Everything that I warned about in the preview came back and and haunted us as Reading did the things they do well, well and we did the things we do badly, badly !

In the run up to the game I warned of several things, including the need to tighten up at the back and not make errors, unfortunately we made those errors and in every single one of them we were punished. In truth each of their goals did not just see poor defending from one player, but a number.

The first goal started with a crossfield ball from Danny Fox being intercepted, but this was still a long way from the goal being scored, Reading moved the ball first to the right and then to the left before a cross into the area that really should have been dealt with by Jose Fonte who was caught napping leaving Jason Roberts a free header.

On the second Dean Hammond tried to be clever in a midfield tussle, he tried to turn rather than clear the ball out of danger and was caught, but again he would not be the last culprit, Reading tore our defence to shreds and when Le Fondre slotted home unmarked, both our central defenders had been lost by the men they should have been marking as well as at least one other who was at sea.

The last goal was mainly down to Fonte again, initially it didnt look that dangerous, but the defender rather than clear the ball out of danger tried to shield it and then head it back to the keeper, he failed on both accounts and the game was dead.

Sad to say though this was not an isolated game where this has happened, in fact its not an isolated season, I looked back to the start of last year and I was saying the same things as Im going to be saying today, defenders that for 99% of the game are tight but cant seem to make it 100% and lose concentration and get caught napping, games where we have many shots but dont score that many whereas the opposition score a far bigger percentage than they should do, we have not been learning the lessons well enough.

No one likes a smart arse and im sure i will get told what a great defence we have etc, but the stark reality is we have too many flat track bullies, we can defend very well at times, look at the number of shots on target Reading had, only 4, but when the chips are down and a bit of pressure is applied then we crack, as was shown by Reading's 3 goals from those 4 on target, especiaclly when you realise that Reading only had two off target on top of that, this is the tale of the season though, when teams exert a bit of pressure, our defence is found wanting, Millwall did it a month or so ago, Blackpool did it, even Pompey and now Reading, just at a time when we need our central defenders to be like rocks and stay tight, they are crumbling, some of you will point to clean sheets, but look at the games we have kept them in, Doncaster at home is typical.

The pressure is now on Saints, we have to show that we can come back from a run of four games that has seen only one win and 8 goals conceded earning only 4 points, we have given West Ham a chink of light, we have to now shut up shop and make sure they dont get any more.

Photo: Action Images

kristianJ added 10:56 - Apr 15 Whilst this "verdict" rightly hightlights that individual defensive errors cost us the game - Fonte will have nightmares about the 3rd goal and I thought on a number of occasions Fox was too slow at closing his man down and stopping a cross coming in - I think the tone of this article is v negative. You fail to mention that for large parts of the game (esp. the 1st half) we played Reading off the park. We could easily have gone in 4-1 up at half time. You give no credit to LAllana, Lambert, or Cork who all played well. If we tighten up a bit and play like that for the last 3 games we have a great chance of promotion.

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SaintNick50 added 11:02 - Apr 15 I could have written your 'I told you so verdict'. A really dissapointing night. If we had been sharper up front we would have got a result and even Hooi had some wonderful chances which in other games he has put away. You have to give credit to Reading, to soak up all that pressure and score with their only three clear chances is thr form of champions. We must now regroup for Peterborough as we know a tricky team to play, and they were the last team to beat Reading. Middlesborough won't be easy either not only are they still in the running for the play-offs, we have the curse of TV. Our record this year is W2 D4 l3. In short I have the jitters, especially with West Ham winning 6-0 we can't even rely on our goal difference any more. Keep the faith! TOGETHER AS ONE!

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BlackRod added 11:05 - Apr 15 Agree completely. We dominated the play, they took the chances we gave them. From talking to Reading fans afterwards they reckon our style of play will be more successful than theirs in the Premier League where they will come under a lot more pressure. They also rated Rickie and Adam very highly. Or perhaps they were just being kind! And there is the small matter that we actually need to get to the Premier.

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Ddobsy added 11:08 - Apr 15 To restrict the second best team in the league to 6 shots, is a great defensive display. Had we finished our chances with the same accuracy or ratio as Reading we would have run out easy winners. It's a tough run in, but I wouldn't blame a defender for mistakes any more than those up top for not taking our chances.
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Vanwho added 11:14 - Apr 15 3 mistakes at the back and 3 goals. simple as that. once we equalised i thought we would go on to win. we played some lovely football and the result falttered them massivley. fonte looks too casual at times and he is not leading by example. I thought it was a good perfromance from SDR when he came on, chaplow was a red card waiting to happen so he had to come off. lambert and sharp linked up well, i also thought cork had a great game. lets get behind them for the next game, we cant have confidence dropping at this stage of the season. I think Guly could play a big part still if we cheer him on a bit more. Its not often we have a brazilian at saints......lets make him feel a bit more loved. Brazilian flags for peterborough?

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StSaint added 11:38 - Apr 15 Credit to Reading, they did an excellent smash and grab, but 9/10 times that game would have ended in a home win. The fault was just as much with our finishing as our defending. Had Lambert put his header away you could say we would have gone 1-0 up instead of down. Hoi could have easily had three and there were other great chances. If we keep playing like that we will easily go up. It's still in our hands - wouldn't want it any other way.

