United Dodge Bullet (Reading 2 - Manchester United 3)

I like early goals, but I think after today's game, I'd be hoping we don't score too many early goals.

We started the game with only 2 recognisable first team players, Edwin Van der Sar and Rio Ferdinand, and 9 other players from the squad. Of course an argument could be made for Saha being the first choice striker.

Anyway, we started the game with a bang, scoring 3 times in the opening 6 minutes. Goals from Heinze, Saha and an exquisite strike from Ole put us beyond Reading....or so we thought. For the next 15 or so minutes, we threatening to turn this into a route, probably on course to break some scoring record. But it was not to be, complacency and sloppiness creeped into our play and allowed Reading to regain confidence and control of the game.

They responded with an open header by Kitson on 23 minutes when the entire defense went napping.

And for the rest of the game we simply played awful soccer. While it was not Fulham-awful, it was still hard to watch for a United fan. We had numerous chances to put Reading to the sword on the counter, but besides Ole, everyone was plagued by stupidity and greed. The entire team was guilty of being too clever by making the extra pass when none was availably or taking a shot when a pass was the right option. To add to that, O'Shea and Fletcher had a terrible time in the centre of the park. They were outplayed and outtackled, basically non-factors for much of the game.

Then late in the second half, Lita scored to make things even more uncomfortable for us in the last few minutes. And in injury time, Reading hit the crossbar. It would have brought the game into extra time, and quite frankly it was something Reading utterly deserved given the way they clawed back into the game. They were the more determined side by far.

While Reading may have lost the game, they've definitely won over this blogger. Credit must go to Manchester United legend Steve Coppell for instilling the kind of character currently possessed by Reading. I wish them all the best....except when facing us.

As for us, if we continue to play in this lacklustre manner, I fear the worst at 'fortress' Anfield this weekend. I can already see Steven Gerrard and gang smacking their lips at the prospect, not to mention my fanatical Liverpool friends.