There’s no denying that, on the whole, results under Leam Richardson have been good. However, the performances that have accompanied those results haven’t always been up to scatch.
So Saturday was a bittersweet game in that we continued to see the dynamism, pace and aggression Richardson has so often mentioned he’s looking for, but didn’t manage to put it all together to get all three points.
Here’s how the fans reacted to the game’s key talking points…
A better performance
It seems the general consensus among the fans
is that Saturday’s performance was a huge improvement on what the average has been in recent weeks.
Yes, we’ve had some very good days, but rarely have we put in a 90-minute showing that’s left the fans feeling overtly positive about the direction we’re going in.
Despite the result not being what we wanted it to be, there was more than enough optimism to go around…
Promising individual showings
There were some good performances all over the pitch, but a few impressed the fans in particular. Paddy Lane (who’s struggled to live up to the excitement that greeted his signing), Kamari Doyle and the two Williams all put in solid showings – some of which were arguably their best in a Reading shirt.
And that’s not just me saying that…
Conclusion
It’s very hard sometimes to prioritise a performance over a result (and, to be honest, I know we haven’t walked away with three points, but a draw at home to a fellow playoff chaser isn’t that bad). However, it seems Saturday’s game was one that has injected a little bit more optimism into the fanbase.
For a long time now all we’ve really been crying out for are some signs that we’re heading in the right direction. Leamo’s tendency for defensive tactics has made that difficult, but Saturday was so much more positive and aggressive, and therefore more entertaining and enjoyable as a spectacle.
It does make Tuesday’s trip to Burton Albion a big one though.
