Leeds United 0-1 Reading: Evolution of Nerves
Anyone who expected the removal of the tippy-tappy softie from nets to instantly transform Leeds into 4-4-2 thunder was sadly disillusioned, and that disillusion was soon audible.
In some ways I wish Felix Wiedwald had started this game, rather than Andy Lonergan. That way the animosity creeping from the stands could have been focused on one player, rather than distributed haphazardly around the ten other escaping goats.
Thomas Christiansen's backing for Wiedwald was never as forceful as it sounded. He wouldn't talk about him in depth as an individual, as he never does with any player, other than to say Felix has been in tough situations before and overcome them. "I have confidence in all my goalkeepers," said Christiansen, effectively giving Wiedwald and Lonergan an equal chance to start.
Lonergan was the right choice because knives had been sharpened in readiness for just one more mistake from Wiedwald, and he was never likely to perform well under that sort of pressure. Instead of prompting a positive atmosphere, though, Wiedwald's absence inspired the blade runners in the crowd to seek new targets, and by the end of the game, there were plenty to choose from.
Save for the goalkeeping change and Gaetano Berardi replacing Vurnon Anita at left-back, the team was the same as hammered Burton Albion after the last international break, and from the very earliest stages resentment was simmering that Leeds weren't showing signs of repeating that blistering, and now bewildering, performance. The opening quarter hour was punctuated by cries of "Get it forward!" as United passed sedately from foot to foot in their defensive third, keeping it away from Reading's high-pressing players.
Anyone who expected the removal of the tippy-tappy softie from nets to instantly transform Leeds into 4-4-2 thunder was sadly disillusioned, and that disillusion was soon audible. But the chances of that ever happening were minimal, especially against Reading.
Reading's run of six winless games and growing injury list was either going to send them gung-ho for an instant reversal of fortunes, or more likely given Jaap Stam's managerial preferences, crab-like and defensive in search of a result to keep Stam in a job. It was more like the latter, with added high-pressing and close man-marking of Samu Saiz, whose ankles must have been bruised purple by the end of the game.
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