Post by deadbat on Nov 24, 2021 0:00:48 GMT
Podcast links and then report below….
soundcloud.com/tufty-club/tufty-club-reaction-21-22-reading-away
open.spotify.com/episode/0nd8S05dQ89xhFpSX3SOnL
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/id1508158343?i=1000542889699
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It was the rare feeling of a win for the Blades who got a vital three points to lift the pressure on the manager and side, after a difficult period leading up the trip to the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Tuesday evening. After United had been the better side in another poor 45 minutes of Championship football, they took the lead just before the hour when Bogle coolly converted McGoldrick’s centre. After a real scare when midfielder John Fleck went down nowhere near a challenge, that saw the game stop for over 10 minutes, the Blades managed to do enough in a game that ended up lasting 103 minutes due to the extra time played. Wes Foderingham only had one save of note to make all game and the Blades in the end deserved the three points. It was not a fantastic performance but an improvement, albeit versus a very poor Reading side whose fans booed them off at the end.
Manager Jokanovic made more changes as his ever-changing carousel starting line up policy continued. In came Norwood, Brewster and McGoldrick and out went Hourihane, Sharp and Ndiaye. The latter was not even on the bench. Sander Berge at least finally returned to the match day squad.
Veljko Paunovic has had difficulty with injuries/players unavailable but had a smattering of quality and experience in his first eleven with the likes of Dann, Swift and Drinkwater supplanted by new signing Andy Carroll on the bench.
United started on the front foot and won a corner with their first attack after McGoldrick looked to create a chance. The corner came over and was knocked back at the far post from McGoldrick – it was half cleared and Gibbs White tried to acrobatically volley towards goal but skewed his effort badly.
The away side were controlling the early tempo and seemed to be playing with more urgency than previous games and were well up the pitch. They won two more corners in quick succession and McGoldrick again at the back post knocked it back but should have done better as it hit the keeper on the way back. It had been a good start with Norwood and Fleck involved and Gibbs White looking to work with McGoldrick and Brewster.
On 10 minutes Reading did come out finally after being dominated but they were unable to produce anything meaningful and United were soon back on the attack.
Brewster was felled leading to a chance from a free kick from 25 yards. Gibbs White took it and it his the struck the top of the bar with the keeper Southwood beaten. The ball bounced out but Basham and then Brewster could not fashion another chance from the rebound.
Reading broke and Fleck slipped before cynically chopping his man down leading to a booking for the Blades man. Reading then had a better spell with Swift coming through two challenges to find Yiadom whose ball across was cleared from Egan. Dann headed the corner over in Reading’s first meaningful effort of the game.
The next spell was mired in midfield with little moments of quality and became more even with the Blades creating little after a positive opening. Reading started to find more of the ball and Drinkwater’s dangerous cross evaded everyone with Foderingham less than convincing coming out and then staying home.
Norwood took himself out of the play twice by going to floor and Reading now were more in control of the ball with Swift influential. Basham gave a needless corner away but Gibbs White cleared and the home side were caught offiside.
Bogle was well forward and won a free kick that Norwood wasted before the wing back sent an equally poor cross out of play.
The half drifted away with little other incidents occurring and the home fans booed their side off. In truth United had not been much better and had failed to build on a better opening. Neither keeper had a save to make and only Gibbs White for United and Dann had come remotely close to scoring.
United began the 2nd half in a similar vein to the first half with Gibbs White having an effort over the bar before Norwood was slack in possession in midfield. On 50 minutes the Blades had their best chance when a long ball saw McGoldrick flick on, Brewster cleverly flicked over his head to Gibbs White who fed Bogle but the pass was slow and he took too long to get his shot away with Southwood making the point blank save.
It was the first effort on goal of the whole game and the set up was from a direct ball but some clever interchange finally in a game that had lacked any kind of quality up to that point.
Brewster found himself well positioned out wide but blazed his cross shot well over/wide. Egan than took out Swift but United’s offside trap saw off the free kick. Stevens then did well to come across and Dele-Bashiru nearly got in.
The opening goal came from the Blades that they probably merited for shading proceedings and opportunities. It came from McGoldrick coming inside and his cross was right into the path of BOGLE but he still had a lot to do but cushioned a lovely volley into the net. A well-made and taken goal.
United started to move the ball around nicely and worked space down the right with Bogle again heavily involved. Carroll came on for Dele Bashiru for Reading who were looking for some life in a disappointing performance.
Gibbs White showed some lovely skill to come away from his man who brought him down but the Blades coughed up possession from the free kick and Reading had spell on the ball for the first time after the break.
