Hob Nob Anyone? - The Fans' View of Reading Football Club

Reading FC Match Report: 2015/2016 Season - Championship


BRENTFORD 1 READING 3

Reading: O Sa (17), N Blackman (32, 90 (pen))
Brentford: L Vibe (67)

Reading's league season eventually got the boost it needed, at the fifth time of asking, as the Royals cruised to their first league win of the season at Brentford. On paper it looked like a tough away fixture, but everything clicked into place as Orlando Sa scored his first Reading goal and Nick Blackman doubled his goal tally to four goals for the season, making it 3-1 to Reading at full time.

Reading started with what appears to be Steve Clarke's first choice eleven. The Royals were well in control in the first half. The key difference to other league performances so far this season was making the most of our chances - although we probably should still have scored more than the two which we led with at the break. Nick Blackman was causing Brentford all sorts of problems and nearly put Reading ahead ater twisting past a couple of players and into the box. He shot was a great effort that crashed against the home side's crossbar. Orlando Sa did put Reading ahead on 17 minutes when Robson-Kanu cut into the area on the left and crossed for Sa to fly in with a brave header.

Blackman forced a save from the Brentford keeper from close range before doubling Reading's lead with a well taken free-kick. It wasn't all straight forward for Reading after Vibe gave Brentford a life-line on 67 minutes to pull a goal back. However, Reading held firm and right at the end Blackman was taken down by the goalkeeper for a clear penalty. He stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to secure the 3-1 victory, and three points that moves Reading up to 13th in the table.

Post Match Fans' Opinion

An all round cracking day.

Thought we were untouchable in the first half and didn't ever get that troubled by a dull Brentford side. Their goal from what I saw was 30 yard strike which came off the post and in, maybe could have been closed down better but not much to moan about.

Blackman gets a stand out mention as he really is proving a point to everyone this year.

Fans were in great voice all along, and we have now got some songs which sounded decent on the terrace.
LWJ

First half we were very good, passed the ball well and probably deserved to be more than 2 goals up. The first goal was well worked and a good header to finish by Sa. The second a brilliant free kick by Blackman. Blackman has a couple of other good opportunities, hitting the bar and having another chance saved. Their keeper also saved well from a corner which was met by a header.

In the second half as expected Brentford pushed higher up the pitch and there was a period of 25 minutes where they scored and put us under quite some pressure, mainly with crosses, although they didn't really have any clear cut opportunities apart from a scramble near the end. Then came our third goal with Williams dispossessing their player in midfield, breaking and squaring the ball to Blackman who drew the foul from the keeper and cooly scored from the spot.

Man of the match for me goes to Blackman, hopefully he can keep up his good form. Special mentions to Williams and the two centre backs.
SMF

Quotes From The Press

Brentford had Button to thank for keeping the scoreline down as Reading ran riot in a one-sided first half.

He made a string of saves; tipping Stephen Quinn's deflected shot wide, parrying a header from Hal Robson-Kanu and making a brilliant double save to deny Quinn and Blackman.

Brentford looked far more lively after the break but rarely looked like clawing their way back into the game, even after Vibe reduced the arrears with a curling effort which went in off the post.

Reading boss Steve Clarke: "I keep talking about performances and that first half was excellent. If we play like that then the results will follow and if they don't I'll still be happy.

"I thought we could have been out of sight by half-time but their keeper has kept them in it. I was out of my seat getting ready to celebrate when he stopped one shot."
BBC Sport

Match Stats

Full Time: 1-3
Half Time: 0-2
Attendance: 10206
Referee: A Madley

 Hob Nob Anyone? MOM: N Blackman [More]

Teams

Reading: J Bond, J Obita, P McShane, A Ferdinand, C Gunter, O Norwood (M Hector, 89), S Quinn, D Williams, N Blackman, O Sa (A Tshibola, 82), H Robson-Kanu (G McCleary, 45).
Subs not used: P Hurtado, Alex Fernandez, S Cox, A Al Habsi.

Brentford: D Button, J Tarkowski, J Bidwell, M Colin, H Dean, A Gogia (J Clarke, 45), A Judge, T Diagouraga (A McCormack, 37), L Vibe, K Kerschbaumer (S Saunders, 83), P Hofmann.
Subs not used: C Udumaga, Y Barbet, J Bonham, J O'Connell.

Bookings / Red Cards

Reading: J Bond, J Obita, C Gunter
Brentford: D Button, J Tarkowski, J Bidwell, P Hofmann, A McCormack

Championship on 29 August 2015

View Championship league table as it stood on 29 August 2015

This Championship game took place 3402 days ago in the 2015/2016 season.