Bikey enveloped in red mist as Royals dominance goes unrewarded

Oh dear. Reading should have taken at least a point from a match they dominated - and never looked troubled in at all - but were dealt a sucker punch with a penalty five minutes from time. Tactically Steve Coppell got this one right, we stifled Burnley completely with Kevin Doyle effectively operating as a wide man in a five man midfield. In an excellent first half the Royals created two excellent chances: Jay Tabb forcing a superb save from Burnley stopper Brian Jensen, and following a strong Andre Bikey header, Kevin Doyle's stabbed effort was chested off the line. Burnley were reduced to occasional forays into the Reading half. Liam Rosenior blocking a shot was probably their only chance of any note at all. The second half was more even, but Reading were still looking comfortable, and when Jimmy Kebe broke free on the left and bore down on goal it looked certain he would find Kitson on his own in the 6 yard box. Unfortunately he could not thread the ball pass the final defender, and so a golden opportunity to take a deserved lead back to Berkshire was gone. The story of Kebe's season really, so much promise but unable to deliver the final product. We were made to pay for such profligacy as minutes later Bikey pulled Steven Thompson's shirt and veteran Graham Alexander slotted the spot kick home. What a kick in the teeth, but worse was to come. Bikey let himself and everyone associated with Reading Football Club down with a petulant stamp on Robbie Blake in injury time. Whilst it was clearly borne of frustration, it was a stupid thing to do. The referee gave him a straight red card and he let himself down further with a Drogba-esque display, removing his short and hurling it to the ground. It was a sad end to a match we probably should have won.

So now we have to do something we haven't done since January, actually win a game at the Madejski Stadium. It's a big ask right now, especially with Bikey's suspension. Maybe history will repeat itself though...we should have beaten Burnley earlier this season at Turf Moor and lost 1-0, we won the home game 3-1 - maybe it's an omen! I'm not particularly optimistic but surely we will win at home again this season, eventually! We have one more massively important game to put that right and book a place at Wembley...