0-1. Tremendous gutsy performance. But with backs to the wall with 15 minutes to go, who would you least want to bring on to defend a lead? Tucudean and Bulot. Defenders outstanding, including Fox, but nothing up front once Vetokele went off. The ball kept coming straight back. Full credit to Bob. Got a great team-spirit going. He deserves better backing from RD.
Only 1 point off the play-offs you never know, Roland might stump up for a striker in January. Or he might not.
Yep - fair play to him, mixing his tactics for both games and gaining a very credible 4 points in the process. Henderson sounds like he had another impressive game. Second to Vetokele this season for me.
He may not be far off. It is usual for strikers to get subbed, even the best ones, and especially if they have been playing up front largely on their own. With the international break now, would have been a pity to have over-stretched him. Hopefully he will be 100% in two weeks time. Having scored the winner will keep his enthusiasm for training bubbling. We did miss him though, and it could have cost us the win. He would probably have put away the double chance which Tucudean missed.
Great win. Sat at Gatwick North waiting to fly home, after the World Travel Market at the ExCel. Gonna fly south with a big smile now.
Get in there. I thought we would get hammered today, it shows you how little I know. The squad are very gutsy and have got a backbone. Can we now go on and beat the scum?
That is seven league games away. Expecting too much of Bob to keep on pulling rabbits out of hats for another seven matches. We are so close to being a very good team it is frustrating. Of course there are several other teams around us who could also improve by adding players and we ourselves have been in this position in the past under various regimes. The difference this time is the positions which need filling are so glaringly obvious and you would not need inspired or expensive signings to markedly improve the team. Just an experienced journeyman CF would be a big improvement on what we have, for example. RD and Bob said they would add a couple of players if we "were in with a realistic chance of the play-offs". I wonder what points gap they would consider still qualifies?
It sets up an interesting scenario for Millwall. A win will probably take us back in to the play offs - whilst Millwall will be needing to move away from the bottom. We seem more resilient than recent years and seem capable of a fight. This very second - I feel more confident than I have done in years. I just pray Vetokele and JBG are 100%.
Current position definitely qualifies and I expect RD to be true to his word on this, it makes financial sense which is his only real motivation. Think he was expecting us to have dropped away more than we have, credit to Bob and the team. Still lost fewer than the rest of the division. This team with a couple of well placed signings in January really could challenge for play-offs, and tonight is the first time I've really thought that!
If we are in with the chance of a play off position come January I am pretty sure you will see two signings come in.
4 points from 2 difficult away games is great preparation for the Millwall game. If we thrash them Bob will join SCP as a doctor at the uni. Only one Belgian in the starting line-up, and 4 Academy products.
Great result, really pleased. Not sure what affect the international break will have on the players though But keep it up Big Bob
Not the best display by any means, but a very good win nonetheless. The standout player from the first half was Chris Solly, who had Obita in his pocket. One completely missed attempt at a left-footed clearance aside, it was more or less a flawless display from him. He rounded it off with a lovely cross for Igor to head in. Equally pleasing was the performance of Fox on the other side, who showed that he is a more than capable deputy for Wiggins. He'll never set the world alight but is a solid, dependable full back whenever called upon. Overall it was more of a defensive display than an attacking one, but we're used to that and we are quite good at it. Reading had one effort go just wide of the far post late in the first half, had one shot hit the post after half time, and then saw the flying Henderson tip a rasping drive over the bar, but cannot in any way consider themselves unlucky to lose. For the most part our back 5 were very solid, Bikey in particular having a good game against his old club (the Reading fans applauded when his name was read out before the game). One gleefully whacked clearance was the perfect summation of this no-nonsense, if slightly bonkers, footballer. When we have Igor in the team we have goals. Simple. He had one opportunity in the match and he took it expertly, in contrast to Tucudean, who had an easier chance and fluffed it. That said, it was the right decision to replace him with Coquelin as the midfield was beginning to get overrun. I thought Buyens did OK, Jackson less so. He had a right old ding dong with Ben Haim after one move when each felt the other should have picked up the marauding Reading midfielder, my impression being that it was Jacko at fault. I don't mean to say that he played especially badly, because he didn't, but this wasn't one of his better games. Certainly the introduction of Coquelin helped steady things in the middle. Then we come to Callum Harriott. He started the second half very well, produced one outrageous moment of skill to nutmeg a defender, and should be commended for his hard work when for 15 minutes or so he was up top on his own. The problem, however, is two-fold. His decision making is often poor, and all too often when he does make the right choice he executes it badly. If we are aiming for the play-offs (and I think we should be) he is in my view not consistently good enough to regularly feature as a starter. He definitely has a role to play, but as an impact sub. I don't know if we've really learnt anything new about the team today, but it was still extremely heartening to put in a display of such grit and be rewarded for it. Reading are nothing special but it is always difficult to win away from home in the Championship. Henderson: 8 - held most of the crosses that he came for and produced one great save to tip the ball over the bar. Solly: 9 - as above. Ben Haim: 7 - as solid as we've come to expect. No silly mistakes this time. Bikey: 8 - equally so. Fox: 7 - as above. Showed that there is no reason to move Solly to LB JBG: 7 - one or two poor decisions but frequently looked threatening. Set up Tucudean's chance perfectly. Buyens: 7 - greatly aided by the arrival of Coquelin but still not a bad display. Great ball to JBG for the Tucudean chance. Jackson: 6 - explained above. Cousins: 6 - not one of his better games either. Harriott: 6 - as above. Igor: 8 - a one chance, one goal striker is invaluable. Subs: Coquelin: 7 - helped smooth things over in midfield. Tucudean: 5 - had to score. Betrayed his lack of confidence in front of goal. Bulot: 6 - didn't see the ball much. The fans deserve credit for singing the Bob Peeters 'He's got no hair, we don't care' song throughout the second half.
Another great win, time for everyone to enjoy the season and stop anticipating losses. The way it is unfolding is making the journey extremely enjoyable.
