MATCHWATCH : Burton Albion (h)

[Hound]

Glad people are coming round to my beau DannyK

He’s got something about him. Been a LOT better under LR imo. Just needs to be more consistent. But happy enough with him now, maybe not always as starter though

[Clyde1998]

Glad people are coming round to my beau DannyK

He's improved as he's adapted to the division. He still looks a bit raw; if he had a more consistent end product, he could well go on to be a player who could get a move to the Championship or similar standard leagues.

[Hound]

His pressing, tracking back and work rate were all excellent today. Definitely not something that’s always been the case

[Ark Royal]

Comfortable win. Incredibly tight division and only six points off the play-offs. None of the top eight won today.

[Brogue]

Yep if DK can work on his end product we potentially have a real player on our hands. 2 goals and 5 assists in 21 games for someone still adapting to the league is a good return.

[Sanguine]

30 points from 18 games since our awful start to the season, which is playoff form. Encouraging stuff.

That said - whilst I know Brogue is doing a 'thing' - we've beaten no-one higher than 7th place Stevenage this season, so playoffs looks a real push for us. Chance to better that record against Stockport (4th) on Sunday.

[windermereROYAL]

Yep if DK can work on his end product we potentially have a real player on our hands. 2 goals and 5 assists in 21 games for someone still adapting to the league is a good return.

3 goals*

[South Coast Royal]

A comfortable win in the end, especially after their shot hit the woodwork.

When I saw their line-up with supposedly 11 players unavailable and our ex-midfielder George Evans playing out of position at centre-back I , for once, was optimistic (never usually am about Reading's chances and usually pessimistic).

Obviously Danny K was again our liveliest player and good to see him get another goal.

Watched the game on Sky where the commentator ,without the need of a so-called expert pundit alongside, was fine and knew enough about both teams.

I am not sure what the final stats were but we gave away quite a lot of fouls and perhaps we have hardened up (or just become dirtier) under Richardson-Fraser does seem inclined to kick the opposition quite a lot as he also did in the previous game and maybe this is the new Reading way having always over the years been one of the cleanest of teams around and possibly just a bit too nice.

So we are now around the mid point of the season-what now?
Optimists will be talking of top 6 and possibly promotion and pessimists will be looking for a few more wins to keep clear of relegation worries.

Even if we get a few in during the transfer window (is this to be the extraordinary one that Couhig promised?) I don't see us finishing much better than mid-table.
That would be fine IMHO with next season or the following one being when we might hope for something better.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

30 points from 18 games since our awful start to the season, which is playoff form. Encouraging stuff.

That said - whilst I know Brogue is doing a 'thing' - we've beaten no-one higher than 7th place Stevenage this season, so playoffs looks a real push for us. Chance to better that record against Stockport (4th) on Sunday.

Fair comment but of the top 6 we've only played Huddersfield at home.

Although on paper an easier recent run table position wise, we've just played Luton, Peterborough & Plymouth all just about top of the current form table at the time.

[Hound]

Tbf we also beat Stevenage when a win would have put them top

And they’re 1 point behind 5th with two games in hand now

So not strictly Top 6 but may as well be