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slynch added 11:42 - Apr 15 As ever there is more sense talked in the "Comments" than in the main article. I saw the game..and it was best I've seen Saints play, ever! Reading hardly got a look in. But chances are called chances for a reason; sometimes they go in and sometimes they don't. And so, if they continue to play like that the chances are that they'll win the next 3? Up the Saints!
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SaintNick added 11:56 - Apr 15 slynch, if thats the best you have seen saints play ever !, then you havent been to many games, we played well going forward but at the back we were woeful, its called a team game for a good reason, you dont get given points for being good in one area and not in others. The only fact that matters is that we did not get any points and conceded on just about every decent attack they had, that is not a good display We got beaten by a side who play to a system and play that system well, we got suckered by it

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SanMarco added 12:36 - Apr 15 My gut reaction after the match was to blame the defending and I too remembered the preview on this site and waited for the 'I told you so'. However on reflection I feel that all sides in all games make errors at the back - Reading made as many as we did (obviously a far smaller per-centage given the amount of defending they had to do). The difference was their ruthless despatch of what they were given. Both the first two goals saw us lose the ball and them very quickly swarming all over us and a good finish at the end. We never looked like doing that, even though in build up play and creation (but not finishing) of chances we looked back to our best. Also, I never really know about the old 'luck evens out' cliche but we have now been paid back for Leeds/Millwall = 6pts with Pompey/Reading = 1pt where the reverse would have more reflected the play. We WERE pretty unlucky and we DID play very well - it is just going well for Reading at the moment. If we play like we did on Friday in the last three games we will be VERY unlucky if we dont go up.

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OTIH added 12:39 - Apr 15 We have to turn the page over on this now. NA has to lift the players in time for POSH. Most importantly is that WE play OUR part. We have to remain positive, we are after all second in the league, and still 3 points and 3 goals better than WHU. Just hope very much that we sell all the tickets for both the POSH and Boro games, as NA underlined the lift given to the squad by the great turnout at Palace. We have to believe, its going to the wire, and we have to be passionate and positive. Roll on Tuesday.

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lallanaland added 12:42 - Apr 15 There was a degree of predictability about this result. We have been wasteful with our finishing all season. The difference here being that whereas we often get away with this against inferior opposition, reading were always going to punish us. Unfortunately our inability to cope with the rapid counter attack was ruthlessly exposed by them. I think the pboro game is the pivotal one for us. If we win this I think we will definitely go on to get the second automatic spot.

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DJI added 12:42 - Apr 15 Fair play to you Nick for spending your own time & money to do this, whilst taking some abuse from others who think they can do it better! If you can, then do so but don't abuse Nick for putting out there his opinions. As for the assessment, it is spot on! We could have had 90% possession but if we don't score more than the opposition, we don't get the points! Yes, Lambert & Sharp linked up well and Cork & Hammond ran the midfield for much of the game but, it didn't produce the desired result. RFC had 4 chances and took them and that for me is a reoccurring problem of late. Early in the season, we moved quicker, used the width and converted chances but recently this has not happened. I felt going into this game that if we got down the wings quicker and put the balls into the box we would have battered them but we did not do this. By the time we got into their penalty area, it was crowded and then we had a reluctance to shoot? If we are to win promotion automatically, we need to have an energy about us to get the ball moving quickly and take the chances. There is no-one better than SRL at the back post so we should use that more. We also need to decide is Adam a winger or in-the-hole? You attack with width but make the pitch narrow when defending, not the other way around! And for Slynch, Goals win you games but defence wins you Championships!

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DJI added 12:54 - Apr 15 I do believe that some of the comments about staying positive are right of course but let's just remember, this site is offering a critique of the match. Would it be better if Nick just wrote; "Saints 1 Reading 3, we move on"? His opinion of the game is not being negative, it is an opinion of areas he feels we need to improve, just like Nigel will have done! There is no doubt the Saints fans will turn out in force for the two away games & get behind the team as they have done all season (me included at many). But they also turned out in force for the last two home, let's not forget that! I for one would prefer to see us not singing "We are top of the League" when we draw level on 48 minutes or sing songs about Pompey as I don't see how that is getting behind the team? The time for boasting is when the game is won or we've crossed the finishing line!

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geezershoong added 12:56 - Apr 15 The usual predictable hand wringing... What we saw were the best 2 sides on Friday night, Reading are a clinical team who took 3/3 chances where we didn't. 41 points from 48? They deserve to go up.
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stmichael added 13:28 - Apr 15 The first goal was the killer. We had them on the rack and would surely have scored until we gifted them. I thought fonte made an error on the cross but fox is to blame for the goal. His cross field pass happens all the time so no surprise there. He has little engine so that is a necessary part of his game . However his defending after that was shambolic. Kebe just about kept the ball in and the ball was loose. Fox was nowhere when he should have simply kicked the ball out of play. Even then rather than atone for 2 errors he just stood back and let Kebe plant the cross on Roberts head. Shameful and lazy defending that gave reading a foothold when they were rocking. Sorry that I had to tell it how it was but the article lets him off the hook.

