I've missed the first 25 minutes, how is it going?

Exactly, it's not just a case of being tired. High tempo in that heat can't have been healthy for the brain. They looked slow to react whenever a ball was kicked. That WBA game had to have a short term effect and I wouldn't be surprised if that's why JDT changed things a bit.

Did you go to the game against WBA?

There's a good chance that the players burned themselves out against WBA in that freak heat. Perhaps that's why Dolan and Vale started. It was a very off colour performance by anyone's standards, the players just seemed to react to everything in slow motion. Fingers crossed it was a blip rather than a glimpse of things to come.

Who rated him? Only asking as maybe we can help them to find appropriate psychiatric care.

I'll be surprised if Vale starts again this season.

I thought this match would be the first defeat, sadly now I think it'll be the second defeat. But we'll come back with a win against Bradford in the cup then there's two home games. It'll be a well fought draw against Stoke then narrowly beat Blackpool. 3 or 4 signings will happen between now and then which will define the season.

It's the match thread for this game and saying we were diabolical last night isn't OTT.

Some unfair comments on here, "we've been poor all season". They ran their asses off in freakishly hot weather on Sunday to beat a decent team. It was bound to take its toll on the players tonight.

At least there's one thing we don't need to worry about, they won't be knackered at the weekend. Everyone had their feet up tonight.

The few times we've gone forward we've been trying outlandish passing instead of keeping it simple. Every time. Similar to defending, instead of getting the ball away we've tried to pass our way out of trouble.

Edun coming on for Brereton 😩

We're missing Wharton. We need rid of Pickering. Vale should never ever start. We need another goalscorer. No idea what to do with that midfield.

All the players are asleep, when a ball is passed it takes them a moment to react to it. Has someone spiked them pre-match?

He's got his work cut out, we've been absolutely diabolical.

3-0 now

Just a bit worrying about the manner it's happened. Reading probably won't play this well again, and let's hope Rovers don't play this badly again.

Hedges, ffs. What a bad pass. Making it really easy for them.

Brereton skied it. Best chance.

Still, a Paul Ince team is mullering us.

This is f****** dire.

Penalty not given, so obvious too.

Blimey we've had a shot.

Passing it out at the back, again and again.

Yep no pressing, no movement, trying to pass it about at the back and losing it. The few times it has been in Reading's half, Vale and Dolan have looked like strangers to the game. BBD looks more Brereton than Diaz. As someone else said, only Ayala came out of that half blameless.