Let’s all back Port Vale to beat the drop
THIS time last year Reading fans were down in the dumps, moping about, because they had just been consigned to a season in League One.
Now it’s all celebrations and party time, because they have just been consigned to another season in League One.
Only football fans get that. Outsiders think it is peculiar and irrational behaviour.
The “Desmond” 2-2 draw (younger readers – google Tutu) at Barnsley was enough to make relegation an impossibility.
There is still the concern it may be politics and economics rather than maths that is relevant here, with the threat of a further points deduction for breaking the spending rules not completely banished.
With two games remaining this is a feat worth celebrating.
In November, 10 points from safety after a string of shockingly
bad performances, it looked like we were set for more moping about.
Since January Reading have been performing more like a team in the top six, rather than the bottom six.
None of Carlisle, Fleetwood, Port Vale or Burton can catch Reading.
Cheltenham may also be relegated, although they can still reach Reading’s points haul.
Most Reading fans ought to be supporting Port Vale now, and that adds some intrigue to the trip to Burton
this weekend.
Nobody has forgotten how supportive Port Vale fans and players were when the protests against owner Dai Yongge erupted at the SCL, 16 minutes into the game back in January.
It was an historic day for Reading FC, but unfortunately it meant a wasted trip for Vale fans.
They lost the rescheduled fixture in February, to make matters even worse for them.
The protest put the ownership crisis in football on to the front pages, and we presume forced Yongge into selling the club.
It was the tipping point. Had the Port Vale fans reacted differently, the outcome would have been completely different.
Reading fans bought Vale a statue, which was a comically nice touch of gratitude, but on Saturday the perfect gift would be a hefty win against Burton, allowing Vale to climb above them, potentially out the relegation zone.
Many aspects of the 2023/4 season have been unpredictable and a bit bizarre, but nothing more so that Reading’s main motivation in their second last game of the season being to save Vale from the drop.
Well, maybe trying to sell the training ground to Wycombe for a week in March was more bizarre, but besides that.
So Burton on Saturday and then Blackpool at home on April 27.
Manager Ruben Selles perfectly summed it up when I suggested it was a shame the season was ending, so good is the form now.
“No it’s not. I’m going to a place far, far away from here, and I can’t wait,” was his honest reaction.
Managers don’t normally say that with two games to go. Nobody will blame him. Professionally it has been the toughest year he’ll face.
It’ll also be the making of him.