an arse with a drum, the stewards fuss and cluck incessantly, and you know – just KNOW – there’ll be music after a goal. It’s all very NuFootball, and that’s not meant as a compliment.
There was indeed a goal shortly after half-time sustenance had been taken. For City. A presumably unimpressed Nigel Pearson had hauled off the puzzlingly off-colour Cameron Stewart to make way for Corry Evans, remarkably the 33rd different player to sport black and amber this season – the Championship’s highest figure, we believe. Not for the first time in recent weeks (think Portsmouth and Wigan), a change led to a goal. It came on 52 when a harmless-looking Koren cross was intercepted by Harte, who then dithered and allowed Evans to steal in to poke the ball home. A hugely unexpected gift; players and fans celebrated in joyful surprise.
It stunned Reading. Their mild first half dominance was completely swept away as City looked galvanised by having a lead to protect. A Fryatt shot was deflected wide, a Dawson corner was nearly headed into own goal by a Reading defender, than the sharp-looking Fryatt curled a shot just wide as City strove to add a second.
Meanwhile, Reading had brought on debutant Manset and then Robson-Kanu in an attempt to rescue a game that was beginning to slip away from them. They were looking a little short of creative inspiration, partly due to City’s grim determination to keep them out. As the match entered its final minutes, it became clear that the Tigers were unlikely to score again. With the away end hoarsely urging City to hold on, it appeared we were going to…but didn’t.
McAnuff fed an intelligent ball through to Long, who raced unattended into the area. Guzan burst from his line to meet the onrushing Royal, brought him down, and Mr Linington swiftly pointed spotwards. It was at the far end so difficult to say for sure, but this too looked a penalty. The protests were desultory, Harte’s kick was assured and Reading had gained a deserved equaliser. Again – they’ve done that to us twice this season now.
Music followed the goal, by the way.
Nick Barmby came on for Mclean, who’d put in a tireless shift without looking much like scoring, but no-one else did in the remaining minutes and the match was tied. A fair result overall.
This was the first of three games in a row that’d really test our promotion credentials. We passed this first examination, broadly speaking. Reading are a decent side in excellent form, particularly at home, and a creditable point was returned to East Yorkshire. It’s always a pity when you’re hauled back late on, but that short-term disappointment will fade.
After all, it’s becoming increasingly likely that Nigel Pearson is onto something. From the shambles at the start of the season, he’s ruthlessly removed the unfit, the unwilling, the unable, and is creating a side a little in his own image – hard-working, diligent, honest, with just the right dash of flair where it’s needed. Six points is a lot to make up between ourselves and sixth, and that only gives you a 1-in-4 shot at going up, so we needn’t reach for our hastily-discarded Premier League grounds guides just yet. However, the overall trajectory is clear: City have arrested the slide, and are on the up again.
