That hurts to read that, but it's so bloody true.

No wonder you were getting excited then Next year is my worry. We'll be ok this season, but next season the 2nd season syndrome will kick in probably. That's when we'll have to start showing our character and spirit (2 things which were lacking today). Not only that, I fear if we start badly and progressively slump then the supposed "new fans" will go back to supporting Chelsea.

We are usually ridiculously strong outfit at home. Before today, the only teams to beat us at the Madejski since the opening day of 05/06 (Aug 05) were Chelsea and Arsenal. Coppell's comments ring true. Our players let themselves down for the first time this season. Onto the 3 disallowed goals and the mocking gestures we make, yeah it needs a majorly large slice of humble pie. Although it was quite funny to see you 3 times off your seats celebrating when it was clear all 3 times the linesman had put his flag up well before the ball was placed in the net!!

The Reading perspective. On show today was a transformation in performance that I've not seen for a long time from a Reading team. From a first half where we should have gone in at least 3 up, totally dominant, breaking through at every opportunity, to a 2nd half where we were completely devoid of ideas and inagination. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement, we're not used to losing at home. At half time my mate and I were positively purring over what was arguably the best 45 minutes of football we'd seen all season. Our only worry was that we hadn't sown it up, or at least got a 2nd. At the end it was a case of what the **** happened there? Ultimately you won this game because we didn't take our chances in the 1st half. If we'd got a 2nd I think we'd have absolutely murdered you. You looked a very poor outfit, Ooijer and Todd looking distinctly average at best. Doyle looked like it was a matter of time before he stuck his 9th of the season away. The goal was coming, the only surprise was who it came from! Harper must have had a nosebleed, he rarely gets that far forward! We should have kicked on from there, and it was disappointing that half time came along when it did. As for the 2nd half, all change. You made a tactical switch and we completely failed to even counteract it. We normally don't have to because we try and play our way regardless of the opposition, but today was one of those days where it was crying out to be switched. You had far too much room in midfield, and we should have brought Gunnarsson on for Seol who was off the pace for most of the game (admittedly he hadn't trained all week after ripping a toe nail from his toe). From a dominant midfield to a dominated midfield, something needed changing, but bringing Leroy Lita on was not the answer, or John Oster for that matter. Oster's first and only contribution was to gift Bentley the ball, and we then saw Hahnemann flap at his admittedly well struck effort, although I think he should have at least got his hands to it to tip it over. All credit to Rovers though, on your 2nd half showing you deserved it. You came out with a different shape 2nd half and for once Coppell got his decisions wrong. We failed to counteract it and you took full advantage. 3 points are yours, and you deserve them. One last point, someone noted in an earlier post that Doyle doesn't look powerful and had you defenders in his pocket. He is deceptively strong and quick, and regularly plays like that. Now I'm off to go and have a drink to try and forget the second half ###### I witnessed today!!

Parking = Three Mile Cross and walk. Much better than spending £7!! That's 2 1/2 pints!!

Very kind of you both to say so, but how do you know if I'm telling the truth? As for the name, it was something that was coined a couple of years ago when I got absolutely bollocksed one night. We ended up going to Walkabout (the one I mentioned behind Yates's in an earlier post). To cut a long story short, Cotton Eye Joe by Rednecks came on, and myself and Compo's Hat off Hob Nob Anyone? (www.royals.org) started going mental to it. I basically knocked some birds glass of wine out of her hand and all over her front, and she took exception to it. So she started having a bit of a go, and it got physical on her part. Another poster on Hob Nob Anyone? (now banned) coined the name after it was described to him as handbags at ten paces. And no, I didn't offer to buy her a replacement. Pity really, I remember the girl being quite pretty. I wish I'd knocked her friends glass though, she was the better looking one, and also appeared to have no bra on under her white top. As for crossdressing? I can say with 100% certainty I have never had an inclination to replace my regular jeans and t-shirt with a skirt and blouse!! Oh, and your mate should get into Brannigans in The Oracle (you'll even meet Compo's Hat in there probably, he works there) or Reflex. We don't call Brannigans Grab-a-Grans for nothing. Or shenanigans. reflex is just tacky though.

Hmmm...Don't know if you're aware but direct trains run from Clapham Junction to Reading quite regular (about every 20 minutes) so the total journey time would be about the same. Clapham Junction to Reading direct would be cheaper though because you don't have to use the tube (you would have to ask for a cheapday return ticket without Underground so you don't get charged for it). Here's your journey options for the tube though though: From Paddington: 1) Get the Northern Line to Elephant & Castle, change for the Bakerloo Line straight through to Paddington (my personal choice if going via Paddington). 2) Get the Northern Line to Embankment and change for the Circle Line or District Line to Paddington. 3) You could also get the Victoria Line to Victoria Station and get the Circle or District Lines from there, but to be honest you may as well go for option 2 if doing that. Then catch any direct train from Paddington to Reading. The majority stop at Reading so you'll not be short of any options. There's also a pub at Paddington which isn't actually overpriced and is pretty damn good. It's upstairs and called The Mad Bishop and Bear and is frequented by a lot of travelling fans from a number of clubs (early November we bumped into some random Exeter fans!). Hope this hasn't confused you mate, but go from Clapham direct, it's much easier and gets you to the same place in the same amount of time!

Best way from Reading train station to the ground: get the 79 bus from opposite the station itself. It's 3 miles from the station to the ground so walking isn't really an option if you want a drink. Come out of the main entrance and cross the road in front of you. Follow the road to your right and you'll see a load of buses queued up. This is the 79 bus, and costs about £3 return (I think). That drops you outside the ground. Pubs along the way? Are you having a laugh mate?!

