Reading 3 City 1
Report by Kate Thompson
And who would disagree with him? I particularly liked his reply to the last question from Ian Stringer, who asked if the players had one eye on next Sunday’s FA Cup game – ‘If they have, they’d better take their eye off it pretty sharpish’.
It is games like this that make you question why you spend hard-earned money and precious time following a team that can’t be bothered to make a game of it. The team only showed one change from the loss at Bristol City, bringing in Danny Drinkwater, a player I rate highly but even he made little impact on the game.
After an early scare involving the ball being cleared three times in quick succession by Schmeichel, Morgan and St Ledger, Leigertwood scored in the 15th minute with a powerful drive that Schmeichel had no chance with.
The rest of the first half was pretty uneventful but Pearson rang the changes at half-time; according to Danns the players got the so-called ‘hairdryer’ treatment and they certainly made more of an effort in the second half.
Beckford, who had been practically anonymous, was replaced by the old war horse Steve Howard, and Sol Bamba came on for Tom Kennedy, with Sean St Ledger going to left-back.
Most of the play was at the end where the Leicester supporters were housed and if City could have got an early equaliser things might have turned out differently. As it was, after weathering the storm, Reading scored two quick goals – in the 75th and 90th minutes – that killed the game off. Danns’ goal in the third minute of stoppage time was no consolation for another woeful performance.
I hope Pearson knows the answer, but at the moment I have to say that whatever he is saying and doing is not working. Unless things change drastically next week Chelsea will be into double figures!
Nobody had a good game: Wellens and Danns worked hard, but to little effect, and the normally reliable Nugent seems to have forgotten how high the crossbar is! Is this really the same player who scored a peach of a goal against Norwich?
It is interesting that there has been nothing from the club about renewing season tickets, in contrast to last year when there was an early bird offer that finished at the end of March.
Perhaps the owners are still unclear which division we will be playing in next season but most City fans will be more than happy to tell them! I know some people sitting near me have had enough, especially when like me they no longer live in Leicester and have to travel a considerable distance to follow the team. You wouldn’t mind if they gave their all in every game but the last time I saw them play well was against Norwich.
The Reading fans were chanting various things about Mills, including asking where he was. I gather he was at the game and must have been seriously doubting his own sanity!
It just reinforces the clear evidence that money does not buy success; Chelsea and Manchester City are proof of this, and part of me is glad it doesn’t. Reading are a hard-working team of ‘ordinary’ players – give me that every time.
City: Schmeichel, Peltier, Morgan, St. Ledger, Kennedy (Bamba 46), Drinkwater (Gallagher 74), Danns, Wellens, Dyer, Beckford (Howard 46), Nugent. Unused subs: Marshall, Schlupp.
Goals: Danns 90+3 Booked: Howard
Reading: Federici, Cummings, Pearce, Gorkss, Harte, McAnuff, Karacan, Leigertwood, Robson-Kanu, Hunt, Roberts (Church 84). Unused subs: Tabb, Le Fondre, Andersen, Cywka.
Goals: Leigertwood 15, Roberts 75, Church 90 Booked: Leigertwood
Attendance: 21,858 (1,629 away) Referee: Bobby Madley (West Yorkshire)
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation