The Reading experience...and Tuesday's team

Hi All, second away game of the season for us yesterday (first was Leicester), thought since no-one else has anything to say I'd tell you how it went!

Arrived on the bus before the ground had opened, but the travel club coach from Fleming Park is very easy way to get to away grounds + free parking right by the stop is not to be sniffed at! Needed oxygen after the climb to our seats right up in the clouds, excellent view of the top of player's heads, in the absence of binoculars had to identify players from their running style. Seats of no value once the match started as everyone stood throughout so a question of craning round the tallest man in the world who was standing in front...sod's law. Great atmosphere, great noise.

Thought the team showed the effects of the long trip to Derby followed by the tough physical match against West Ham, also Brian McDermott said he was planning to snuff out our passing game and that's exactly what Reading did, credit to them for that. Kelvin was the only one who didn't look jaded. We did try when we got the room so there was some passing football on show. Thought Fonte was pushed in the back when he got done for handball, probably why the yellow wasn't a red. Grit and determination needed and we showed we can do that- glad we don't crumble when the going gets tough, which we would have in recent years. Can't really blame Deano, I thought heavy legs were affecting our tackling as well as our passing. De Ridder gave the team a lift when he came on with his fresh legs and his energy, great flick from Guly for him to run on to, great goal at a good time in the match. Came away feeling we'd stolen someone else's Christmas present! A good point won.

Re Tuesday, I wonder whether Lallana will be on the bench and when Barny will be back- we haven't had a striker on the bench for a while. Jordan Sibley has tweeted that Bart and De Ridder will start, and in my view quite a few could do with a rest as this is a tough run of games. Who would you keep in and who would you draft in for Tuesday? Anyone think Forte might feature? He's the invisible man!

Your team would be.....?