It says something about how underwhelming our cup draws tend to be that tonight was the first time we’d hosted a Premier League side since Sheffield United’s visit to the-then Mad Stad in March 2020.
And, although it wasn’t one of the quote unquote big hitters rolling into town, it’s still a nice change from our regular [insert bottom-half-to-mid-table Championship or League One side] at home tie.
The last time we faced Brentford, we were both in the same league, striving for the same goal of getting
promoted to the Premier League.
Now they come to the SCL as a well established and well oiled Premier League side, having just spent more on Mamadou Sangare – who started tonight – than Rob Couhig reportedly spent on our entire club. What a difference a few years make, eh?
As for us, Leam Richardson rung the changes, with Joel Pereira, Paudie O’Connor and Haydon Roberts the only ones who also started Saturday’s loss to Cambridge United.
Reading (4-2-3-1): Pereira; Ahmed, O’Connor, Masterson, Roberts; Fraser, Savage; Williams, Stokes, Kyerewaa; Reid
Subs: Stevens, Beacroft, Dorsett, Godwin-Malife, Earthy, Wing, Brown, Lisbie, Lane
I don’t think any of us went into tonight’s game expecting a win. That would’ve been naïve to put it politely. But it’s still a bit more nuanced than just ‘making sure you give it a go’ as well. It’s a really unique situation.
Because if you do give it a proverbial go, you will more than likely get absolutely battered. The gulf in quality between the Premier League and the rest of the football pyramid grows bigger every year.
If you give top-flight sides space, counter-attacking opportunities or one or two half chances, they will punish you. You have to be responsible and structured, while also carrying a bit of a threat yourself to keep them on your toes.
First half
So, it wasn’t the ideal start when O’Connor fell over his on feet, allowing the ball to run through to the feet of Callum Wilson, who proceeded to finish with aplomb past a diving Pereira. 1-0 to the Bees.
It was the kind of ‘uh oh’ moment that made you fear the worst for the remaining 87 or so minutes.
Many, many Reading sides of the not too distant past would’ve allowed that goal to be just that. But you have to give credit to the players for how they applied themselves in the next 40 minutes.
First, O’Connor had a goal somewhat bewilderingly ruled out for a high foot, then Jamie Reid went close two or three times in quick succession, before Conor Masterson put a glancing header wide and then, just before half-time, Reid went through one on one but couldn’t get his shot off before Rico Henry got back to intercept.
All the while, defensively we were keeping Brentford at arm’s length, limiting them to possession in their own and middle thirds.
But if you thought we had a bad start to the first half, the end to it was just as frustrating. After all the hard work to get ourselves a foothold a game – we weren’t dominating, but we were most certainly a threat and giving the opposition plenty of food for thought – we gave Brentford that dreaded space, counter-attacking opportunity and half-chance.
The ease at which Brentford carved us open for the second goal was pretty painful to watch. Two or three simple passes through the core of our team and Fabio Carvalho slotted past a helpless Pereira. 0-2.
I’m torn between it being a moment when we’ve shot ourselves in the foot, or when Brentford have just decided to amp it up a notch. Either way, it was a gut punch going into half time.
Half time 0-2
And you could tell that goal knocked the stuffing out of us a little after the break. Brentford did essentially what they did in the first half – i.e. they kept the ball – but with more intent, assuredness and authority in the second half.
We had our moments, sure, but as the minutes ticked by it looked more and more as if the Bees were going to cruise their way to a spot into the next round. Until O’Connor’s Massive Head rose highest from a corner to get us back into it. 1-2.
To be fair, as much as we huffed and puffed and worked some decent open-play chances throughout the game, it was always from set-pieces and long throw-ins where we looked the most threatening.
The question now was could we go on and get an equaliser? Could we gather any momentum to really pile on the pressure and maybe, just maybe, force another penalty shootout? The crowd was bouncing, the ingredients were there.
The simple answer: no.
Again, Brentford managed to settle the game down to suit them, and saw out the game with relative ease from then on out.
Full time 1-2
In boxing terms, we’ve come up against an experienced fighter, got caught early on, composed ourselves, done a decent job for a few rounds, before being hit with another sucker punch right before the halfway point.
From then, despite a spirited but ultimately ineffective rally late on, the experienced head has managed the fight and won comfortably on points.
It’s the age-old cliché that our season will not be defined by games like tonight.
Would it have been nice to go through to the next round? Of course. Is there any disgrace going out in the way we did? Not really.
Are there positives that we can take into the league season? I think so.