Where are you coming from John? The best trains are certainly from Paddington. Every 15-20 minutes direct. 25 minute ride on First Great Western. Avoid the local stoppers though, they take an age to get to Reading (about an hour and 20). You could also get a direct train from Waterloo, but like the local services from Paddington they take an age (although you do get to see the home of Egg Chasing and also Ascot Racecourse - even better if there's a meet on because of the posh totty!)

No worries mate, can only do my best to make away fans as welcome as I can. Interesting place to have a stag do Friar Street is the place to do you drinking. 2 Wetherspoons down there (Back of Beyond and Monks Retreat), both at either end of the street. There's a Walkabout down there, behind Yates's. Avoid Reflex like the plague (opposite Monks Retreat), you get all the grannies in there because it's an 80's nightclub. It also has the sticky carpets. Up the other end of Friar Street you have Bar Risa which is pretty damn good. Unfortunately the Honeypot has closed, so no more strip joints in town as far as I'm aware. For the after p1ssup munchies, there's plenty of kebab houses if you head toewards the station. Zorba's comes recommended, as does Gregory's opposite the station itself. Any more info needed, don't hesitate to ask.

Ahhhh, the Reading Rock Festival. The one event that all Reading folk seem to avoid like the Plague! I'm quite happy to say that despite being a Reading resident for the majority of my 24 years, I haven't been to the Rock Festival (mainly because it generally clashed with that weekend's football and I kind of think that you've got to go to the whole weekend to experience it. No point in half measures is there? I mean how many people walk out of a football match after half an hour? Heard about The Fernhurst. Didn't Utd "fans" kick off in there or just outside before their most recent visit? I'll certainly bear the pie shop in mind, if only for the sellers themselves... Any decent chippy's selling chips n gravy around as well? There's something you can't get down here...gravy with your chips! Scandalous!! We've visited Turf Moor for the last 4 years (about time we made a step up in standard, their away stand is bleedin @#/?!), as well as plenty of other times in years previous. Each time we've visited, a mate of mine has stayed overnight in Accrington. Apparently there's a social club there selling beer for roughly £1.30 a pint...is this true? And where is it?!

No offence? NO OFFENCE?! For Christ's sake, do you not understand the etiquette of away teams at The Madejski?! You're supposed to roll over and let us stuff you!! Christ man, learn some manners!! I dunno, some people...!!

Durrrr, I only used to pass there when I travelled to me ol' mans! (Lives near Preston - someone's got to I suppose, what a sh*tpit that place is!). Bit slow on the uptake there...either way, it's by the by. I'll be travelling on train to your place!! I bloody hope your pies are good, that's half the fun in Lancashire!!

Actually, believe it or not, they do sell wine. Don't ask me how much it is though because I haven't got a clue. And scuse my ignorance, but Hilton Park?

Hello one and all, handbags_harris from Hob Nob Anyone? (HNA?) at your service. Firstly, let's get to the important stuff: beer before games. The above given information on HNA? is slightly incorrect. If you arrive at the station, the only pub you'll be allowed in with colours is The Three Guineas, which is actually on Reading station. The Forum across the road is now a swanky "social club", and is bloody expensive to boot, and certainly won't let us footy oiks in. The 3G's is a good pub though, serves good beer and has about 4 guest ales at any one time (local I think). Also serves food, and is actually quite cheap for a southern pub, Carlsberg being only £2.50 a pint for example. It is deemed the "away fans pub" and no home fans are allowed in there (indredible that you can't go into a pub in your home town, but hey, welcome to Reading!). If you make your way into the town centre then HNA? is correct in that you'll be turned away from the majority of bars if you're in colours. If you're drinking in town then the way to get to the ground is the 79 bus (opposite the station and down the hill to your right). You can also get the Madejski Stadium Park and Ride from the first bus stop on the same side of the road as the station. There is one decent pub near the ground, however it has no tv's and is more of a food pub than a drinking mans pub. It's cheap however and has a good selection of lagers at least. It's called The World Turned Upside Down, and is down the Basingstoke Road. When you come off the M4 at Junction 11, take the first exit and get into the right hand lane, snake in an S bend through 3 sets of lights and you're on the Basingstoke Road. Follow this up for about a mile and the pub is on your right hand side. Parking can be found in the Travelodge Car Park and the ground is about 15 minutes walk. This is the only pub near the ground, so be warned if you park up expecting to find loads of water holes. "Beer" is also served in the ground. Gates open an hour and half before kick off. The only stuff available is Fosters, Courage Best or Guinness and it's overpriced as well. The Pie and pint deal isn't too bad at a fiver though. Pies on sale are Steak and Kidney or Chicken Balti, so not a fantastic selection. You also have Cheesey Onion Pasties or Cornish Pasties, but I'm not sure if they come under the same deal or not because I usually go for the Balti Pie option. The food isn't too bad, it's edible at least, but it doesn't come anywhere near the pies we've experienced at Preston, Wigan or (whisper it) Burnley, so we're hoping your pies are just as good if not better when we get up there at the end of the season! It is generally overpriced for what it is, just like the catering vans dotted around the ground (£3 for a burger!!) There is a bar at the ground (Jazz Cafe) for home season ticket holders, however they can take in one guest if they wish. I usually frequent this place before games, and get there by about midday. I have no guest to take in this weekend so the offer's there for a lone Rovers fan if they want. If there's a group of 2 or 3 then I'll grab a couple of mates to get you in. Much easier that way. Word of warning when you get in the ground. The stewards are slightly overzealous. It's a contentious issue with home fans so don't feel you're being singled out for treatment. Be warned - if you stand throughout the game and ignore warnings from stewards, they WILL eject you from the stadium without question. Any other issues about The Madejski you wish to raise, please just ask. I'll happily help.