Reading slumped to their eighth successive defeat as they were dominated by a Villa side who barely got out of second gear.
Prior to the game, Steve Coppell had emphasised the fact the he had 27 players available to him, giving him the right to ring in the changes after a dismal run. It was therefore completely unsurprising when he named exactly the same side that lost to Everton.
The Royals looked like a side struggling for confidence and never looked like scoring. Even after Gareth Barry missed a dubious penalty, the Royals were unable to raise their game and Villa inevitably took the lead on the stroke of half time after some woeful defending presented Ashley Young with an easy finish.
Reading looked slightly better in the second half, but Villa still looked the most likely to score and did so, through Marlon Harewood.
Minutes earlier Harewood had hit a shot out for a throw-in under little pressure, but after Ibrahima Sonko allowed Ashley Young to stroll past him, Harewood was presented with the ball and surprisingly curled a sublime shot into the top corner.
Reading finally managed to break their 9 hour drought without a goal when Nicky Shorey curled an excellent free kick into the bottom corner in injury time, but it was far too little, far too late for a Reading side who looked second best in every area of the pitch.
Time for a change
After making such a big deal over the amount of players available, it is shocking that Steve Coppell stuck with his losing side.
Players like Leroy Lita and Liam Rosenior are desperate for a chance and unless Coppell gives these players an opportunity to prove themselevs, we are going to go down without a fight.
The current players are lacking in confidence and seem to be aware that no matter how badly they play, they are going to keep their places. Something needs to change immediately if we’re going to have any chance of staying in this division.
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Can I seriously wish you lads all the best for the remainder of the season. You look totally devoid of any confidence, but i do think you have one of the better squads of players in the bottom six. Two very good full backs, but centre defence needs sorting though. If Carew had his shooting boots on, it really could have been a cricket score on Sunday. Big John, Gabby and Ashley had far too much pace and power. Doyle and Kitson are very good players. What has happened to Lita? Steven Huntis a pest, all over the place. Perhaps you just need a lucky goal, a lucky win and confidence will slowly return, because i honestly believe you have the players and manager who should stay up. Best of luck.
I heard an interview with SC on BBC Berks and he said he will be making big changes in the team for the next game! It’s a pity he didn’t realise 10 weeks ago!!! I can’t beleive the most prolific striker at the club at the moment (and this is saying something) can’t get in the squad for the Villa game! Lita has shown his hunger in the Res by scoring 4 and he scored against Arsenal, that’s 5 in 2 games?
Sonko was shocking yesterday! I would like to see Ingi and Cisse or Doobs & Cisse!
Can’t see us getting anything at Middlesboro other than our 9th straight loss!
Yeah, Lita had to start yesterday, cant believe he didnt. Was really depressing yesterday, it looked like they’d already given up. We need some of the fringe players to come, at least they’ll be looking to porve something. I think ivar and doobs will play if doobs is fit enough, I’d like to see rosenior play, altho murty wasn’t that bad against villa.
Thanks for the kind words krfeskivilla, a lot of people seem to want to see us stay up, I just hope we can change things around quickly. Whatever happens this season I think copps will walk away at the end of the season, dunno who we’re gonna get in if he does, maybe mark mcghee…
Big Sam?
Possibly. Dunno whether we’d be suited to his style of play. Looks like Rijkaard could be out of a job in the summer, he would be ok, might bring ronaldinho wiv him as well. No doubt we’d end up wiv steve mclaren tho…
Oh god no……………..
that ain’t a stat you wanna be having coming into easter now, is it?
Big Sam my arze, Copple is the man to keep you up and build for next season.