On the hour mark, there was a real moment of worry for United as the ball was at the other end but a number of Blades players gestured for urgent medical treatment as Fleck went down. The midfielder seemed to be in some distress as medics rushed on. The United’s players reaction showed the level of worry for their teammate. After almost 10 minutes of treatment, the crowd reacted to Fleck getting to his feet and clearly being conscious. He was helped down the tunnel and taken straight to hospital according to the commentators.
Hourihane came on for Fleck as the game restarted. Reading did start to get it forward after this and Carroll appealed for a foul after he clashed with Stevens but the ball was not cleared properly and Reading switched play leading to a dangerous Swift cross but Puscas could only get his studs on it and it went wide. The marking was really poor.
McGoldrick’s lofted cross was poor and Brewster then took too many touches and had to race back to recover his mistake but only succeeded in bringing his man down and was booked for this challenge.
The cross from the left was dangerous but Egan did well to clear under the challenge from Carroll as Reading now sensed they had an extra threat at the top of the field.
United had not really got going after the stoppage but a better piece of play saw McGoldrick find Bogle again and his cross was sliced wide for a corner. McGoldrick and Egan went for the corner and it came off the striker’s shoulder and looped over. It was a good set play from Hourihane.
Sharp came on for Brewster but Reading had their first effort on goal when the ball dropped to Carroll who hit a powerful left footed shot that Foderingham did well to beat away.
The game moved into the final 5 minutes of normal time but the Blades knew in reality there was over quarter of an hour left to play with the stoppage.
Reading got it wide down the left and won two corners in succession but Foderingham punched one away. Bogle then was indecisive with the ball bouncing and left it to his keeper and led to a corner. United cleared again but there was finally some pressure building on the Blades.
The game moved into 13 minutes of stoppage time and the first significant action saw Gibbs White foul his man and try and play on after the whistle leading to a yellow card for timewasting. Carroll headed over from a deep cross as United worryingly started to drop back.
Halilovic came on for the home side as they tried to find opportunities. Stevens gave away a cheap ball leading to a long throw in coming in. The ball was cleared but on the other side a dangerous cross was headed goalward by Puscas with Swift the architect again but it was straight at the Blades keeper. United put-on Osborn for McGoldrick and managed time out well keeping the ball for a period before Gibbs White won the ball in the corner. The final punt forward was cleared and the full-time whistle came soon after leading to a vital win for the Blades.
United – A win and a clean sheet. That does not happen very much at all! All in all, it was not the best of games (again) and at times quite dull but actually most of the decent stuff came from the Blades and in the end, I felt we deserved to win and 1-0 was about right. We began really well and forced them back and got higher up the field. We won 3 corners and had a few half chances and it was one way traffic really even if we did not have any clear opportunities or efforts. Gibbs White hit a great free kick that hit the bar and I thought it was the best we played for a while. Not amazing but a better tempo and trying to create and get into good areas. Reading slowly came back a bit and had a few crosses cleared and a header wide from a corner. One cross was really dangerous and Swift showed his quality for a spell. The game then drifted for a bit until half time but I did think United had been the better side.
After the break we started well again and forced them back and had the first effort on goal after good work from McGoldrick and Brewster and maybe Gibbs White’s pass and Bogle’s touch could have been better but it forced a save. We then scored and it was a lovely made goal and well taken. McGoldrick picked him out and Bogle took it really well.
Soon after the Fleck incident and it clearly and rightly would have affected our players who after the stoppage, struggled for a period and they started to pen us back with Carroll on. Puscas had one decent chance when the marking was really poor and then Carroll won a few headers before he had a long range shot saved – the first save Foderingham had to make and his only save in the end. However, United managed to do what they needed to and saw it out fairly well. 13 minutes was of course a large (but correct) amount of stoppage time but we only had one scare (header form Puscas) in this and actually managed the time pretty easily.
Two clean sheets and we have definitely looked more solid at the back albeit versus two teams who have barely attacked really but we have limited space and teams have not run down the middle as much. The last two games Foderingham has had little to do other than long range shots. That is a positive. Like Saturday, not sure we created much really and outside the goal, only one effort on goal but in the end that is all we needed and we have seen others come to the Lane and snatch a win by the odd goal so really it was a perfect away performance and result even if it was a dire game. We did enough and if we can get some away performances where we are harder to beat, more organised and just do not concede easily then that has to be a positive. Of course, marrying it up with a more attacking threat would be ideal but maybe at the current time we have to be more pragmatic and just give us a solid base to move up the league until he can fine tunes thinks maybe in January?
We have two games to come against Bristol City and Cardiff that we need to be looking for wins from and if we can then we can be around the mid-table again and looking up rather than down. I was not convinced we would win tonight so fair play to the team – they had more of a go and started the game better and then got the goal and after the difficult situation with Fleck, showed some togetherness to see it out.
