Reading fan Charlie Firth gives his take on Reading's 1-0 defeat away at Griffin Park.

On a grey afternoon in West London, an in-form Reading side produced an equally grim performance against a clearly talented Brentford side.

The first half offered little in the way of talking points, the chance of the half falling to George needs-a-goal Puscas, who proved exactly why he needs a goal by attempting to round the Brentford keeper David Raya after Andy Yiadom’s cool chip over the Brentford back line.

It was evident fairly early into this attempt that this was the wrong decision and perhaps Lucas Joao deserves a chance up top when he returns from injury.

After an uninspiring first half, half time gave an opportunity for one of Brentford or Reading to come out fighting and put in a strong second half performance.

To my dismay, it was Brentford who very much stepped up a gear whilst Reading shifted down one.

The decision to replace Sam Baldock, who had been Reading’s best player in the first half by a mark, and George Puscas with Yakou Meite and Garath McCleary, in my opinion, completely robbed the Royals of any hope of a win.

Meite knows where the goal is, but any attempt to do anything but score he consistently fails at. His technical ability is way, way off, and he somehow looked exhausted within 10 minutes of being on the pitch.

McCleary’s performance proved why Jose Gomes cut him from the squad, a decent effort at goal a rare example of quality in a performance littered with misplaced passes and getting dispossessed.

I’ve always been a fan of McCleary, but his time as a Championship player is finished, I’m afraid.

Brentford’s goal was a result of what Reading failed to do for the entirety of a miserable second half: keep the ball. Hapless passing and aimless long balls made it very simple for the Bees to win back possession, eventually leading to a fine header from Ollie Watkins to take the points.

With regards to Tuesday, this was not the Reading side we’ve seen under Mark Bowen during his first four games. I trust that he will tell the players that Saturday was unacceptable. If we play like the side from those first four games, I believe a point at least is possible.

POTM: Probably Sam Baldock.