I've decided that I don't like having the day off on match days
I had all day to refresh twitter and all I read was AFCB fans getting more and more excited about the prospect of getting into the play-offs - I just can't cope with that kind of optimism and always think that even thinking it out loud will jinx it
In the concourse the mood was positive but a little more restrained as we all predicted a home win, by the odd goal - that's more like it ;-)
As we faced our second hoops in a week it was like Saturday had never finished - the noise was amazing even before a ball was kicked
Even when Reading had a chance in the opening minute as a Francis clearing header was brilliantly volleyed by their 37 only to find Camp in imperious form, diving to his left, the noise didn't diminish - this is what every game needs to sound like from now on
Looking back now, that start was the perfect kick up the arse we needed - just because we are on a good run of form, it doesn't mean we can be complacent
That slap around the chops fully woke the side and from then on the work rate all over the pitch was nothing short of outstanding
Hunting in packs they gave no-one a second on the ball and every second ball was won by an AFCB player with Ritchie performing the Arter role of stepping up and saying "I'm going to run this hard - this is the standard you ALL have to match" - and match it they did
With just 6 minutes on the clock is was one such hunting party that snaffled the ball from midfield and was passed back to Cook
He passed the ball up the line on the left and Grabban, having had an intensive 3 day course explaining what the offside rule was, was away
Just in case I forget to say so later, tonight Grabban was OUTSTANDING. His runs and work rate were top notch and he jumped, and actually headed, more balls today than he has all season
Add that to the way he managed to hold the ball up under extreme pressure and the defenders had a torrid time with him
On this occasion, he cut back inside and at first glance seemed to pass the ball behind everyone but in fact in was running Ritchie from the right and with a first time controlled shot he passed the ball into the bottom left corner, giving the keeper no chance
Just when you thought home games couldn't get any better, it just did : 1-0
Reading weren't here to just roll over though and their right winger number 10 was as fast as I've seen at Dean Court so they always had an outlet
It was he on 16 minutes that suddenly had the ball on the half way line after an AFCB attack was cleared and he was away
At least, that was what he thought
Across flew the team's most improved player and he timed a sliding tackle fantastically to thump the ball into the stands
Goals make the crowd go wild and this tackle was greeted with exactly the same fervour
It was like the team were saying "you might beat one of us, but we've all got each other's back"
Properly inspiring
Not just for us, it seemed, but for the team as 2 minutes later the lead was doubled
Grabban was played through leaving the cumbersome defence in his wake but inexplicably he doubled back and it seemed the chance was lost
He passed it back to Surman who passed it first time to Ritchie and he produced a carbon copy passing shot that again he keeper got nowhere near : 2-0
Reading then really tried to raise their game but they just couldn't keep hold of the ball as the AFCB players were all over them like a rash and were a constant threat on the break
One such break on 32 minutes had a right cross land on Kermorgant's head and as I jumped up to celebrate the goal - the keeper saved it
How did that happen - it's always a goal when the Frenchman heads it? Remind me to put in a formal complaint that the keeper clearly hadn't received the memo - heads will roll, I tell you......
On 39 minutes it was groundhog day
Another defence splitting pass had Grabban running away from the hapless centre backs down the left and as he opened his body up to pass the ball into the far corner, he missed the target altogether
I reckon if Grabban could score even half the one on ones his pace creates he'd be in line to win Europe's golden boot but it was just another one that went missing
In an otherwise flawless display, though, it's easy to overlook this small fly in the ointment
What made that pill a little easier to swallow was that it wasn't the end of the best half I've seen - yes I said it, best and again yes, I was there for the Leeds game
With just a minute left on the clock some more good work on the right had the ball crossed in and there was Kermorgant again
Still fuming from his previous miss he bent his neck so far back I thought his head was going to fall off and then, recoiling it like an angry serpent he smashed the ball past the keeper to make it 3-0
The half time whistle went shortly after that but the singing continued - I've not witnessed anything like it - absolutely superb support and still enough to make the hairs on my arm stand up
Just before the second half started their keeper was led out like a punch drunk boxer and he was put through his paces for a full 5 minutes
The North Stand ironically cheered with every save he made - well, it must have been nice to touch the ball without having to bend down to pick it out of the back of the net....
The second half started and Reading definitely started the brighter, keeping the ball well and trying their best to get as many high balls into the box as possible
Reminiscent of AFCB at the beginning of the season, though, you just never thought they were going to score.
Such is the understanding now at the back it appeared that every eventuality was catered for and if there wasn't someone there to pass the ball away, there was someone else to put it into row Z
Despite their pressure the real chances fell to Bournemouth with the first created by a typically strong run by Francis shrugging off his marker as he were no more that an annoying gnat and crashing his shot near post, which more struck the keeper than was saved
Pugh then punched a long range shot wide of the left post when better options were to his left and Grabban just failed to keep his shot down as he struck the bouncing ball just over the bar
Then on 74 minutes the unexpected happened
For the first time of the night AFCB's policy of passing the ball out from the back was their undoing as a ball was intercepted and the ball moved to the left
From a LONG way out Robson-Kanu struck the ball and I'm not sure whether it was deflected or if Camp was unsighted but he didn't move as the ball sailed in
I'd joked at half time that I hoped we didn't get a fourth as we always seem vulnerable then and so this was going to be another test
Well, that's what I thought but despite the Reading fans finally waking up, the only test I had was with my patience as I witnessed dozens of home fans leaving early
What's gong on ? I get that traffic was bad earlier but if you can't enjoy getting within 2 points of a play-off spot in the Championship you do have to wonder what will keep bums on seats - the Champions' League perhaps - or will that depend on whether the Masterchef final was on at the same time...
That really was the only test as Reading huffed and puffed but just didn't trouble Camp again
The person I felt sorry for was the poor guy that got hit the face by a Kermorgant free kick deep into injury time. That alone was bad but as he'd been practising those free kicks before the game and had already peppered the guy without hitting the target once the supporter must really rethink his Aunt Sally fancy dress outfit...
Final Score 3-1 and we finally have a positive goal difference!!!
Summary : Leeds was great, Birmingham was excellent but this first half was better
The noise of the crowd, the passion of the players to retrieve the ball and the pace and deadliness of the attacks were amazing
With the chances we created today the score could have been even more impressive but it wouldn't have been flattering
The only thing that rankles with me is that all of the bloody goals are at the South Stand AGAIN - can't they share it around every once in a while ?? ;-)
Star Man: Grabban's overall display was outstanding but for work rate and giving a lesson in keeping cool when scoring opportunities arise, it has to be Ritchie - a welcome return to top form
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