Reading 2 – 1 Wigan: You’re Welcome

By: Rob | September 23rd, 2007

Looks like my experiment to resuscitate Reading’s season through better blogging is off to a good start. How else do you explain the Royals scoring their first two non-set piece goals? How else do you explain a referee awarding a penalty to Wigan, then changing his mind? How else do you explain Marcus Bent missing like 24 breakaway chances on goal? Chris Kirkland bobbling a save into the path of Dave Kitson’s ginger streak? The three goal/year scoring force of James Harper putting in the game winner at the stroke of 90 minutes?

Obviously, these unusual occurrences can only be the result of my return to Reading blogging. So, I’ll take that as a sign to keep it up on this very busy week (vs. Liverpool in the Carling Cup Tuesday, at Pompey on Saturday). But first, a few observations built up from the ESPN Gamecast and Match of the Day highlights.

- From the match report, it almost looked like Reading came out in a 5-3-2, with Liam Rosenior making his home debut alongside the usual backline of Shorey/Ingimarsson/Duberry/Murty. But MOTD replays make it look like Rosenior was playing right midfielder? Interesting choice, if that’s true, and it almost resulted in a nice first-half goal for Liam. Yet still not very comforting to see a team that’s struggling to score goals starting a defender in our accursed right wing position.

- Last post I called for somebody, anybody, to step up as an attacking force, and it looks like Dave Kitson answered my call, notching a goal and an assist. It’s really Kitson’s turn, having missed out on the fun last season after being injured in the first game (after scoring Reading’s first ever Premiership goal). Having notched 18 and 19-goal seasons in the Championship, a healthy Kitson should be able to carry the load while Kevin Doyle and Leroy Lita recover their form.

- While on the subject of the offense, it’s good to see Reading generating a full 15 shots in this game, their highest total since the Chelsea game back in round 2. Again, not having seen the full game, I can only speculate on the general mood of the game, but the attack appears to be looking a little more cohesive lately.

- Bobby Convey subbed on for Rosenior, appeared to slot into that right midfielder position, and according to the eyewitness report of Kingsley says he tore shit up. As previously remarked upon, Convey is my favorite Reading player for purely nationalistic reasons, but unless (or should I say until) Stephen Hunt runs full speed into a goalpost and is out for two months, Convey’s not going to get a sniff in anything but cup ties. Hopefully, he’s developing an ability to play on the right, which could solve problems for both player and team.

- Leroy Lita was left completely out of the squad in favor of Shane Long. Coppell says “Did Lita take it well? No, but I wouldn’t expect him to. It’s not the way of the modern footballer.” Stay tuned.