Three points. Job done. A not-so-spectacular performance with a relieving result at the end of it is just what the doctor ordered for Reading at this point in time.
I was strangely confident going into
the match. Although it has been a run of not-so-positive results, the performance at Cardiff City was as good as I’ve seen this season, and you’d think if we can play that way away at the league leaders, then when Northampton come to town we’d give them a great run for their money.
Reading (4-2-3-1): Stevens; Abrefa, O’Connor, Williams, Jacob; Wing, Savage; Ritchie, Elliott, Lane; Ehibhatiomhan
Subs: Norcott, Yiadom, Burns, Dorsett, Doyle, Kyerewaa, O’Mahony
Ben Elliott saw the first glimpse of goal and he sent a shot off, a spinning volley over the bar. Minutes later, Matty Jacob and Paddy Lane combined on the left-hand side to find Charlie Savage in some great space on the wing, and his cross landed around the penalty spot, where Matt Ritchie and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan were fighting to stab home the loose ball, but to no avail.
The game seemed to be making itself all about crosses, as they flashed in from both wings for the Royals, with the most promising chance off a corner kick from Savage onto Paudie O’Connor’s head that was palmed away by Ross Fitzsimons in the Northampton goal. It was a brilliant start from Reading, but equally one that the Cobblers neutralised and slowed down effectively.
Striker Ethan Wheatley slipped through the gap in between our centre-backs through on goal with our defence switched off. His delicate chip took a top edge off the onrushing Jack Stevens in net to deflect the ball over for the best opening of the game with 27 minutes on the clock.
Savage launched in another quality cross from deep towards the back post, with Ritchie cleverly drifting inside to meet it, but the veteran’s header couldn’t properly connect and the ball went for a goal kick.
Lewis Wing thunderstruck a knuckleball from absolutely miles out that swerved all over the place in the air, hitting the target, but itwas very well saved.
Reading continued probing with half chances, yet the home crowd still seemed far from excited with the deadline till well intact.
Daniel Kyerewaa looked to change that as he entered the fray for Ritchie with seven minutes remaining in the half, as injury forced the veteran winger into an early shower.
On the brink of the break, Kelvin Abrefa fizzed a low ball that was very awkwardly dealt with by the opposition centre-back, inches away from an own goal.
Kyerewaa looked bright with a couple of energetic runs and a really well hit shot towards the near post that safely thumped against Fitzsimon’s gloves, and it was another goalless half for Reading, with us undoubtedly being the better team but nothing to show for it as of yet.
Half time: 0-0
And before you knew it we were back underway. Lane charged down a lofted ball forwards from Jordan Willis, with the deflection falling to Ehibhatiomhan. The striker produced some nice footwork to work it into the box and he teased a pass across the face of goal, agonisingly too far ahead of Kyerewaa, who would’ve had an empty net to score into.
It seemed the classic Reading post-half-time switch-off was somewhat happening once again though. Northampton grew into it, Reading’s final balls losing some precision, and Derrick Williams was booked on his return.
The game settled into a deathly lull like we’re unfortunately used to, and was crying out for something – literally anything – to happen. Noel Hunt’s answer to the search for the opening goal was Andy Yiadom and Kamari Doyle coming on with about 25 minutes of normal time remaining.
Then, something happened. Lane made inroads down the left, cutting in and out to bamboozle the defender before floating in a beauty of a cross with his left foot to Ehibhatiomhan’s head, directing the ball into the bottom left corner of the net. Reading had taken the lead, and the home fans were resurrected. 1-0.
The Royals had the ears pricked and tails up, immediately searching for a second. Savage had a curling shot deflected wide and a series of strong phases of possession kept Northampton under the cosh. The dangerous thought of a possibility of a win trickled into my mind.
Although Reading still looked the likelier side for another goal, no clear opportunities came about for either team. Jeriel Dorsett and Mark O’Mahoney came on for the closing 15 minutes to sure up the side.
Reading counter-attacked ferociously, as Doyle fed in Ehibhatiomhan with a sensational through ball. The now-winger (moving there when Lane was withdrawn for O’Mahoney) smashed it across the face towards O’Mahoney sliding in, and again we were inches from a goal that would have provided the safety net we needed so much.
As the final minutes approached, it felt like we took our foot off the gas a bit, although Northampton had little quality to punish us with, so even though the away side pushed forward more than they had been, it never felt too worrying looking on, especially when only three minutes of added time were shown.
Full time: 1-0
And thankfully, I was not proven wrong. It was far from pretty but Reading got a deserved win at the SCL to complete a duo of much-improved performances over the past few games.
Will this shift opinion on Hunt? I think a little, as no sane chairman can sack a manager after a win, but even now we’ve climbed to 16th in the league, the position doesn’t look attractive. Teams don’t get much more out of form than Doncaster Rovers are now, and we face them this weekend – at home no less.
Time for another win, and time to get this season back on track.
