View From The Dolan: Dog Days

03/17/2025 04:33 AM

Ben talks us through his experience of Reading's 1-1 draw with Stevenage on Saturday.

Mid March. Officially the dog days of the season. On the pitch, it's still as open as a car boot sale. Playoffs on and playoffs off, basically on rotation.

For me, even before this game, I'd have been happy with a top-10 finish, despite the fact that we've been at the top end of this league for a fair few months. Given the upheaval we've experienced as a squad and staff (and that's even before we've talked about the ownership, by the way) finishing above 11th would be a dream season.

For this game against fair-to-middling side Stevenage, the sun was out, but there was a chill in the air. Safe from relegation but too far away from the playoffs, it's fair to say they were on the beach. Or should have been anyway. More on that later.

It was of course the final grassroots and community day game of the season, with tickets gobbled up by clubs and schools across the county like a real-life Hungry Hippos game. I had to pass a few bus stops on my way out of Tilehurst and the queues were literally eight/nine deep with humans clad in blue and white garments, well packed lunchboxes and expectant smiles, eager for another Noel Hunt masterclass and three points to add to the ones from midweek.

As I entered the car park, I joked with the guy that there were more families around than at a Pantomime in January. He fell over with laughter and anyone who reads this column regularly will know that the jokes between us have become a running theme. Good banter, cleanly executed in a jolly harmless way.

As I passed the mega shop, I could see lots of people in there, with desperate parents trying not to part with their hard-earned cash on Royals merch. The cold-hearted businessman in me thought: "Ah yes, more dollars being poured into the coffers of our club," a wry smile spreading across my face like a big eagle's wings. The parent in me just muttered: "Godspeed." I'd genuinely love to see the till receipts though.

The Dolan (or at least my part of it) was still sparse. That won't change until the ownership does, I'm convinced of that. Whether the people who bought a ticket for this game will come back remains to be seen. I've always said these matches are great as long as there can be some return custom and some sort of legacy attached to them. How many actually do come back I've no idea, but it'd be interesting to know.

Stevenage certainly were not on the beach but, if they had been, it would have been a stone one in the north of England where they couldn't relax or sit still. They were at it, getting among it like a toddler in a ball pit at a soft-play establishment.

We had no time to settle, no time to compose ourselves or get a foot in the game. Both sides cancelled each other out and, as I looked enviously at those in the SJM Stand bathed in sunlight like worshippers at a dramatic church, I wondered where a draw would physically leave us.

Half-time came and went, save for an absolute fix on the Papa John's giveaway, which CONVENIENTLY went to part of the family section in the Dolan. "Hey kids, come and watch Charlie Savage for a pound AND get free pizza." So blatant, you sort of have to admire it really.

We started the second period brightly, bundling in a goal reasonably early on. Was it deserved? Not really. Boro would have felt hard done by at that point, but it did spark the crowd into life.

The lead wasn't to last as the equaliser came around 10 minutes later. Tyler Bindon was the man credited with the opening goal in real time, but visiting defender Carl Piergianni was eventually given both our goal and theirs in one of those footballing quirks.

Big Kelvin was denied a penalty claim which at the time looked harsh, but on replies looked a good decision. The referee at that point hadn't been great but then subbed himself, clearly disgusted with his own performance.

He spent a long time next to the replacement with the pair of them looking like big crows fighting over a piece of stale doughnut on the touch line. A chap near me shouted "you're not fit to referee" which, had I not been so cold, might have made me crack a modest smile. When you think about it, it was a niche joke that deserved a bit more than the indifference it did actually receive.

Nothing more could or should be said about the game really. I was impressed with Stevenage and I thought we were OK, generally speaking. It was clear Tuesday had taken it out of us and that this one was always going to be a battle. It was all just a bit flat and motionless in large spells without ever being truly awful.

The draw leaves us 10 (ten) games unbeaten, two points outside the playoffs with plenty, on paper, still to play for. With a two-week break now until Peterborough United at home, there's every chance we could still make the playoffs or finish 14th.

I've honestly no idea at this point, but if we can finish the season as strongly as we can, get the ownership stuff over the line and look forward to a new era, I think most of us would be happy with that. Perhaps our own beach can wait a little longer.

Until next time.