Rovers fell to their third successive defeat after a disappointing evening in Berkshire saw a lacklustre Reading side earn their second win in 10 league games under José Manuel Gomes, as they sneaked away from the drop zone with a late curling effort by Nélson Oliveira, who sealed the 2-1 victory for the Royals.
With Rovers playing their second game in 4 days, Tony Mowbray named a much-changed side for the trip to the Madejski Stadium, which included 4 changes to the side that fell to a late defeat to Bristol City on Saturday. Amari’i Bell, Corry Evans, Craig Conway and Ben Brereton all came into the side to replace Derrick Williams, Harrison Reed, Bradley Dack and Danny Graham, respectively, all of whom dropped to the bench.
Prior to the start of the action, there was a minutes’ applause in memory of former England goalkeeper and World Cup winner, Gordon Banks, who sadly passed away on the morning of Tuesday, 12th February.
With around 635 fans making the journey down to Berkshire, Rovers took the kick-off and started brightly as they earnt themselves a free-kick from around 35-yards out, after only 2 minutes. The set-piece, taken by the skipper, Charlie Mulgrew, was wide of the mark, however, as Reading were awarded a goal-kick.
Rovers’ next chance came on the 11th minute as Adam Armstrong and Ben Brereton combined. The duo exchanged passes before Armstrong’s effort was denied by on-loan Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
After a subdued 10 minutes of play, Nélson Oliveira nearly brought the Madejski Stadium to its feet with a stunning effort from just inside Rovers’ half. Although the Portuguese’s lob was a good one, David Raya had enough about him to backtrack and cover his goal, as the ball, albeit disappointingly from a Reading perspective, dropped onto the roof of the net.
On the 24th minute, Andy Yiadom saw his strike from range well held by Raya, as Reading secured their first attempt at Rovers’ goal.
6 minutes later, a Rovers-dominated first period continued as a patient build-up by the away side led to Amari’i Bell’s attempt at goal flying wide of the target.
On the 39th minute, Bell again was involved in a positive Rovers move, but this time, was the provider rather than the finisher. His pinpoint through ball fell into Craig Conway’s path, which allowed the Scot to take a touch before seeing his near-post effort nestle into the side netting.
As the clock ticked over to 40 minutes, Ovie Ejaria found himself in the book after he fouled Ben Brereton, which led to Mulgrew having an opportunity, from around 35-yards, to strike at goal. Although the skipper managed to compose himself and strike his free-kick cleanly, Martínez was able to comfortably claim the shot.
With 41 minutes gone, Brereton was able to exact revenge on Ejaria, which led to him also falling into referee Steve Martin’s book.
As half-time approached, Armstrong had a couple of chances in as many minutes, to put Rovers ahead at the break, but managed to fluff both. The first came on his left-foot, which, after some smart shifting of the ball onto his left to deceive a defender, saw his shot balloon over the bar. The second attempt came as a result of a Reading error but saw Martínez alert enough to deny him. After some dallying on the ball by a Reading man, Corry Evans was able to dispossess and slot a virtually free Armstrong in, behind the home sides’ defence. Although the forward was pressured into taking the shot early by a retreating defender, his attempt at goal from the edge of the area turned into catching practice for the on-loan Gunners ‘keeper, who easily smothered the ball.
Referee Steve Martin, soon added on an extra minute to the end of the half, which led to the eventual breakthrough for the home side, courtesy of former Chelsea midfielder, John Swift. Yiadom and Bell found for the ball on the left-hand side, with the Reading full-back emerging victorious. After receiving the ball, the Ghanaian fed Swift who was lurking just inside the penalty area, which gave the midfielder the opportunity to take a touch before calmly stroking the ball through the legs of Mulgrew and past Raya into the net to put the home side 1-0 up.
Because of the goal falling in minute 45+1, the restart by Rovers was soon met by the half-time whistle, seconds after, which brought an end to a half which was dominated by the visitors in yellow.
Both sides headed into their respective dressing rooms with similar feelings within their camps, which would have resonated with their respective managers.
Home gaffer José Manuel Gomes would have been delighted at the fact that his side were leading at the break, which would have been a platform for more encouragement. Additionally, the Portuguese’s delight would have stemmed from the top end of the pitch, to the back end, where his defiant defenders were. The former Porto assistant manager’s plaudits would have been lavished over his defenders during the break, due to their ability in stopping a number of threatening Rovers moves.
Tony Mowbray, in complete contrast, would have been forgiven for potentially ranting at his players, as a result of their lacklustre and unacceptable defensive performance, as well as their inconsistent attacking display. Although Rovers created numerous opportunities to go ahead, the forward line – Armstrong particularly – were unable to finish their dinner, which ultimately came back to haunt the away side.
Prior to the start of the second period, Reading made their first change of the game as Yakou Méïté entered the field of play and replaced Sone Aluko.
Although Reading began the second period after their substitution, the first chance of the half fell to Rovers on the 52nd minute, as Craig Conway and Ben Brereton combined well. The former managed to put in a deep cross towards the back-post which fell to the £7m man. Although the 19-year old’s touch was good, his finish was not, as his left-footed effort flew over the bar.
A similarly wild effort appeared a minute later, at the other end of the field as Ejaria blasted from close range.