Ratings:
Foderingham 7/10 – Little to do first half really. He did dither on one cross as he came and then stopped. The commentators felt he had done well. I thought he was fortunate. Second half did what he had to with a punch and a few routine takes and made a good save from Carroll’s shot. One moment where he had a bit of indecision again with a bouncing ball that went for a corner. He then punched one away and caught a few through balls. Overall, he has been fine and needs to stay in the side.
Bogle 7.5/10 – Well forward and quite involved and did a few ok bits of link play early but wasteful on a few occasions. Two or three crosses that were just aimless and never seem to be close to finding a Blades player. He seems a bit frenetic but does not always show composure. Well forward on the opportunity when he hit the keeper. Maybe should have done better but not sure it was given to him quick enough? Then he scored when he was well forward again and the finish was fantastic as he could have panicked but cushioned it beautifully. He was well up the field and one of our main attacking threats all game. Defensively hesitated once with a ball through and a few times did not quite keep close to his man to stop crosses but he made a big impact in the win of course.
Stevens 5/10 – Started the game with a few howlers in touch/control. Not really involved attacking wide and not put under too much pressure to begin with defensively but then they had a few chances down this side and he was well off his man. Let a ball go straight out under no pressure and just seemed sloppy with basic things. Well forward actually when Bogle had the chance. Did well to shepherd the striker away when they had a break around 55 minutes. He continued to do some odd things though and twice turned into trouble. Still a long way from the form we saw sadly now a long time ago. Our weakest defender. Will credit him for going over to Fleck so quickly and was good to see the compassion and care he showed.
Davies 7/10 – Quiet really to begin with and not sure he had much of the ball or really had much to do defensively. Barely noticed him first half. Maybe that is a good thing? Second half saw more of him as they had a few attacks but he did his job and other than one or moments where the marking was sloppy, we limited them quite well.
Egan 7/10 – Better than he has been defensively. One poor moment early but then made two good blocks to deny dangerous crosses. He headed a few away too. He got into some good attacking areas but never seems to attack it or waits when well placed on set plays? Carroll came on and Egan did win some good headers actually for the first part of his introduction.
Basham 6.5/10 – Not as good as Saturday to start with and felt whilst he tried to move forward, the ball came off him a fair bit. At the back he lost his man a few times as Swift ran off him and he gave a corner away too. Improved as the game went on and got a few nicks away and cleared a few as they started to come at us more and thought all the back three in the end were solid to end the game.
Norwood 6/10 – Started neat and tidy and moved it around well. He was involved and wanted to get on it. Took a few decent corners to the far post too that led to half chances but less and less influential as the game went on and he started to see man drift past us in the middle of the field. He went to ground a few times taking himself out and then also his crosses and corners were poor. 2nd half did some ok things again to start the half as we had a lot of the ball. He was better defensively as the game went on managing to get a few interceptions in and deny them running through. I thought most of their chances came from crosses (well two of them) rather than running through midfield.
Fleck 5.5/10 – Started with a few decent passes but quickly started taking poor touches or loose passes and then got booked after he slipped and once again, he did not want to run back so took the lazy option. Became less and less involved and felt we started to lose midfield as the half went on. After the break a few moves where he got on it but also lost it again. Then on around 65 minutes he went down at the opposite end of the pitch to where the ball was. It seemed a really scary moment as it seemed he may have had some sort of seizure or fit looking at how his body was reacting. The players seemed visibly shaken and it was a real worry. Fortunately, he did get up after almost 10 minutes of treatment and was able to go off without being on a stretcher. Good to see the home fans warmly applauding too. Real worry but glad to hear he was ok and asking about the result. May be out for a while as surely will need tests around what happened and to fully check him for his long-term health?
Gibbs White 6/10 – Started the game with a poor volleyed effort – no need to try the scissor kick. He was looking to link but not sure it always came off and at times felt he needed to be more involved. Not sure whether he knew to go looking for it or wait till it came onto him and as a result I felt he just fed off scraps. Thought his pass was a a bit slow for Bogle on the chance after half time. Some neat skill to get felled. He did get on the ball a bit near the end but was wasteful with overplay or flicks when he needed to do the basics really. He frustrates me when he could just keep it simple. Towards the end did do some decent things to help us see out the game.
McGoldrick 7.5/10 – Started peeling off with a few half chances – one he did well to knock back and another he needed to do better really and was tame. He did look to get on it and I always felt we looked more likely to do something if he had it but the game became scrappier and he started having to go deeper. However, he continued to keep trying to get on the ball. Not everything came off but he never stops trying things and the goal came from a lovely cross. He had been involved in the chance before and whenever we had an attack, I felt like he was the one who might create.
