Stevenage 1-1 Reading: Even Stevens

11/09/2024 02:53 PM

Harvey Knibbs' equaliser rescued a point for Reading on a day when all three would probably have been a fair outcome.

My initial feeling about this game, as I was walking out of the Lamex, was just how nice it is to not be chewing over yet another defeat on the road. Reading had already managed a draw and a win on their league travels this season of course, but losses at Wrexham, Bolton Wanderers, Rotherham United and Stockport County - shipping 14 goals in the process - meant we were all getting used to disappointment.

This game was disappointing too, yes, but a different flavour of disappointment. Reading can reasonably say they deserved all three points from this 1-1 draw at Stevenage, and, were it not for a bright performance from home 'keeper Murphy Cooper, they probably would have managed just that.

So then, one point gained or two points dropped? Depending on how you contextualise this game, it can be fairly interpreted either way. Given Reading's tendency to lose away games, any point is welcome and a step in the right direction. And in general, even the weaker sides in this division are stronger on their own patch, so picking up something is never something to turn your nose up at.

And yet, the other two points were there for the taking. Sure, Reading weren't great in the first half (not awful, just not that good either) and were behind at the break through a frustratingly cheap Dan Kemp opener, but they noticeably upped their game after the interval, convincingly took the game to Stevenage and created enough openings and chances to have been good value for the win.

While some of our failure to get that win does come down to Murphy's performance between the posts, it's also worth noting who we're having to make do without. Top scorer Sam Smith and first-choice left-sided forward Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan were out with short- and long-term injuries respectively, and the ruthlessness they both have in their locker was conspicuous by its absence today.

Still, the reason Reading got a point at all comes down to something more important than individual players: the collective performance. This side has been guilty of putting in a weaker showing in the second half to varying extents all too often this season, particularly on the road, but we saw the exact opposite today.

That improvement shouldn't be overstated - it would have been worrying if Reading hadn't improved at all after a poor first half - but it was welcome nonetheless. Reading were distinctly more confident and dangerous in possession in the second half, with more control of the game and better-quality openings too. Pleasingly, they also showed patience, not letting their heads drop as the clock ran down at 1-0, before eventually getting their reward through Harvey Knibbs' 82nd-minute equaliser.

Ruben Selles shook things up a little bit up front with his team selection, playing Knibbs as Reading's lone centre-forward for the first time. The return of Jeriel Dorsett was a boost too, with the left-sided defender involved for the first time since the defeat at Rotherham United.

Reading (4-3-3): Pereira; Craig, Mbengue, Bindon, Garcia; Elliott, Wing, Savage; Campbell, Knibbs, Camara

Subs: Button, Ahmed, Holzman, Dorsett, Spencer, Akande, Wareham

The opening half an hour or so was pretty even overall - both sides having sights of goal but neither convincingly taking charge of proceedings. Reading looked pretty good in possession and were capable of getting into the final third, but some blocked shots through Knibbs and Ben Elliott were about as close as we came, while Joel Pereira was called into action for a good save at his near post.

It was the hosts who drew first blood. Reading have been susceptible to conceding from crosses on the road all season and suffered again today: this time a deep delivery from the left wing went all the way to the back post, where Kemp was unmarked and easily able to slam home past Pereira.

The damage didn't get any worse than that, with the hosts unable to build on that goal, but Reading didn't do enough before the break in response, with the forward play generally lacking in intensity and ideas. A nice counter to that trend however was a quality bit of link-up between Lewis Wing and Charlie Savage: the former cleverly finding a run in behind from the latter, with the Welshman's low finish towards the far corner tipped just wide by Murphy.

Selles made one change at half-time, bringing Dorsett on for Andre Garcia to shore things up at left-back. Dorsett would do just that in the second half, but he also looked bright going forwards - something he does have in his locker despite the general perception of him being the more limited offensively in comparison to Garcia.

Reading generally pushed forward well in the second half and a quality opening came to Elliott about 10 minutes after the restart. Dorsett drove forwards well to the edge of the box and the ball eventually came to Elliott on the edge of the area, with his effort well saved by Murphy.

The Royals kept going and had further chances from range, including through Elliott, Wing and Savage, but they just couldn't quite get that equaliser. Accordingly, Selles tried a few attacking changes to help shift the odds, with Jayden Wareham replacing Mamadi Camara on 59 minutes (meaning Knibbs going to the left wing) and Ashqar Ahmed coming on for Michael Craig at right-back with a quarter of an hour to go.

The goal eventually came in the 82nd minute, and it was all about the work of Campbell down the right wing. He showed excellent strength and balance to hold off the defender and force his way into the box, and although his first low cross didn't find a teammate, the ball eventually dropped for Knibbs to slot home from close range.

Reading weren't done there though and they looked hungry for a winner. Campbell himself came close to getting one, forcing a save out of Murphy at the near post, while Ahmed set up Knibbs in injury time, only for his finish to clear the bar.

Reading didn't quite get the win they were craving and probably deserved, but this was an important step forward on the road regardless. Losing is a difficult habit to break, but, after a win at Exeter City not all that long ago and a draw at Stevenage today, perhaps that's what we're starting to see.

An important part of the Royals' evolution last season was in turning away defeats into away draws, which were ultimately worth a total of six points. That process started at Lincoln City in a game rather similar to this one: Reading noticeably better in one half than the other, but still responding well to going behind via a poorly conceded opener by finding a second-half equaliser through Knibbs.

And as it happens, the next league away fixture is the same now as it was then: a trip to Peterborough United. 12th-placed Posh aren't doing as well as they were at the time of our last visit to London Road, but 25 goals scored in their last seven home games in all competitions shows just how dangerous they can be on their own patch.

Another 2-2 draw and late equaliser in front of the away fans? That'd do nicely indeed.