Sometimes it’s more telling to judge a side not by looking at how bad it is at its worst, but instead what it’s capable of at its realistic best.
And it feels like we saw both sides of the equation today at Exeter City. Reading were frightfully ineffective and dull in the first half – so exactly in keeping with what we’d previously seen – but did manage to get distinctly better after the break.
The problem is though: that second 45 really wasn’t that great. Reading were overall OK-ish, able to fashion
(and miss) a couple of quality chances in one pretty strong spell, but unable to sustain any momentum later on or convincingly push for a winner in the final stages.
But even that second 45 felt like an achievement. There was little in the way of clear tactical wins, of repeatable moves from a well coached side. The two best Reading chances came from a long ball down the channel and low cross, and a corner that fell kindly.
So then, not progress really, the sign of a side actually getting substantially better, but a poor team just about managing to eke out a bit more quality. Is this really the best we have? Unfortunately it seems so.
We’re 11 games into the league season now and have won just twice. A tally of 11 points puts Reading fourth from bottom: League Two-bound.
There’s a glorious sunset out of the window as I write this on the train home. Apt timing really: it’s time for sunset on the Noel Hunt era too.
Hunt earned a crack at the job this season after surpassing expectations in 2024/25, and has had a fair chance to get this team on the right track. Although some players took longer to arrive, there’s no adequate excuse for recent performances in quality or preparation time of his players.
The consistent evidence, sadly, is that he’s just not up to the job. I hate to say that: like many others I’m sure, I desperately wanted this to work out for him. But Reading have played 17 times in all competitions this season now and put in a convincingly good performance… what, once? That win at Portsmouth feels an awfully long time ago.
Sorry Noel, but it’s time to go.
I said in my Mansfield Town match report that Reading were poor despite Hunt getting his starting lineup bang on, and I had no complaints about his selection today either.
Paudie O’Connor and Matt Ritchie made their first starts of the season, coming in for Jeriel Dorsett and Daniel Kyerewaa respectively. Mark O’Mahony missed out due to international duty, but the returning Andy Yiadom was involved for the second time this week.
Reading (4-2-3-1): Pereira; Ahmed, Burns, O’Connor, Jacob; Wing, Savage; Ritchie, Doyle, Lane; Marriott
Subs: Stevens, Yiadom, Abrefa, Stickland, Elliott, Kyerewaa, Ehibhatiomhan
Full marks to the first half for efficiency: all the interesting moments were squeezed in before the 12th minute.
First, after six minutes, Jack Marriott converted Reading’s only shot on target before the break for 0-1. Not at the end of a well constructed move, but by opportunistically getting on the end of a loose Exeter header and steering home.
They all count, quality strikers sniff out those chances ruthlessly and Marriott deserves credit for the goal. But when your best moment of creativity in a half of football comes from the opposition’s waywardness, that’s worrying.
Regardless, that’s now six in six for Marriott, quite the remarkable run. If he can score in both of his next two, he’ll draw level with record-keeper Arthur Bacon.
Reading’s lead lasted just five minutes. Continuing a depressing tendency of soft goals being conceded, the Royals failed to clear their lines properly, a low cross came in, deflected off Matty Jacob, and was prodded home at the near post by – typically – Jayden Wareham. 1-1.
You could tell that was going to happen, couldn’t you? And Wareham – the recipient of no shortage of abuse from the away end (ditto his dad in the home end, right next to the visiting support) – revelled in celebrating the equaliser right in front of the fans who chanted his name a matter of months ago.
I’m pretty much out of first-half highlights now. Reading had nothing else to show bar a blocked Kamari Doyle effort, while the Grecians looked the likelier to score overall, but the closest they came was a Pierce Sweeney header (over the bar, at the back post, from a deep free-kick).
The two sides had collectively managed two shots on target, converting both. An advert for League One this was not.
Half time: 1-1
Boy did Reading need to improve after the interval, and to be fair, they did. Up went the intensity and speed of passing, and accordingly the visitors eventually started to threaten, putting together a dangerous 10-minute spell from around 55 onwards.
First, a Lewis Wing ball down the channel found Doyle, whose low cross went to Marriott in the middle at close range, but he couldn’t keep his effort down. You’d have put your house on Marriott of all people scoring that.
Then Ritchie had some sights of goal. A cross from Charlie Savage on the left wing presented him with a heading opportunity at the back post (soft effort, blocked) before a long-range shot was also blocked.
Not done there for chances, Jacob was given a glorious one to open his account. A corner fell for him at close range, but the finish with his weaker right foot was wild and over the bar. Fortunately it was at least also high enough to clear the away end entirely, thereby not hitting anyone on the terrace who had a match report to write later. Cheers Matty.
What seemed to stunt Reading’s momentum was an enforced change in the 71st minute. Doyle took a knock and had to be removed, which meant the introduction of Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan to the 10 role. Given Hunt has tried this tactic a few times now, it seems here to stay, and also an indication that Ben Elliott isn’t fancied.
Reading had little more for the rest of the game, bar some spells of possession higher up that didn’t translate into convincing pressure. The hosts did likewise, with Joel Pereira not given one of his more difficult afternoons. Grecians bearing gifts and all that.
If anything, Hunt’s final four changes suggested he was prioritising avoiding defeat.
In the 82nd minute, Ashqar Ahmed and Richie were replaced by Yiadom and Kelvin Abrefa – so a more defensive right flank overall, with two full-backs and no winger. That was odd given the presence of Kyerewaa on the bench.
When Kyerewaa did make it onto the pitch, it was in the ninth minute of 10 added on. His introduction for Paddy Lane (again disappointing, but with commendable work rate out of possession), along with Jeriel Dorsett replacing Jacob, hinted more at a general desire to freshen up the left flank than to push for a winner.
Full time: 1-1
At least Reading held on for the point, but still, this was two dropped. The Royals took far too long to get going, went up a few gears for a time in the second half, missed some quality chances, then failed to convincingly go again late in the contest.
I really wish I had a more positive take on everything (downbeat match reports are not fun to write), but as things stand, it’s hard to see how things improve with the current management. It’s not just that Reading aren’t good enough – this side seems devoid of tactical direction.