Can Reading regain their tenacity against the masters?
This evening, Manchester United face a Reading side who have continued to show signs of the team that stormed to the Championship title last year.
However, despite their performances so far this campaign, Reading sit 19th in the Premier League table having collected only nine points from 13 games. Being at home under the floodlights against the league leaders may provide Brian McDermott’s underdog side with an excellent opportunity to get a result.
The Royals’ late surge at the end of last season saw them overtake fellow new boys Southampton and West Ham in order to finish top of England’s second division and clinch promotion in extraordinary style. Reading were not even in the play-off spots after 27 games in the Championship, sat in eight place 11 points behind the leaders, but each result they picked up saw them gain more and more momentum. Between January and April, an incredible eight-game winning run was followed by an almost as impressive six-game one. Ironically, their status as champions was only confirmed after a draw.
Sir Alex Ferguson knows a little something about consistency after 26 years of grinding out results at Old Trafford. The Scottish manager is all about winning and, whether that has meant United playing beautiful football or simply being dogged and determined enough to get the job done, the trophy collection speaks for itself.
Taking nothing away from his Championship winner’s medal and LMA Championship Manager of the Year award, can Brian McDermott take on arguably the greatest coach British football has ever seen?
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