I.Saw's Match Report: Result Flatters Rams As Clinical Finishing Clinches Win
Sunday, 19th Oct 2014 13:07 by I.Saw

Yesterday at Reading we were treated. Not to free tea or coffee or any other type of giveaway - rather we were treated to a display of clinical finishing from the Rams.

Eighteen minutes in and Chris Martin rose in slow motion to a Jamie Ward corner, a tame header down, no real power in the shot, a defender on the line, a simple clearance, except aforesaid defender opens his legs and the ball is in the back of the net. We are a goal up. It was all so unlikely.

Reading started well, well they were direct anyway. With seconds on the clock a Royal had dived in the box trying to win a penalty, the referee Darren Deadman blew for the free kick in Derby’s favour yet failed to book the player for simulation.

Certainly the home side had the upper hand, Glenn Murray was winning everything in the air as Reading pumped long balls forward, Simon Cox and Jamie Mackie picking up the pieces. Cox in particular saw a good header flash over the bar as Craig Forsyth struggled to reach the ball.

More than anything though it was a push me, pull me opening as a series of corners saw the Rams resolute despite numerous niggly fouls that were either not spotted or ignored by Deadman, including Cox running behind and shoving Lee Grant as he went to distribute the ball following a good catch.

Although the goal settled the Rams and we began to gain our more normal composure, it was the Royals who looked more likely to score. Jake Taylor releasing a dipping swerving shot that Grant could only parry, the ball fell kindly to Hal Robson-Kanu six yards out but the striker could only divert the ball into the goalkeepers’ arms.

If our goal wasn’t being peppered with shots, it was surely being seasoned, Murray forcing a corner after hitting the side netting via a deflection.

Moments later the same player rattled the crossbar with force as Grant was left desperately clawing for the ball. In the stands we breathed again but only just.

Against the run of play for a second time we scored. Craig Bryson in a forward run by the touchline turns the ball back into the path of Jordan Ibe.

Ibe surrounded by three has Will Hughes as a potential pass yet chose to use him as a shield and take the ball into the area where he coolly slots the ball into the back of the net playing it across Adam Federici into the far corner from ten yards.

Two nil and I think only two shots on target. The clinical finishing we had so far lacked this season was here.

For each up there’s a down, Ward cutting in blasts a ball high and wide of goal and pulls up immediately, injured and unable to continue, Johnny Russell takes his place.

Then it’s Richard Keogh in the wars, his head meets Cox’s boot on the edge of the box, it’s accidental and Cox to his credit is the first to signal for the ref to stop the game. Keogh seems out cold and eventually manages to continue for the few minutes of injury time remaining.

As the half time banter continues we reflect how glad we are that goal line technology isn’t being used in the championship, Grant had caught the ball between the posts in the final minutes and the momentum suggested he might have carried the ball over the line. That and Deadman, a poor referee whose “let it all go” outlook suddenly changed, as he booked Michael Hector and Zak Whitbread in the moments prior to the break.

Second half and Ryan Shotton is on for Keogh. He plays deep and we look more solid.

Reading still push though, a triple substitution sees Aaron Kuhl, son of our former star Martin, join the fray along with Nick Blackman and Pavel Pogrebnak, the latter two almost pull a goal back as Blackmans long range effort could only be parried by Grant into the path of Pogrebnyak who slid in and diverted the ball into the wrong side of the post with an open goal glaring.

Two goals still looked a worry as the Royals threw everything at the Derby goal with Grant being outstanding under considerable pressure.

Another breakaway, Russell finds Martin and from nothing the former Norwich man turns, takes on three and chips the ball over the keeper and into the net.

Three nil - jobs a gud un.

The result flattered Derby without a doubt but with finishing like that when we didn’t impose our style of play like we are capable, surely augers well for the future.

As we wandered out we glanced at the table.

Second.

It makes the long journey home much sweeter.

I.Saw’s Player Ratings:

Grant - 9 (I.Saw's Man Of the Match): Fantastic saves and carried on despite being injured.

Christie — 7: Found himself up against two frequently but stuck to his job well.

Keogh — 6: Defended in his usual style.

Whitbread — 6: Looked better in the second half, distribution at times was weak.

Forsyth — 6: Little chance to get forward.

Ward — 6: not quite the buzzing Jamie we know and love.

Hughes — 6: With the long ball game bypassing midfield, he had little chance to shine.

Eustace — 7: Playing almost as a third centre half, Eustace provided much needed cover and was an outlet at all times.

Bryson — 6: Playing well within himself due to illness.

Ibe — 6: Fantastic goal but otherwise anonymous.

Martin — 8: Finishing par excellence.

Subs:

Shotton — 7: Added composure at the back.

Russell — 5: Added little but tried hard.

Hendrick — 7: Added drive and shape when replacing Bryson.

Match Info / Teams:

Ref: D. Deadman

Crowd: 18,141 (1,888 Travelling Rams)

Rams: Grant, Christie, Keogh (Shotton 45’), Whitbread, Forsyth, Eustace, Bryson (Hendrick 75’), Hughes, Ibe, Ward (Russell 43’), Martin.

Unused Subs: Roos, Buxton, Best, Mascarell.

Goals: Martin (18’, 79’), Ibe (38’).

Royals: Federici, Gunter, Pearce, Norwood (Kuhl 70’), Robson-Kanu (Blackman 70’), Cox, Obita, Hector, Mackie (Pogrebnyak 70’), Murray, Taylor

Unused Subs: Akpan, Andersen, Long, Coop

Match Stats — Derby / Reading:

Possession: 52% / 48%

Shots On Target: 5 / 5

Shots Off Target: 10 / 6

Corners: 9 / 9

Fouls: 17/ 12

We Said / They Said - Match Reaction:

We Said — Steve McClaren:

"Chris Martin could have scored a hat-trick, he should be walking home with the ball. He got a lot of goals last season and there's always a question mark as to if he can continue that. But he's doing that. He's really developed over the last year in terms of his professionalism and belief.”

"There's not a bad team in the Championship and, against Reading, we had to dig in in the first 20 minutes. But we got through it, we survived, and then we opened them up and scored. The second half was all about control.

They said — Nigel Adkins:

"It's all about what you do in both penalty areas. You've got to be ruthless in one and resilient in the other. But for all the positive stuff going on for us, it's a bad scoreline.”

"You can't hide away from that or gloss over it because it's about winning games of football. You can't concede the goals we've conceded. It's becoming a repetitive theme and we've got to sort it out."