READING FC look to be a long way off challenging for a top-six Championship spot after their 4-0 defeat against Crystal Palace.
Royals have a quality team on paper but there is still plenty of work to be done to get them firing on all cylinders.
Pre-season friendlies are academic and the fall-out from Saturday’s game will all be forgotten if Royals come away with a win against Derby County next Friday.
That said, it appears there is plenty of work to do on the training ground next week if Paul Clement is going to get one over his former side.
Reading are still lacking that killer ball in the final third, which was much of the story last season.
There were some short spells of the attacking style of play that Clement promised to introduce in the upcoming campaign, but not enough to fill anyone with confidence that Royals will put Derby to the sword.
Liam Kelly was excellent in midfield and David Meyler looks to be a good acquisition. The 29-year-old looked solid sat in front of the back four and always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Marc McNulty seemed to link well up front and I would like to see Clement take the game to Derby next week by playing two strikers up front.
And, subject to medical, the manager suggested he could have plenty of firepower to choose from when he welcomes his former employers to Berkshire.
But one thing he has to his advantage is that all eyes will be on the Rams next week and in particular their new boss, Frank Lampard.
The England and Chelsea legend, who Clement will know well from his time at Stamford Bridge, will make his management debut at Madejski Stadium.
INTERESTING NOTES:
- Saturday was Royals’ second 4-0 home defeat in a row after Royals were also thumped by Ipswich Town last time they played at Madejski Stadium.
- Paul Clement chose to play with 10 men towards the end of the game after Reading accepted a bid for George Evans during the warm-ups.
- Liam Moore was left out of the squad after handing in a transfer request on Friday.
Reading FC: Mannone, Gunter (Richards,33), Yiadom, McShane, Meyler, Swift (Bodvarsson, 63), Aluko (Clement,68), Barrow (Blackett, 68), Ilori, Meite (McNulty, 63), Kelly
Subs not used: Evans, Walker
Attendance: 5,158 (1,540 away)
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here