Spirited Royals aren’t running out of gas this time
PARTY time at the Memorial Stadium.
In the last 20 years nobody would ever have thought a 2-0 win at Bristol Rovers would spark such an outpouring of joy, but times are different now.
As we approach the end of a season of utter chaos, the players and management have done their bit, keeping the team up.
Relegation is not mathematically impossible for Reading, but it is highly unlikely.
Another huge travelling band of supporters made their way down the M4 on Tuesday evening.
For most it was a first trip down to the ramshackle stadium. ‘The Gas’, as the club is known, were extremely poor on the pitch, especially in the first half.
Sam Smith opened the scoring after eight minutes, and then a whistling free-kick slammed into the top corner from the boot of Lewis Wing before the break.
The second half was a bit more even, but bar a superb headed clearance off the line from Tyler Bindon, Reading never looked troubled.
Amadou Mbengue was on top form both in central defence and leading the dancing.
He enjoys playing the role of a conductor as the crowd chants after games. He is a natural mover, with power and speed on the pitch, and rhythm and poise off it.
He can clearly cut it as comfortably on a nightclub dancefloor as in a 50/50 challenge on the edge of the penalty box.
The difference from last season to this has been the way the season has ended.
Reading only managed a miserable six points from their last 10 games in the Championship.
This time round in League One they have already amassed 10 points from their last 10 games, and that is with still three more to go.
Otherwise the results, the offpitch shenanigans and the general mood, have been pretty much identical.
Another key difference has been the reduced number of injuries. Players are enjoying matchdays, and look desperate to play.
At times last season 10 players were missing games with a wide variety of niggles and knocks.
This season a younger, fitter bunch are more robust, hungry and energetic.
They have far more desire to win games and be involved. Last season became a real drudge, and in hindsight it is easy to see why they ran out of steam.
This time round they still have fuel left in the tank and are bouncing along to April 27 and the end of the season.
For all the joy, this was only Reading’s fourth away win of the season. Wycombe, Stevenage, Carlisle and now Bristol Rovers have all been happy hunting grounds.
Apart from that they have drawn a blank on their travels for 17 months.
Maybe that is why there is the joy. Any away win must be celebrated nowadays.
Maybe at Barnsley on Saturday the fans will be partying again come the final whistle, and Mbengue will be throwing some shapes.
In a season of almost unrelenting misery the rare sunny moments seem all the brighter.