Minutes before the hour mark saw Rovers introduce their tricky talisman, Bradley Dack, to the game, who replaced the defensive-minded Richie Smallwood.
On the 61st minute, Oliveira released a rare attempt at goal for the home side, but saw his attempt saved by Rovers’ ‘keeper, Raya.
4 minutes later, a Charlie Mulgrew free-kick was nodded wide by Dack in a chance which the playmaker should have really done better with.
With 68 minutes on the clock, Méïté crafted Reading’s second chance of the half as he received the ball on the turn and ran towards Rovers’ box. Unluckily for the former Paris-Saint-Germain forward, his shot dragged wide and behind for a Rovers goal-kick.
Over the course of the next 6 minutes, Rovers made their final couple of changes which saw Craig Conway and the booked Ben Brereton depart the field and be replaced by Joe Rothwell and Danny Graham, respectively.
On the 80th minute, Reading had a corner which led to Tyler Blackett’s strike being deflected behind for another set-piece, which was soon cleared away.
From the clearance, Reading made their second substitution of the evening as Liam Kelly departed the field and was replaced by Chelsea loanee Lewis Baker.
Moments after the change, Méïté had a free header at the back post, but was unable to keep it down and on target.
From the goal-kick Rovers received, Tony Mowbray’s side managed to build-up play and finally break through Reading’s defiant defence as Amari’i Bell redeemed himself following his lacklustre defending for the Reading goal, with his first strike for the club. Dack picked the ball up from Lewis Travis, before turning and finding Joe Rothwell with a first-time ball. The substitute then turned and saw Bell making an overlapping run, which allowed him to slip the full-back through. The former Fleetwood defender managed to quickly compose himself before blasting the ball underneath the late diving Martínez to level the scoring at 1-1.
Rovers who were on the ascendancy, managed to craft the next chance of the game, through Bradley Dack. The substitute managed to create something from nothing, as his run from deep saw him skip past a few Reading defenders. Despite reaching the edge of the area, the playmaker’s shot drifted wide of its intended target, as Reading prepared for a goal-kick.
Reading’s resilience and determination in their relegation scrap soon showed on the 86th minute, as Rovers increased their tally of conceding late on in games to 22, after Norwich loanee Nélson Oliveira’s satisfactory strike won the game for the Royals. A long ball forward was well taken down by Oliveira, who spearheaded the Reading counter. The 27-year old brought the ball down well before tiptoeing his way towards the Rovers box and using Jack Rodwell as a shield to curl the ball past Raya and into the back of the net, from just outside the penalty area, to make it 2-1 and send the Madejski Stadium wild.
Prior to the adding of 4 minutes of added time, the Portuguese goalscorer, Oliveira left the field of play as Reading’s final substitute of the night and was replaced by the scorer of both goals in the reverse fixture at Ewood Park, Jón Daði Böðvarsson.
The final act of the game saw a goalmouth scramble somehow evade the net meshing. An in-swinging Mulgrew corner saw Martínez pressured, before the ball was bundled off the line and cleared behind for another corner, which didn’t make it past the first man.
With that sour note on cue, the game ended with Rovers having to face their third consecutive defeat, whilst the 635 fans from Lancashire had to endure the arduous journey back to the north, with nothing to show for their fabulous effort.
‘Disappointment’, ‘frustration’ and ‘lack of quality in-front of goal’ are phrases in which Rovers’ performance in this game can be categorised. Whilst the Blues came into the game on the back of consecutive defeats at the hands of Brentford and Bristol City, respectively, not many fans in the Blue and White – or Yellow if you prefer – would have thought that a Reading side, who had only won 1 game out of their previous 9 under José Manuel Gomes – a 2-0 home win vs Nottingham Forest in January – would have emerged victorious, even at home. Despite that, however, Reading executed the perfect away performance, on their own turf, as they bided their time, defended acceptably and hit Rovers on the break.
Mowbray game into this game wary of Reading’s potential threat, however went on to make several changes to disrupt, what has recently been, a memorable starting side, with the minor alterations. Despite the gaffer potentially having Rovers’ next game in mind – a home affair against Middlesbrough, live on Sky Sports – as a fellow fan pointed out on social media, ‘a potential victory against playoff-chasing Middlesbrough means nothing if you cannot beat lowly Reading’, which is a valid statement, given the sudden mid-season change in expectations.
Following the Blues’ 11th defeat of the season, the league table sees Rovers housed in at 14th, with 43 points and a -6-goal difference from the 32 games played, and with the gap to the final playoff space in 6th growing to 8 points, Rovers and their fans might have to stop dreaming of a fairy-tale Championship season and concentrate on mid-table mediocrity – or stability, if your glass is half full(!)
With 14 games remaining on the calendar, the fixtures now become more dispersed with weekly games running until Tuesday 9th March. The Blues’ next game, as mentioned above, sees Middlesbrough trundle down from the North East as they travel to play on Sunday, 17th February with kick-off scheduled for 1pm, due to Sky Sports’ coverage. After Tony Pulis’ trip to Ewood Park, it is Rovers who board the team bus as they travel to St. Andrews, 6 days later on Saturday, 23rd February to face the transfer-embargoed Birmingham City at 3pm. Once Brum are out of the way, Rovers then make the shorter trip to Yorkshire, where they face struggling Rotherham United on Saturday, 2nd March at 3pm at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.
