It was supposed to be an easy three points for Reading, but a battling Charlton performance saw them take all three points at the Madjeski today. Charlton have moved up to 8th in the table.
Neither side made an early impact, although Reading won two corners. Charlton then developed a good spell of pressure with Harriott looking lively in front of the crowd of 16,989, 1,449 of them Addickted.
Charlton won a couple of corners as the game passed the twenty minute mark. Solly was having to work hard while Fox was having something of a duel with Mackie, but Fox did well against him. Ben Haim was resolute in defence.
Gudmundsson put in a long range effort, a good shot but a bit too close to the keeper. Charlton had a good build up, but the delivery from Harriott was poor.
A shot from Harriott was blocked as the rain lashed down. When Charlton gave the ball away, Bikey intervened effectively.
Ben Haim had to concede a corner, but the Reading shot went wide.
Ben Haim supplied Solly who put in a cross and Vetokele scored a superb goal to make it 1-0 to Charlton.
Reading won a corner, Hector had a free header and put it wide. Henderson was blocked.
HT: Royals 0, Addicks 1
A shot from Murray went straight into the arms of Henderson.
Solly defended well, making a great tackle. Reading won a corner after the ball cannoned off Buyens. Henderson was blocked again, but referee Neil Swarbrick did not see that there was a problem.
Norwood put in a shot that came off the post. An attempt by Gudmundsson was blocked.
Harriott put in a curling shot that wasn’t far off the top left-hand corner.
Vetokele came off and Coquelin came on. Harriott played up front on his own.
Johnnie Jackson charged down a Reading shot from a counter attack after Solly slipped when Obita advanced.
A late challenge on Bikey by Mackie put the defender on the floor leading to the first yellow card of the day.
Mackie got away from Fox and Ben Haim had to stretch. Cox came off and was replaced by Robson-Kanu. Harriott was tiring. Blackman replaced Kelly.
Charlton counter attacked well. Tucudean came on in place of Harriott who had run himself into the ground. Mackie put in a shot and Henderson made a great save. He then gathered the ball calmly from the corner.
Reading started to pile on the pressure. They got a soft free kick. Charlton counter attacked and Frederici made two great saves from Tucudean. A number of players were looking tired. Obita got a yellow card for a foul on Cousins. Mackie came off .
Gudmundsson was fouled. He was replaced by Bulot. Six minutes were added on. Reading won a corner but it went out for a goal kick. Tucudean won a free kick for Charlton. Jackson got a yellow card as he took one for the team. The move ended in a Charlton goal kick.
A shot from Williams went out for a goal kick. Henderson claimed under pressure from Murray. Finally, the whistle was blown.
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Agree JA!
I couldn't be there but it sounded like a really gritty performance. We rode our luck as ever but we've got to start scoring more goals. Perhaps we will when Igor is fully fit again.
I nearly went to this one but had look after my sons did a 16 mile walk around London so it was pleasing we got all 3 points ive just seen the video on facebook from mr treacy the atmosphere looked superb but how quiet where the reading fans?bit worrying igor injured again I think we need recall polish pete back as back up.looking forward to the millwall game coyr
Brian G I would not say we rode our luck, we put in yet another gritty performance, they had one proper chance which Henders saved and other than that they hit the outside of the post and a scramble saw the ball trickle round the post.
I think traditional English football does not really understand the way we play, which is allowing the opposition to have the ball for a large amount of the time, but prevent them from getting shots in on target, by stout defending.
Initially I thought this was just being pegged back, but it has happened too many times for it to be a coincidence.
Your point is well made, KV. I understand that BP's core strategy is to have a rock solid central defence, soak up pressure and then see what you can do on the break but this does depend on us not making too many mistakes or players simply being beaten by the opposition and, at times, a little bit of luck. If you were at Bournemouth, as you may well have been, you would have seen that, using such tactics as you describe, you sometimes have to rely on the opposition not putting away really good chances to score. However, when we haven't done well, it's generally not been the defence which has failed but the midfield, which can be put under continuous pressure for long periods of time. However, it's a strategy that certainly seems to be working for us and, when Igor is fully fit again, I expect us to win more matches this way. We are definitely a hard team to beat, as our 2 defeats in 17 league games shows. It's proving to be a very interesting season.
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