JUST EIGHT games into a dire start to the Championship season, Reading went into Saturday’s crunch fixture against Hull City already in desperate need of three points.
Although a first league win of the season had come at Deepdale a week earlier, a midweek defeat to Daniel Farke’s Norwich City quickly burst the bubble of optimism.
To bounce back from that loss, Paul Clement named a starting XI which few would have seen coming. Out went Sone Aluko, Yakou Meite, John Swift and Chris Gunter and in came Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Josh Sims, John O’Shea and Saeid Ezatolahi, the last three being handed their first league starts for the club.
When that news broke at 2pm, it was hard to decipher what formation Reading would use. In my mind, the trio of central defenders suggested a return to the ‘three at the back’ system used against Watford.
However, Clement surprised us with a set-up which proved to be both sensible and innovative.
RATINGS: Yiadom and Bodvarsson star as Reading see off Hull
Tiago Ilori adapted effortlessly to his new full-back role – Andy Yiadom doing similar on the other flank – whilst Ezatolahi added balance to a midfield that was itself freshened up by two new wingers: Sims on the right and Sam Baldock down the left.
By shaking things up as he did, Clement was able to utilise a system that was familiar to the players but allowed them to do things differently. Liam Kelly and Leandro Bacuna in the middle looked revitalised, driving forwards at any opportunity, with Sims and Baldock cutting inside in support of Bodvarsson to give the team an effective directness we’ve sorely lacked when playing Aluko and Meite.
Despite O’Shea’s unfortunate late red card, Reading should use this lineup – the first to win comfortably at home in the league in too long – as a template going forwards. They’ll be sorely tested at high-flying Brentford on Saturday, but it’s on them to prove they’re up to the task.
Simeon can be found on Twitter @SimFromBucks or via The Tilehurst End website.
