Five Things From Reading’s Pereira-Inspired Win Over Bristol Rovers

Joel Pereira comes in for particular praise from Bobbins after an impressive performance in Reading’s 1-0 win over the Gas on Saturday lunchtime.

Fortress

We’ve come a long way since the really dark and grim days when we never knew where the next win was coming from; now winning seems to happen more often than not. It also speaks volumes that we walk away from the SCL being critical of the side to an extent even after a win.

We’re still in those dark and grim days off the pitch, of course, but on it, we’re hitting differently now. At home it’s the veritable fortress that every club wishes to have and, away from home, we have finally started to deliver on so much promise.

As a result of a huge nine-point week that has elevated us into the nose-bleed territory of sixth - which is staggering to believe - it’s an odd sensation to be looking up the table instead of at the lower reaches.

Complexion

But that’s not to say this was a run-of-the-mill victory; there were squeaky-bottom scenes aplenty over the course of the last half an hour. After Shaq Forde rightfully received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away, this opened up the opportunity for Reading to put their foot down and win the game, which indeed they did for a bit, but not in any conventional sense.

Sam Smith showed his full repertoire of talent throughout the game, offensively and defensively. The timing of his run for the winning goal was first-class and he tidily despatched the finish, nutmegging the Bristol Rovers goalkeeper after being put through by the ever-impressive Ben Ellliott. But after that, the game took on a different complexion.

With the game in our control, 1-0 up against 10 men, we should have sewn the game up, or at least controlled proceedings a tad better. But for some reason we really struggled to maintain composure. We also withdrew the outstanding Elliott from the game too. That seemed to alter things - we couldn’t control the midfield as we had done previously.

The tempo dropped also. The runs from Andre Garcia and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan ceased to occur and, very oddly, we lost our shape a little even though we had a man advantage. But credit must go to Rovers who took the game to us despite our numerical superiority in goals and players.

Firm

For the last 15 minutes it was a stressful watch. Instead of trying to stretch the play we thought it better to pass the ball around the defence. This was an accident just waiting to happen as, time after time, we lost possession in our own half. We conceded corner after corner too as Rovers played without caution.

On another day we would have easily been found out, but due to some fine last-ditch defending, and even better goalkeeping from the returning Joel Pereira, we held firm. To say that we’ve missed El Gato is very much an understatement. As much as David Button pulled off some very decent saves against Crawley Town, he’s much maligned for his lack of everything that Pereira provides.

While Pereira isn’t as great with the ball at his feet as Button, in almost every other facet he provides the better attributes. He just seems to make everything a little less stressful; we don’t seem as unsure as when Button is between the sticks.

That said, the last knockings of the game were stressful enough. But with Pereira being present, you just felt that we’d see it out, and that we did.

It’s great to have Pereira back - that can’t be understated. He provides confidence to the back line and always appreciates the fans. He sort of epitomises us as a club: determined, emotional and evolving but eminently lovable nonetheless. He’s fast becoming a fan favourite and it’s easy to see why. When he’s better, we’re better. Up until the time that he finally got his chance, he was the hero we never knew we had.

Perspective

Overall, it’s a strange feeling to sit in the playoff positions and not to think about relegation scraps or points deductions (although that could still very much happen down the line if the excrement hits the air flow instrument). We might not be there forever, but there’s nothing to suggest that we can’t maintain this upward trajectory for a while longer.

Fitness, availability, experience, squad depth: all of these things would suggest that we can’t keep this up, but it’s so enjoyable just to have one less thing to worry about. We’ve got to praise what we’re witnessing despite all the endless turmoil and subterfuge that’s remains in the background.

There’s still a club here that’s suffering day in day out via people who don’t care enough or didn’t look after what they should have. We’re still a long way from becoming a fully functioning, well oiled machine. The questions still need answers, if indeed anyone is asking those questions in the first place. When everything is put into perspective, we’re doing bloody great, and we’ve got to appreciate that.

This was put into further perspective as I drove home, listening to Aston Villa versus Bournemouth on 5 Live. The commentator read out our result and knowingly praised Ruben Selles for the job that he and the team are doing given the circumstances. It was a rare acknowledgement from anyone that doesn’t see what we see week in, week out. We’re not unique by any means, but we’re in the top 1% of dreadful circumstances that a club can suffer with.

Nuts

After all, this is still a team that’s learning with a manager who’s also growing in experience game after game. We’re not at the level where controlling matches for 90-plus minutes is an easy thing to do. Given the average age of the team and its inexperience, it’s churlish to think otherwise. We’re in the phase of maturing at a frightening pace, with the spectre of instability in the background still trying to kick us in the nuts on a daily basis.

All things considered, we’re doing things that clubs which are way more stable than us can’t. Despite all our faults, we’re still winning lots of games. Perfection is a hard thing to find, but the journey is still just as enjoyable. There’s still very much to be proud of.