Just under two months into the Paul Jewell era and the honeymoon is finally over.
Having seen his new charges spring into life from the outset, Jewells impact on the side has been impressive. However, after the forty five minute warning sign on Saturday that required managerial intervention to lift his side to victory, Jewell was unable to repeat the trick against Reading, with his side falling to the most comprehensive and deserving defeat of his spell as manager.
It was a performance that surprised Jewell himself, acknowledging that it was an occasion in which very little was achieved of merit. Speaking to the BBC after the match, Jewell said “There was no tempo to our play, we didn’t give the crowd anything to shout about. We didn’t get close to them, we didn’t make any tackles and we didn’t pass it. Everything that we did in the second half on Saturday, and have done for the majority of the time I’ve been here, we just didn’t do. I think you’ve always got to be honest, and we just didn’t play well enough tonight”.
Jewell found himself forced into changes with Mark Kennedy missing as a result of the injury picked up against old-club Cardiff City. However, of more impact was the loss of Saturdays match winner Jimmy Bullard, failing to recover from a hamstring injury. Darren O’Dea claimed the spot at left-back, with Andy Drury rewarded with his second start for the Blues in place of Bullard.
After a slow start from Town, struggling to find a rhythm, they were punished when a deep corner from Brian Howard was nodded powerfully home by Shane Long. Defensively, it was a poor goal to concede, with very little in the way of a challenge being put forward to oppose Long, not least from Marton Fulop, whos hesitancy on crosses had once again resulted in a goal.
The remainder of the half offered very little in the way of improvement from Towns perspective. Whilst they suffered defensive scares, the best they could offer at the other end of the pitch was an intricate free-kick move between Norris and Leadbitter, resulting in the latter volleying narrowly wide of goal.
Unlike on Saturday, the interval failed to herald a change in fortune, as Reading continued to have the better of the opportunities, not least when Howard stroked wide of Fulops left-hand post when a goal seemed inevitable.
Whilst Town began to dominate posession, by now playing with a two-man frontline of substitute Priskin and boy-wonder Wickham, the best they managed remained a chance which befell Andy Drury early in the half, the midfielder slipping as he reached the ball.
Inevitably, Reading added to their lead as first Ian Harte drilled home an immaculate curling free kick from distance, before the pressing Town defence was caught short as Noel Hunt ran clear to round Fulop and slide into the empty net.
Town finally managed to get on the score sheet in injury time, as Connor Wickham ran onto a long ball forward and lifted an excellent shot on the volley over McCarthy and into the net. It was probably the goal of the evening, with an honourable mention to Harte’s free kick, but it was of little value to a Town side who had been soundly outperformed.
Wickhams marker aside, there was very little of note to take from a match where, for the first time under Jewell, Town failed to provide any period of play in which they threatened to turn the game in their favour.
Whilst Readings performance was undeniably good, with their manager Brian McDermott claiming it to be “as good an away performance as you’ll see in the Championship”, Towns lack of quality in possession contributed heavily to it.
Inevitably, any discussion regarding this downturn in momentum can only start with the absence of Jimmy Bullard. The Hull man was sorely missed, particularly coming off the back of his performance against Cardiff at the weekend. With Grant Leadbitter and David Norris in particular struggling to make an impact, it added pressure to the shoulders of Andy Drury, a player still adapting to this level of competition.. Jewell was acutely aware of the missing influence of Bullard “We certainly missed him, he was a big loss for us. He's been the fulcrum of everything we have been doing, so it was a big disappointment that he wasn't out there.”
With Bullards involvement against Leeds at the weekend still questionable, it makes the 10th yellow card picked up by David Norris to be all the more critical. The captain will now miss the next two games under suspension, which will stretch Jewells resources, already robbed of the injured Colin Healy. Whilst Jewell has been quick in the past to speak of the value of the squad, it is undeniable that beyond his first eleven, options remain somewhat limited when injury and suspension call.
It is something his predecessor felt dearly when injuries struck in the first half of the season, and Jewells first job over the summer will be to ensure the squad is complemented rather than diminished. Perhaps starting with that man Bullard.