BWFC Scotland - Match Report

Well it has to be said - the recent poor run of results hasn't always been the result of a poor performance by our lads. No so yesterday. The team's performance yesterday was nothing short of appalling.

While Rading's victory was hard-earned, they deserved it. Our lads had a wealth of possession without managing to translate it into anything tangible - this is becoming all too familiar. It might have been different if we'd taken advantage of two chances in the first quarter of an hour, when we actually looked capable of seizing the initiative.

But Kevin Nolan's shot and El-Hadji Diouf's header were directed straight at Marcus Hahnemann, who was not extended as much as he should have been. Gradually, Reading began to make inroads, with the lively John Oster proving a capable replacement for the injured Glen Little on his first league start of the season. Oster's corner was volleyed wide by James Harper. Then, after Doyle and Seol Ki-Hyeon combined, the incoming Stephen Hunt just failed to get on the end of the resulting cross. The winner came after 32 minutes, Nicky Shorey's crossfield pass finding Oster, whose deep centre was headed back across Jussi Jaaskelainen and inside the far post by Doyle. Our lads were asleep at the far post - not good enough. Nicky Hunt had 2 men to mark as we were caught ball watching. Sam will have some things to say this coming week I'm sure. Next Saturday's game will be Speedo's 500th game in the Premiership. Let's hope his play improves somewhat. He said as much himself to Kammy on Sky Sunday morning.

Nobby was inches away from an equaliser with a snap shot after the ball broke kindly his way in a goalmouth scramble. Sam was livid - he'd brought the lads out onto the pitch after half time 5 minutes early - but even a double substitution by Big Sam - Ivan Campo for Gary Speed and Ricardo Vaz Te replacing Diouf - had no effect whatsoever. Anelka looked even more unhappy to be there than usual. That'll be another 7 games before he turns it on again.....just like the UB40 song. For all our pressing, Hahnemann had few direct efforts on goal to worry about.

And it was actually Reading who went close to a second goal, through substitute Leroy Lita, whose shot was beaten away by Jaaskelainen. We then survived a couple of goalmouth scrambles in the closing stages to make sure of victory and move above their opponents. Even jussi was up there in the closing seconds trying to rescue something.

In my opinion this was our WORST performance of the season. Steve Coppel said their sights weren't set on Europe yet. If we really want to play in Europe again - and that's UEFA not Champions League, we need to beat teams like Reading - and that's no disrespect to Reading who are doing really well in their first season in the premiership. Lads - buck your ideas up. Stop the rot now or we pay dearly.

"We got what we deserved today, for two reasons. One was that Reading played to the best of their abilities with the confidence they had gained over their great start to the Premiership this year. And the other was our hangover from playing Chelsea, where the amount of effort we had to give meant in the first half we couldn't live with Reading from a physical point of view. That really was the telling difference in the first half and the goal they got was a good header at the far post. As gallant and brave as we were in the second half, it was far too late for us."

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