‘Baffles Me’ – All The Opposition Reaction From Reading Win

December 23, 2024 Gary League One, Opposition Reaction, Reading 0

Credit Graham Burrell

City ended their last home game of 2024 with a dominant display against a poor Reading side who have had everything going against them over the past couple of years, writes Kyle Fox.

Unfortunately for Royals fans, their bad luck continued on Saturday as they saw their side put in a poor performance alongside both big calls in the game going against them.

Lincoln started very fast and positively, and Reading couldn’t handle them in the first 15 minutes of the game. Reeco Hackett had an attempt on the Reading goal blocked a few minutes in, and moments later, Sean Roughan flashed an effort towards goal from 25 yards out, which was tipped over the bar by Joel Pereira. He was one of the only Reading players who could come out of the game feeling positive due to the saves he made to try and keep his side in the game.

Credit Graham Burrell

City found the breakthrough eight minutes in and it was fully deserved. After a long throw-in, the ball was recycled to Roughan, who put a great cross in the box to McGrandles, who headed straight at Pereira, forcing another good save. However, he could only palm it straight out to Cadamarteri, who fired it into the net. Reading fans were annoyed about their side giving themselves an uphill battle so early in the game:

Noel Hunt also reflected on this in his interview with RoyalsTV; “I thought we didn’t start great. We’ve got to get to the tempo of the game a little bit quicker, especially away from home.”

Lincoln’s domination continued for the entirety of the first 15-20 minutes of the first half. After that point, Reading had their best period of the game as they managed to sustain some possession and push Lincoln back.

In the period where Reading improved, they pounced on a mistake in Lincoln’s third as Montsma lost control of the ball and Camara nicked it off him. He then slid a ball through to Sam Smith, who had made a run in front of Sean Roughan and found himself through on goal. We then saw the first of the two big decisions which both went City’s way. Roughan is the wrong side of his man and leans into the back of Smith, who goes down from the contact. A definite penalty which neither the referee or linesman gives, a poor decision. I say linesman as I believe he had the best view of the incident out of the officials, as the referee’s viewpoint was obstructed. Their fans were extremely frustrated with the decision, as is shown in these replies, which also show a clip of the referee’s positioning for the incident.

Credit Graham Burrell

Noel Hunt also spoke about this in his interview; “I thought we grew into it, middle of the first half. We started to get in and around the final third, get a bit of a foothold in the game- It’s a blatant penalty, he comes through the back of him. I don’t understand how it’s not given- I don’t understand how officials can’t see it, it really baffles me”

A few minutes after this came the other big decision for the referee. McGrandles plays a through ball behind the Reading defence to Ben House. It was a similar situation to the other penalty incident as young defender Louie Holzman found himself on the wrong side of Ben House, and I’m not sure he even meant to, but he brought down House on the edge of the box as he was also through on goal. This time, the referee doesn’t hesitate and gives a free kick and red card. Hunt called this “a little bit of inexperience” in his post-match interview.

 

I think Lincoln would have won the game whether Reading were given that penalty or not. But that doesn’t matter, it is a penalty and it changes the game if it is given especially considering the fact that would’ve made it 1-1 if they scored that penalty.

Credit Graham Burrell

The second half was brilliant from Lincoln’s point of view. We were excellent, controlled the game and were very professional considering the circumstances. It showed early on too as a few minutes in Ben House hit the post from the edge of the box after an excellent run and cut back from Makama.

House then had another chance a few minutes later from a header which lacked power and was straight at Pereira. He then had another soon after as we won the ball back in our half and got it forward fast with it ending up at the feet of House in the area on his left foot. He unleashed a strike towards the far post which was tipped onto it from a brilliant save by Pereira.

Montsma also hit the post from a header after a free kick but it ended up being given as a foul to Reading in the same phase of play and I’m still not sure what that was for.

Credit Graham Burrell

Our second goal eventually came in the 72nd minute from an absolutely brilliant cross from Lewis Montsma straight on to the left foot of Reeco Hackett who had made a very clever run into the space in the box. He guided it into the bottom corner first time with a very clever finish. Reading fans were frustrated with the way they conceded this goal though:

After this point we saw the game out with relative ease with the only other moment of note being Reading’s only shot on target which was a really good bicycle kick attempt from substitute Wareham. Unfortunately for him though, it was straight at Wickens.

Overall, Reading boss Hunt took the positives from the game considering their injuries and the squad they have but acknowledged improvements need to be made. However, fans are frustrated and concerned.