In a recent interview Terry Venables spoke of how during his career he always seemed to be acting like a doctor by helping down and out sides get back on their feet. Sadly Venables latest patient has taken a bad turn for the worse. Venables must also be wondering how performances like this one against Reading will fill the super new Fratton End as Pompey were awful and the fans anger was aimed at Terry Fenwick in the second-half with chant's of "we want Fenwick out".
Fitzroy Simpson returned to the starting line up with Awford making way. Aussie international Craig Foster still has a knock so he wasn't in line to make his much awaited debut.
The signs at the start looked good for Pompey as they almost took the after just 40 seconds. Former Pompey defender Sandford lost possession to Pethick down the right and his well measured pass found Aloisi's but the striker's effort went just too high as two defender's put him under pressure.
Not long after Simpson picked out Hall out on the left and his cross to the far post was met by Pethick who had stormed into the area and the shot flew into the side-netting. Yet in the 6th minute some slapstick defending allowed Asaba to intercept Waterman's pass and Perrett brought the striker down with no caution for the defender. Fortunately the free-kick came to nothing with Hodges volley flying miles over.
Russell was then caught out by his own corner flag losing the ball to Meaker whose cross was, luckily, overhit. The bar then came to Pompey's rescue as from Houghton's clever chip into the area Williams looped a header onto Flahavan's bar and over for a goal-kick. The Pompey keeper was none too impressed with the slack marking and made his feelings felt to the men in front of him.
On 15 minutes Reading took the lead with again Pompey's defence totally out of shape. Another poor pass, this time by Pethick, gifted the ball to Hodges who set Asaba away down the left. Pompey failed to stop him as he cut in and set-up Hodges who fired past Flahavan to send the away contingent into raptures.
The home side thought they should have had a penalty when Hall darted into the area with the ball from the right and was brought crashing to the ground as he shaped to shoot. Reading though stepped up a gear and looked the more likely side to score. A huge kick by Mautone was flicked on by Williams into Asaba's path and despite being driven wide by Waterman he managed to fire in a shot which Flahavan saved well.
The home fans must have hoped the recent trend of playing well in the second half would continue and initially the signs looked good. From a Pethick cross Houghton gave away a corner kick even though there was no need to. From Simpson's cross Russell rose highest to place a header just over Mautone's goal.
In the 57th minute McLoughlin entered the field of play although the fact that Durnin went off for him didn't go down well with the Pompey supporters. McLoughlin though quickly got into the action by attempting to set Aloisi free with Meaker doing well to nick the ball of the strikers feet for a corner. That came to nothing as did the next two which came in quick succession.
After 65 minutes Pompey should have scored but they wasted the opportunity and it looked as though they would never score. Aloisi took advantage of some hesitation between the keeper and defence to nick the ball past Mautone. A shot with his right foot looked odds on to hit the net but he wanted to take it on his left. Trying an ambitious shot from a very acute angle two Reading defenders managed to clear it as far as Igoe who found Hall. He too was snuffed out with Pethick drilling in a fierce 20-yarder which Mautone tipped around the post.
Pethick though had picked up a knock minutes earlier and was replaced by Turner. He soon go stuck in as he robbed the ball of McPherson but Aloisi couldn't make anything of the loose ball.
Pompey looked all over the place and their passing was at a dreadful standard, even Igoe was off his game. Simpson didn't look match fit which could be down to his time in Jamaica as it seems his concentration is more towards his country qualifying for the World Cup.
Five minutes from the end Reading sealed all three points with some more sloppy defending. A corner by Houghton was met by McPherson who headed against the post and with Pompey's defence at sixes and sevens Williams turned it in from six yards.
This performance leaves Pompey frightfully close to the first division trap door and you have to wonder how they are going to win a game with a defence thinking it's Christmas already. Flahavan must also feel what he's got to do to keep a clean sheet as he made some more fine saves and yet he couldn't do anything with the goals.