Finally football returns to the Madstad, following two weeks of speculation conspiracy theories etc regarding the ownership or future ownership issues surrounding the delayed takeover.
A reasonable crowd of 17,000 + in the circumstances is a little more than I had anticipated, the travelling Doncaster fans were never going to be in the thousands, as we would not take thousands to an away game at the Keepmoat Stadium.
The match build up on the radio at least realised a previous error in predicting a rout at Barnsley, it was more cautious optimism.
The game began with Reading playing good approach work left right and centre, and deservedly took an early lead through a long range effort from Danny Gutherie and his strange hair style, not sure if it is for luck part of a bet or some other obscure fashion reason.
The response from Paul Dickov was swift, quick to realise that Reading were being totally unchallenged and made a tactical substitution to bring on another striker on the 23rd minute.
This changed and within 8 minutes after only parrying a strike Federici was to be beaten in the Reading goal.
Alfie restored the lead after an audacious flick to send the ball trickling across the goal line to ensure the Royals had a half time lead.
The second half showed Donnie were looking very much to recover parity, but the game was to take a bizarre twist. Their central defender was involved in a heavy collision with the goal post, presumably after a coming together with Sean Morrison, who checked to make sure the defender was ok.
Clearly Rob Jones was injured as the stretcher team and medical team rushed to his aid as he was still kneeling in the back of the goal, still not moving. Bizarrely he received some treatment and was walked off the pitch into the exit of the South Stand. He was supporting his own arm with his other hand as he left the field of play, why he went that way is a mystery. Normally an injured player goes down the tunnel, unless it was the shortest route for access to an ambulance. Maybe a lesson learnt from the Petr Cech incident for Chelsea.
As Donnie had used all three subs they went down to 10 men, for which they were to remain at throughout the rest of the match.
McCleary struck home to make it a third for Reading, and as a contest the game was over.
At 3-1 the game entered added time, 7 minutes for the prolonged injury to Rob Jones
Pavel Pogrebnyak worked tirelessly throughout the game and capped a fine performance in the final minute of the seven with a cracking individual goal. Clearly the "Bigf*ckingrussian" has found both the desire and appetite for the game.
Despite his banter with the Reading fans, our Aussie goal keeper may have picked up a suspected hamstring injury.
Good all round performance, thoughts of the takeover were not so imperative as they were for the fans before the game kicked off. Rising to sixth in the table is not bad for a team that clearly has only it patches of good form, they now need to do it consistently over a match.
Hope the injury to Rob Jones is not too serious, and wish him a speedy recovery
