View from The South – Reading vs Birmingham City

I have just got back from Reading wondering how the hell we have contrived to lose this game. Blues were by far the better side for the first half and for most of the second but we failed to do what we have been doing with ease of late and that is put the ball, in the back of the net. Reading are a well organised side but they are nowhere near the force they were last season. They are ordinary and Blues jaded from Europe or not could and should have beaten them. I am disappointed with today’s result on what I have witnessed this afternoon and despite a pretty decent performance we have come away with nothing.

Chris joined me from the Midlands for this one having arrived from Leamington Spa into Reading. So it was straight into The Three Guineas then for a few pints before catching the bus up to the stadium. Before the game the minutes silence to honour the men and women who sacrificed their lives so that those of us there could enjoy such an occasion as a football match was beautifully respected. Myhill was back in the line up with Carr, Caldwell, Davies and Ridgewell in defence. The midfield was comprised of Burke, Fahey, Elliot and Spector with Wood and King up front. Beausejour was missing through suspension but you would think that nevertheless that Blues would have enough in the team to beat a fairly ordinary Reading team. For 75 minutes this proved to be the case. Blues outplayed their opponents during that period but when Reading scored against the run of play, we lost it I’m afraid.

Blues had enough chances to have won this game before half time. The second half commenced in tone with the first with Blues showing their superior quality but failing to take advantage. The real turning point for me was when the Reading defender Pearce miscued a clearing header which cannoned back off his own post. Chris had remarked to me earlier that Reading were having the run of the ball and this moment summed it up. Reading were so lucky to get away with this and to then 60 seconds later score the only goal of the game against the run of play was tough to take. Elliot missed a tackle in midfield that allowed Reading to get in down our left flank. The cross was converted by Noel Hunt, on as a substitute for Reading, at the near post. I was gutted as were most of the travelling contingent from my native city. It was an undeserved lead but that is football.

We lost the plot a bit after that and never really looked like getting back into it to be honest. Yes, Reading didn’t deserve the victory but they scored and we didn’t and that I’m afraid is the truth of it. This was a good performance from Blues but they failed to take their chances particularly in the first half and suffered from some misfortune in the second. Accept the defeat, albeit to an inferior team and move on.

Myhill played well and never really looked in trouble. He could do little about the goal which resulted from Hunt nipping in at the near post; that is a job for the defenders. Carr was OK and linked up well with Burke but I felt the latter drifted out of the game when we needed him most in the second half. Curtis Davies for me was our best player alongside Caldwell who was solid throughout. Ridgewell was poor I’m afraid and I am one who has been prepared to give this lad some latitude given the problems he has had in his private life over the summer and the fact that he hasn’t had the sort of player in front of him that he can rely on to drop in should he wish to bomb forward. He was far too deep today and totally ineffective in an attacking sense. Defensively I felt he was at least partially responsible for the goal. Reading hardly threatened us and the only time they got in was down Ridgewell’s flank. I expect better from this player I’m afraid and there is no other way of saying it.

I would like to see Wade Elliott given a more central role in midfield in the absence of Mutch and if this means taking Fahey out to the left again well so be it. Yes. I know he’ not a left winger, but it would allow Ridgewell more scope. Burke needs to be on the ball as much as possible in my opinion and the team needs to work the ball accordingly. Spector played well today but he is not the creative player we need in the centre of midfield. The absence of Beausejour gave us a lopsided look today. Wood was not at his best but the run of the ball was against him. King’s time will come; make no mistake. I think he will go on a run of goal scoring that will benefit the team in more ways than one.

Despite defeat today, Blues are better than most teams in this division. There are not six teams better and that is why we will be play off contenders at least. As for Reading, I see them as mid table. They are nowhere near as strong as in my previous visits to the Madjeski Stadium. Congratulations to them on their victory today but they were lucky. We all experience times like that and they even themselves out over a season (or not according to Terry Venables!)

Blues are still in a good position; games in hand, mid table, in good position and most importantly, NO ONE TALKING ABOUT US! 😀 Spent a pleasant couple of hours in The Three Guineas after the game. The two Pauls were there with their flag showing ‘Joys and Sorrows’ off to good effect. The girls’ picture (Kirsty and Keevy?) didn’t come out well lads so sorry I couldn’t include them.

The Good: The company of Chris, a great atmosphere at the game, a good performance from the players despite the defeat and the fact that I didn’t have a long journey home for once.

The Bad: Losing to an ordinary team – Hard to bear. 🙁

The Ugly: The thought that I’ve got to go back to work tomorrow. Hate playing on Sundays.

Reading: Adam Federici 8, Jem Karacan 6, Alex Pearce 7, Mikel Leigertwood 7, Adam La Fondre 6, Jobi McAnuff 6, Jimmy Kebe 6 (Hal Kanu-Robson, 69, 7), Joseph Mills 7, Kaspars Gorkss 6 , Simon Church 6 (Noel Hunt, 70, 7), Shaun Cummings 7.

Subs not used: Mathieu Manset, Ian Harte, Mikkel Andersen.

Bookings: None

Goals: Hunt (75)

Birmingham City: Boaz Myhill 7, Stephen Carr 7, Steven Caldwell 7, Curtis Davies 8 Liam Ridgewell 5, Chris Burke 6, Jonathan Spector 7, Keith Fahey 7, Wade Elliot 7, Marlon King 7 (Nikola Zigic N/A), Chris Wood 7 Subs not used: Colin Doyle, David Murphy, Guirane N’Daw.

Bookings: Spector (49), Davis (68).

Referee: Mark Halsey 8: Good performance from the referee. No complaints about any of his decisions which were sound and fair.

Attendance: 18, 361 (1,297 Blues fans)

KRO SOTV