Reading FC

Ross analyses how the Royals performed in a 2-2 draw with QPR.

Just after the break he did well to nip ahead of Dickie and into the box, but couldn’t quite draw the penalty out of the ex-Reading academy man. Trying to keep the dynamic Chair quiet is a hell of an assignment for any sub coming in cold in the last 30 minutes, but McIntyre certainly made harder work of his task than Loum had. The big Geordie failed to get a shot off today and was dispossessed in attack twice. He inspired a reaction out of his teammates that at least saw them enjoy some of the attacking play after QPR equalised. A reasonable first half as QPR were kept quiet for the first half hour, but then made three fouls in 10 minutes to see his name taken. The recipient of two nasty kicks from QPR defenders in the first half, Carroll made himself busy with his body as he often does, but struggled to provide attacking impact. That was the extent of his memorable attacking contribution though. I imagine that finding your way into a new defence that’s shifted around you in terms of lineup is tricky for a player returning from injury, but he can certainly continue to improve. Gave away a dangerous free-kick with a pull on the arm of Chair just after the half. Holmes still churned through plenty of clearances and recoveries, and won duels including a nice denial of space late on against the tricky Ilias Chair. Was then very unlucky with QPR’s second goal as he made a fantastic first save before being able to do nothing about the rebound. His shot that led to Hendrick’s goal may well have spun into the net if not for Jeff’s intervention.

Reading surrendered a two goal first half advantage to draw 2-2 with Queens Park Rangers at the SCL Stadium.

Debutant Jamal Lowe cut a cross back in the box and Roberts powered his effort home to reward their efforts. Like night and day, the second half was the total opposite of the sluggish, out-of-sorts QPR team seen in the opening period. The R’s, fresh from their FA Cup exit to League One Fleetwood Town, looked shell-shocked, offering very little in the remainder of the half.

With Reading 2-0 up after a Jeff Hendrick brace they had a penalty appeal on Shane Long turned down at the start of the second-half. “It's a blatant penalty to ...

“You have to be brave. We’re inviting pressure and you can’t keep getting away with it. “Defensively we were very poor in the second-half.

Reminiscent of numerous two-goal collapses from last season, Reading fell short of their 2022/23 home standards to drop a couple of points to Neil ...

When the ball fell to Hendrick around 25 yards out he was implored to hit it and he obliged, sending a tracer bullet of a strike satisfyingly into the bottom corner. One of those in the second half would have done the trick, but if we’re not finding the net from a long-range short or from a tap-in after the ball’s happened to fall to one of our players (see also: Birmingham City away), we’re largely incapable of breaking teams down. In the end it was none of those; the Royals had returned to the 3-4-1-2 that was used in the FA Cup match against Watford, just with different personnel. The deadlock was broken in the 28th minute, and in quite some style. After all, the Royals had been in a 3-4-1-2 before the arrival of Dann and McIntyre and remained in it afterwards - just with different personnel in four positions. However, the forced withdrawal of defensive midfielder Hutchinson allowed a rejig; on came Shane Long to partner Carroll, with Ince dropping back into the 10 role and Hendrick doing likewise to slot in alongside Loum. He’s come in for a lot of criticism after the game, most of it fair but some of it slightly wide of the mark. While Reading were playing a similar shape to the customary 3-5-2 (with Tom Ince partnering Andy Carroll up top), Hendrick was given a dedicated attacking role while two others (Sam Hutchinson and Mamadou Loum) sat deeper. He’s spoken about this issue before so we know he’s aware of it, but he failed to front up for his own part in the team’s shortcomings. Everyone in the stands could see the momentum of the match decisively moving into QPR’s favour in the second half, but not so on the pitch. Reading did all the hard work in the first half but simply weren’t at the races in the second. Reading blow a two-goal lead (earned by a midfielder’s brace, one of them a screamer) in their first home league game of the year to draw 2-2.

Paul Ince has made two changes for the visit of Queens Park Rangers, with Sam Hutchinson making his first league start since before Christmas.