Edge of the seats stuff again today, but this was better than the game against Gillingham. Whereas on Tuesday we were just lucky, today we player better and created chances. It was not the Royals of old, but the new system this season will see more open games. Preston started the better side with some neat inter play. It was no real surprise when they took the lead but Marcus should have done much better - that is two goals in two games where he has put us under pressure. Against Gillingham he redeemed himself with a series of good saves - yesterday the Preston strikers forgot where the target was fortunately. We got back into the game with the penalty and credit to Goater for being prepared to take the second one. Once down to ten men, we would have assumed that we would go on and win it, but early the second half they got their penalty and we were up against it. The emergence of Solako at the start of the second half gave us a much better shape. Hughes had picked up a knock and,if fit, I would like to see him or Watson in the middle for the largely out of form Harper. Solako did what he is good at. Linked well with Shorey, who was a different player with Solako there, and put quality balls into the box. That is what you get with him and it is then up to the strikers to perform. The introduction of Savage also added something as he showed a few tricks but also fitted into the pattern of play. The equalizer was a good header from Mackie from a decent cross from the left. The final goal was a triumph for effort and commitment. Forster put it away and in fairness to him I thought that he had a shocker, but he got his goal. I would think that there needs to be a lot of work done on the partnership between Goater and Forster. Another three points for the new manager, and more to come from the team. Williams was my man of the match, he even had time for a bit of skillful work in the opposition box. Newman has improved each game that he has played at full back, but is no Murty. The key at the moment is getting the balance right, but we are winning again and it was terrific entertainment.
Ken C

Unbelievable! I'm still in shock. All I want to say is whatever Coppell trod in when he went for his interview, don't scrap it off your shoe mate! What a game, a sending off, dodgy re-taken penalty (well done Goat ), an appalling piece of cheating by the cheating diving Preston cheat who got their penalty, a dreadful referee, a clown in goal for us who one minute is letting the ball through his hands, the next pulling off a match winning save, going behind twice, a piece of history... that is a set piece goal for us brilliantly taken by John Hippy Mackie, passing from Reading that would grace Palmer Park, Hughsie getting injured, probably caused by the brain hemorrhage as he went mental at Greedy Git Forster for failing to pass yet again, Ade Williams nutting the Preston defender in their box with a piece of Brazilian skill, Jock Brown getting sent off from the dug out, the return of giant Baz Savage (is he related to Robbie?) and finally to cap it all, a 94th winning minute goal! Shame only 13 odd thousand were there to enjoy it! Bring on Warsaw... URZ!
Nick Newbury

Listened to the radio and read Mr Loaders views in todays Observer and now believe I was at a different game to everyone else. I thought I was at a game where we faffed around against 10 men and it took our goal machine forward two attempts to score a penalty. Where a defender everyone is praising to the heights was lucky to stay on, having deliberately stamped on their forward - I imagine if Preston had done that to Forster one or two might get upset. I now realise I was actually at Brazil v Real Madrid and we were brilliant - must keep taking the tablets. Typical example mid way through second half - Sidwell, with space, time and under no pressure, elects to head punt the ball back to Preston players rather than stop, trap and pass. And what the hell was going on at the penalty with Forster and Goal Machine having a row about who to take it to second time. I think the Managers man management skills need to take in a 1to1 with two forwards who obviously don't get on - e.g Goal machines comments in the Chronic a few weeks back about people who don't look up and pass (which Forster was even worse at yesterday) versus Forster clear opinion that he has been paired witha slow 33 year old "who is brilliant at link up play" (quote) but is clearly crap at scoring goals - which I thought was what he'd been bought in to do.. We need another forward who can run , a midfielder who can stop, look around and pass (Watson?). While I am at it can the bloody BBC and this site shut up about atmosphere and us not cheering - the whole atmosphere idea is that it's two way - we cheer them on and get them going - they play well - we cheer - they get better - we get more excited. More than happy to shout and rave if they are good but having poor luck etc but I ain't going to chant if they are playing crud.
Tails of Woodley

I'm still not sure if 3 points for either side would have been a fair result. Then again, how chances did we create? Murray alone hit the woodwork 3 times. Recently we have been up against some very good front men, King & Fuller. We now appreciate how other teams felt against Forster last season. Every time Fuller was given the ball (a strategy certainly worked on by them at half time) our defence had problems. That said, Salako & Savage turned the game in our favour. I lost count of the number of quality crosses put in by Salako. If Salako fixed the wing, Savage was also what the midfield needed. He was strong, skilful and determined. The longer that game went on, the more likely they looked to concede. Certainly when the 4th official announced the added time to be played, we upped our game and probably deserved to win for that alone. A close game, and not one I enjoyed. I came out of the ground feeling spent. A nice comfortable thrashing of Walsall will be much better for the nerves.
Paul, Thatcham Royal

No-one could deny that this was an entertaining & exciting match to watch. A better performance than vs Gillingham (couldn't fault the team for effort), but still room for much improvement. The midfield still had gap after gap in it that Preston exploited (even when they had 10 men there were times when they had so much room I wondered if it was us who had 1 player less), & still cries out for the assurance & organisation Watson would bring. Both Preston goals were soft, especially the 1st. And then there's Forster...... Ok, he got the winner & fair play to him for being in the right place to pop up and do that, but other than that he was even worse than Tues. He looks very disinterested at the moment; when things don't go for him he whinges & sulks; he did his best to cock up the re-take of the penalty by demanding to take it himself & causing near fisty-cuffs in the process (well done Goater for keeping your nerve despite all this carry-on to score 2nd go); and his passing???? I rarely hurl abuse at our players, but boy was I shouting & cursing at him with all the rest around me when the greedy git chose to shoot at a forest of defenders in front of him instead of playing in the unmarked Hughes. I'm sure there'll be those who slate me for daring to slag off their hero, but he needs a real attitude change at present. Coppell said in his notes he was using the next few games to run an eye over the player's ability & attitudes, and he will surely know of Forsters undoubted ability, but at the moment his attitude says "I am bigger than the team, I am the star, I deserve all the glory, LOOK AT ME, if things don't go my way I will sulk until they do...." Forster needs to be reminded that football is a team game & when he plays for the team he is a great asset. When he plays only for himself as he is at the moment he is a liability & I hope Coppell reminds him of this fact. Plus points of the game were the fact that we came from behind twice, didn't give in & got the reward with the last-gasp winner. Also positive were the contributions of Salako & Savage. I hope the Wallsall game is as entertaining (I still remember the dire encounters with them last season). COME ON......
Caversham Royal