A massive win, massive. As I wrote yesterday I felt the season was at it’s crossroads and which way it went depended very much on today.
Lose and we would have been swallowed up by the chasing pack and spat out the other end, ala Stoke City. Win and that would realistically put Reading just about out of sight and send a message to one and all that we are for real.
Well, we are for real. The classic away performance that is rapidly becoming a Graydon trademark was what we produced again today. Nullify the opposition attack early on, frustrate the midfield and the crowd will follow. Then seize the moment by taking your chance when it comes.
All were achieved by half time and the second half was all about shape, discipline, character and bloody hard work, lots of hard work. Now of all the things you could accuse us of, the lack of shape, discipline and character are just about the last. As for hard work? Well you show me a harder working or fitter second division side.
Deano won it with another cracking finish. A clearance from Wacka and a flick from the unfit Rammell saw Keates sneaking beyond the front two. A quality chest down left the ball at the mercy of his left foot and booooooooooooooooom! the keeper had no chance.
From that point on the game was a non event with the Walsall midfield stifling the Reading front two’s supply with Roper and Ada doing what Roper and Ada do. Green when he becomes available is going to struggle to break these two up.
Wrack again excelled down the right although his final ball keeps letting him down too often. He almost scored the goal of the season though. Picking the ball up in his own half and running over half the length of the field, slipping four or five defenders before driving just over. Rammell also hit a post as the home side lost shape and became ragged in the last fifteen minutes.
Walker didn’t have a save to make in the entire game - that’s how effective we were.
Hello and welcome back, Mr Three Points.