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Whatsforpud added 13:37 - Apr 15 It was disappointing that individual errors cost us the game - a game in which we played some outstanding football. Lambert warrants a mention. He was immense with his link up play and general control, and didn't deserve to be on the losing side. Lallana was effective in the first half but was not passed to much in the second half as more of the play was directed to de Ridder. A little more support for Lallana by Fox would have helped. In general the central midfield is good at ball winning and pinging the ball around, but none of them are able to break forward with the ball and ever get beyond the forwards. Whichever combination of central midfielders we use, seem content to stay back and let it happen.

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aav added 13:42 - Apr 15 I think we have to put this down as a bad day at the office for the team. I think Fox had been told to stay back to nullify Kebe, and even with that without his bombing down the wings we created numerous chances. I know Butterfield had a good game at Palace but he wasn't great on Friday. Is there an injury to Richardson, as he has looked great every time I've seen him and I think he we need him to attack down the right hand side. Nick, I kind of agree with your comments about the defence. I think Jos and Jose and individually great but struggle together when under pressure. Anyway, we never do it the easy way, I have a funny feeling this is going to go down to the last day of season!

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A1079 added 13:48 - Apr 15 Nick - I too applaud you for the time you take doing this. I do a similar job for my sons team and write for the local paper. Woe betide if you dare to say anything construed negative or leave a players name out etc. On the matter of Friday. I don't think I have felt so disappointed this season as with that result. The Blackpool game was awful but on that day it was a collective awful and I put it down to a bad day at the office. With Friday was the feeling that we should have got something and threw it away through some basic errors. Nevertheless, as poor as some of the defending was, no one is clear. You could say the midfield should be producing more and we should be converting more of our chances. But, as they say, we do move on and it is still in our hands and we need to make sure it remains so. We need to all get behind the team and when they are struggling we need to shout louder and please, proper Saints songs. What is the point of anti-pompey songs???? That said, the level of support by the fans in terms of numbers has been fantastic and is and can be like a 12th man.

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Fordy added 14:04 - Apr 15 Sadly this was a tale of two poor signings. Gorkss is a better defender than Jos and should have been signed. And for the run-in we could really have done with someone with the experience of Roberts rather than Sharp.
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OTIH added 15:04 - Apr 15 Jos and Jose have performed very well all season IMO. In spite of some errors over the past few weeks, they are still one of the strongest partnerships in the league. However, believe both would have performed better recently if they had the pressure of another experienced CB on the bench; don't think that it has helped that they know they will remain in the side when fit (that was the biggest transfer error in January). Would have largely agreed about Sharp until Friday, when actually felt his all round play was much better; and of course we can't forget he has scored 4 out of the last five goals at home. Having said that, he is not a premiership player, and believe LB would form a better overall partnership with RL.

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ThereIn76 added 15:38 - Apr 15 I agree with stmichael, the moment where we lost the match was when Fox stupidly and needlessly attempted a cross-field pass when we had players in advanced positions, then utterly failed to make a serious attempt at winning the ball back. Up to that point, Reading were hanging on anxiously and it looked like only a matter of time before we took the lead. Once Fox set up their first goal for them, their tails were up, they were confident and we had the stuffing knocked out of us. I worry about the Peterborough match - we never look comfortable against teams with quick forwards who like to run at defences. We can't finish lower than 3rd and I fear that's where we'll end up.

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SaintNick added 15:39 - Apr 15 Jos & Jose arent bad defenders, but they just constantly make odd errors in games, look at any game even ones we have won and at some point one or the other of them will make a bad mistake, sometimes we get punished sometimes we dont. They look good when sides dont pressure us much, but when a side does we often get caught
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SanMarco added 15:47 - Apr 15 It has to be said that Fox's 10 seconds of madness were what changed the match. 9 times out of 10 even Reading in their current form wouldn't have beaten us even with those errors. This match was the 1 out of 10 when they did. If we keep the form of Friday night then we will go up.
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schatfield added 16:45 - Apr 15 We dominated this game and had some very good performers. Sharp in particular looked very good. Yes, we lost, but lets not get too down, on another day we could have won this by a hat load.
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tiptop added 16:53 - Apr 15 Its true we made defensive mistakes. But how many of saints goals have opposition managers pointed to their own bad defensive play?? You have to give some credit to the opposition at the same time as highlighting and improving our own errors. Giving the ball away WILL 99% of the time be punished. Fox's bad cross field ball inside our half. Punished. Jose Fonte is a good ball player for us but does tend to make the occasional eye brow raising lapse. Random handballs and in the case of the third goal friday the badly misjudged back header..over confidence instead of a rational decision i think. Result. Punished. SO our finishing wasn't quite there friday for once. That will be fixed. Now West Ham will be getting cocky. Confidence is iether getting shaky or more unshakable after individual results at this stage. We know what we have to do Tues for the next twist! COYR's!!

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