- Jan 7, 2006
- 15,301
Currently on the train back in to London after the game.
We started the game well and were pretty much on top for the majority of the first half I would say, Reading in the first half didn't really pose us too much of a threat barring a free-kick from the edge of the box which Stockdale saved pretty well. First half was pretty much a midfield battle between the two sides and neither really looked too promising.
Second half we came out on the front foot and brilliant work by Baldock and Hemed who teed up Murphy who was free at the back post to tap in. For the next 5 minutes or so we were pressing for another and nearly had what would have been a comical own goal from a back-pass only for Al Habsi to clear off his line. I think Crofts in the middle today for us was brilliant pretty much throughout. From about the 60th minute onwards we sat back a little and Reading started to look dangerous but without really creating a great deal, fluffing a 4 on 2 counter attack break from an Albion corner.
Once Reading scored, which never really looked like happening until the unfortunate Stockdale, who made some outstanding saves and has been brilliant this season, could only palm a long distance shot from Blackman into the feet of Vydra who then shot high in to the net literally only a minute or so after Calderon and Zamora came on. Personally I would have bought Ince on instead of Zamora as Hemed was having a good game and was linking up well with Murphy. After the goal we sat back too much for my liking and was inviting pressure on to us, with Blackman looking a changed player in the second half and Reading using the flanks well. Reading fans then woke up and found their voices once again, mocking the Albion support who sang pretty much non-stop throughout today. Final stages of the game, Reading had a lot of possession but didn't really create any clear cut chances to win the game. Disappointing that we took the lead and we couldn't hold on to what would have been a brilliant away win but a pleasing point at the end of the day. Reading don't look like a top 6 side to me, maybe they had an off day for 75 minutes.
Albion MOTM for me was Murphy, majority of our attacking and positive play came through him and finished well when taking his chance.
One moan - the queues at half-time, took a good 15 minutes or so to get served anything at half-time, surely with 4000 or so away fans they would look to have more assistants behind the kiosk.
On to Wednesday on Tuesday night. Still unbeaten, still top. Always proud to be an Albion fan.
We started the game well and were pretty much on top for the majority of the first half I would say, Reading in the first half didn't really pose us too much of a threat barring a free-kick from the edge of the box which Stockdale saved pretty well. First half was pretty much a midfield battle between the two sides and neither really looked too promising.
Second half we came out on the front foot and brilliant work by Baldock and Hemed who teed up Murphy who was free at the back post to tap in. For the next 5 minutes or so we were pressing for another and nearly had what would have been a comical own goal from a back-pass only for Al Habsi to clear off his line. I think Crofts in the middle today for us was brilliant pretty much throughout. From about the 60th minute onwards we sat back a little and Reading started to look dangerous but without really creating a great deal, fluffing a 4 on 2 counter attack break from an Albion corner.
Once Reading scored, which never really looked like happening until the unfortunate Stockdale, who made some outstanding saves and has been brilliant this season, could only palm a long distance shot from Blackman into the feet of Vydra who then shot high in to the net literally only a minute or so after Calderon and Zamora came on. Personally I would have bought Ince on instead of Zamora as Hemed was having a good game and was linking up well with Murphy. After the goal we sat back too much for my liking and was inviting pressure on to us, with Blackman looking a changed player in the second half and Reading using the flanks well. Reading fans then woke up and found their voices once again, mocking the Albion support who sang pretty much non-stop throughout today. Final stages of the game, Reading had a lot of possession but didn't really create any clear cut chances to win the game. Disappointing that we took the lead and we couldn't hold on to what would have been a brilliant away win but a pleasing point at the end of the day. Reading don't look like a top 6 side to me, maybe they had an off day for 75 minutes.
Albion MOTM for me was Murphy, majority of our attacking and positive play came through him and finished well when taking his chance.
One moan - the queues at half-time, took a good 15 minutes or so to get served anything at half-time, surely with 4000 or so away fans they would look to have more assistants behind the kiosk.
On to Wednesday on Tuesday night. Still unbeaten, still top. Always proud to be an Albion fan.
