We bought one on Thursday - Steve Brown from Charlton Athletic (on a free transfer). He didn't play today, though, as he's apparently not completely match fit. He may play in the Boxing Day fixture against Cov City.
Please RichardL or Cube on someone who was on site, fill us in. Two weeks in a row where we've gone down 2-0, given up early goals and chased the game. Was the Royals' form based on the play of Upson, or are we just heading into a dry spell? Bright side, we might already be sitting on enough points to keep us up, and we didn't go broke doing it. But for half a season, we've looked the equal of about everybody out there. What's happened?
I didn't actually go today so I can't really say want went wrong. Forest are a good side with a good home record so losing wasn't unexpected. Upson's replacement John Mackie apparently had a poor game, which might have had a bit to do with the fall-out from being reported to the FA for making a racist remark to a Sheffield Utd player during a small scrap in the tunnel after last week's match. Reading's main striker Nicky Forster also picked up an injury during the match which could put him out for a few weeks, which rather buggers up the team's current tactics which rely on his pace heavily. A short report on the TV said that Marcus had a mixed game, generally playing well but making a poor kick out which went straight to a Forest player who passed to Harewood for the second goal. Overall though Division 1 is a lot closer talentwise from top to bottom than the premiership, so it doesn't take all that much to swing form from good to bad (and vice-versa).
Saw highlights on Sky Sports News. Marcus made several nice saves. One goal was not savable. The other resulted from a somewhat dodgy clearance by Marcus. Under little pressure, he kicked it straight to a Forest player who was about 3/4 of the way between the 18 and the half-way line. He ran unmolested toward the 18 and layed it off to an unrunning player, who dribbled around an outstretched Marcus and slotted it home -- a rather nice finish.