Brewster 5/10 – Not really in the game at all but did win a free kick for the MGW effort but I felt he struggled to make much of an impact at all and seemed to be lacking badly in confidence. He did not seem to know where to run. He was neat and tidy-ish when he had it but just all away from goal. Second half he executed the lovely flick for the Bogle chance which was really good. Then blazed an awful cross shot wide from the angle. He did work hard and tried to get involved but long periods of the game he just seems to be missing or does not show for the ball. Still unconvincing for me.
Subs –
Hourihane 5.5/10 – Not sure he did much really but did not do much wrong either – if that makes sense? He played a few passes but also was a bit timid in some 50-50 tackles. I hope Berge comes in Saturday if Fleck is unavailable.
Sharp – Came on for the final 7 or 8 minutes and then the 13 extra so more like 20! He lost it a few times when we broke and not sure he is the sub I would have made. Maybe Burke actually as an outlet gives us more when we are looking for the ball to get us out when teams try and put us under pressure.
Osborn – Brought on for the closing part of the stoppage time. Not sure he had many kicks – helped us keep it a bit down the left maybe.
Manager:
Jokanovic 6.5/10 – He changed the side again with the front two rotated around with Brewster back in and Didzy after missing two sitters. Norwood no issues with returning as Hourihane did not do enough but it literally feels like he is still just chucking names in with no real idea at all. I get no one is playing well but no one can get any rhythm at all. He stuck with the formation that made us more solid but looking unlikely to score until right at the end. We started the game better so credit to him for us not being as lackadaisical to start the game. We at least got forward with a better tempo. The game became sluggish but we went again to start the 2nd half and got a goal and then in the end did enough to see it out, especially after the delays and concern to one of our players. Not sure the Sharp change helped as the ball was coming back too much. It is a win and one we just about deserved but still a lot to work on but need to be pleased with two clean sheets. Before we were conceding goals all the time so at least it is a step in the right direction.
Reading – They had been up and down the last few seasons with a good season where they made the playoffs followed by a struggle and then they started really well but fell away last year. Of course, they have had financial difficulties and the squad is incredibly thin due to this. They knew they were going to get a points deduction and, in the end, maybe 6 is not a disaster as I think I saw local media down there suggest they felt they may get more. They would be mid table without this but now they are of course further down. I do not think they will get drawn into a relegation scrap and they have enough quality particularly with creative talent to move up and expect them to be mid table or just below. Joao scored a lot last season but had been out and they lost a few of the talented players like Olise who went to Palace in the summer. Richards went to Bayern in an unexpected move and a few longer serving players like Aluko and Baldock moved on. They still have some talent left and Swift has remained. Also, to say they have financial issues it is odd they can afford the likes of Drinkwater and now Carroll. Baba Rahman was another that came in from Chelsea and Dann was a Premier League player for a number of years. It does not seem to make sense, at least to an outsider looking in how they can afford players like this considering their struggles?
I always feel Reading is a team that has a poor fanbase where the ground always seems to be empty and lacking in atmosphere. Every time I look at highlights on TV there seems to be big swathes of empty seats. The last few times we have been there has been middle of the week or just before or after Xmas so we never take many either so it makes for a flat atmosphere.
I thought Reading were dire tonight. We have been poor most of the season but even we showed more than then. Other than Swift making a few runs and a couple of crosses, not sure they did anything from general play. Foderingham made one save all night and was not really tested outside of this. They were slow and lethargic in the build up and twice gave us way too much room for the Bogle chances. They got away with it once but not twice. They deserved nothing from the game for such a pitiful approach for a home side really. Carroll and the punt up to him was their only real idea of getting back into it but not sure they even executed that very well.
Opponent Man of the Match – Swfit. Not even close. He was excellent with his play on the ball and his free kicks and deliveries. Only one who looked like creating anything. Puscas got into good areas but missed a few half chances.
Opponent Weak link – Baba down the left actually was not marking at all and was culpable on a few occasions. Drinkwater ran him close. Totally ineffective showing. Looked far worse than Norwood/Hourihane in anonymity and a long way from the player who won a Premier League title not that long ago.
Referee/Officials – Andy Davies. Another ok ref. Not sure I could argue with our three bookings, Fleck and Brewster for cynical fouls as they broke and then Gibbs White for kicking it away – he did it again later and was lucky the ref just had a word. General play not a lot happened in terms of bad tackles or penalty appeals or anything controversial. Of course had to play a lengthy stoppage period after the incident.
