[madsteve]

Please be gentle... this is my first ratings

Had a great afternoon and it made a change for the hot pork roll not to be the day's highlight!!

At last a Wednesday home win. A well deserved one after a tough battle against a well organised and physical side.

The game was ruined by the referee who lost control in the first half. Some Reading players were influencing his decisions with comments, over theatrical falling down and unsportsman like tactics. He was a total joke and the linesman by the South Stand in the first half wasn't much better. They should not be allowed to ref at this level again.

We battled hard and our defense held solid (apart from the pen). It is so good to talk about Wednesday and a tight defense and clean sheets all in the same sentence! 5 clean sheets in the league already. We now need to score more and kill off teams with a second goal.

Westwood - 9 - fantastic performance. 2 great saves and the penalty save. He has been amazing so far
Palmer - 6 - not his best game but had fewer chances to push forward
Lees - 8 - what an wonder signing. A great performance and has fitted well into our back four.
Loovens - 8 - great leadership and strength. Kept encouraging player around him
Mattock - 7 - becoming a solid left back. Tried to link up well with midfield. Coped well with a physical Reading side
Maguire - 6 - inconsistent and needs shooting practice
Coke - 6 - Quiet coming forward as he had to sit back further. Gave away the penalty
Semedo - 8 - Played really well. Solid tackling and spread the ball about with reasonable accuracy
Maghoma - 7 - Made some great runs and battled well against some heavy (and unpenalised) challenges
Nuhui - 6 - some good headers to midfield and wide. Didn't link too well with May and pushed about too easily
May - 8 - Works bloody hard. Sees the goal and shoots. Need more on target!
............................................................
Hope - 6 - did ok. lacked strength at times
Helan - 7 - got the ball and ran!! Put them under pressure which was much needed by then
Dielna - 6 - Looks big and strong. No time to really see potential

I think SG has worked miracles with some of our players. They are playing for each other and the passing and movement has improved since last season.  Lees and Westwood have made a huge impact on the team. May is beggining to look really sharp and works really hard.

We have Man City midweek which I hope won't be a costly distraction. There are league games coming up thick and fast.

Well done Wednesday. A well fought for 3 points. UTO

An excellent report although I always get seduced when someone starts with.....please be gentle.