Blues go down to Reading, watched by Andy Munro.
In fairness to the Blues and to Lee Bowyer we are a team of loanees, frees and kids (thanks to our Chinese owners) and to make matters worse we were down to bare bones with injuries against Reading. So, it’s no point getting above ourselves. In fairness to the visitors they also had a catalogue of injuries but the difference is that they have an Olympic-sized pool of squad members whereas our pool is more of a puddle.
Early on Blues took a lead with Scott Hogan again ice-cool in his finish and strangely for much of the match, while Reading generally threatened a lot more, we actually looked the more penetrative in the box. However, that didn’t last and eventually our makeshift defence succumbed although the ‘makeshift’ part was more Harlee Dean than the youngsters, who certainly didn’t let the side down.
Even then, with Gary Gardner and Ivan Sunjic working their socks off, we could have still got a winner when Troy Deeney was unlucky to see his header rebound off the post just before Reading took a late lead. Fair play to Bowyer, who threw on Aneke and the Juke in an attempt to salvage something, and in the dying seconds he nearly succeeded. Perhaps my only criticism might be the withdrawal of the yet again impressive Riley McGree. least now Blues look like they are always likely to score and once we get Dion Sandersen and George Friend back we can steady the defensive side.
Disappointed? Yes, a bit, especially after three wins on the spin but that’s typical Blues!
