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Scunthorpe United ol-dboy Marcus Williams making his debut for Reading FC
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Reading's Williams suffers nightmare debut against Iron

By Jonny Fordham
August 09, 2010

Marcus Williams is backing his old club Scunthorpe United to beat the drop after they ensured he had a nightmare Reading debut.

The 24-year-old left-back made the switch from Glanford Park to Madejski Stadium at the end of last season and made his debut for Royals in their 2-1 defeat to the Iron.

Goals from Gary Thompson and Rob Jones sunk Reading, who again relied on last season’s top-scorer Gylfi Sigurdsson to throw them a lifeline as he pegged things back to 1-1 with a stunning 25-yard effort.

And although it was hard to do so, Williams admitted that the better team won on the day.

He said: “It was disappointing to lose on my debut against my old club, but we all have to move on now.

“Many teams think they’re going to steamroll them because Scunthorpe are favourites to go down, but that’s not the case. Good luck to them for the rest of the season.

“We were obviously going into the game wanting to get the three points, but we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I know what Scunthorpe are all about and they work hard.

“We had a lot of chances and we didn’t stick them in the back of the net. I think they only had two shots on target, but it just wasn’t our day.

“All the boys were geared up for this one after a good pre-season, it’s unfortunate not to get the three points.

“The manager wasn’t happy and we know we’re better than that. Everyone is disappointed but we’ll go in this week and look forward to Wednesday’s game.”

Reading were stunned by Thompson’s opener, which a linesman originally flagged for offside, but referee Fred Graham rightly over-ruled him and awarded the ninth-minute goal.

Sigurdsson managed to level the scores in the 25th-minute, but centre-back Rob Jones put the game to bed with a powerful header in the 59th as he out-muscled Matt Mills at the far post.

“We thought the first goal was offside,” added Williams.

“The linesman had his flag up and we were getting set for a free-kick, but the next thing we know the referee has given it.

“There will be times in the season when things go against us, but we have to just get on with it really.

“We’ve got Torquay on Wednesday and we know that’s going to be a physical battle, but we’ve got a strong enough squad and strength in depth to change it about.”

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Bushes, i hope you are right and i hope i am wrong, but i do worry that i could well be proven right!!!

Brother Horus
10/08/2010 at 13:13

No, you are impatient. Just that.

These new fans we have picked up in the last few years are a waste of space.

Bushes Bernal, The Hop Leaf
10/08/2010 at 12:11

"Bushes", i dont agree with the one game comment, we saw the same performances last year, you and i KNOW Pearcy and Longy are not good enough!! So i am not writing the season off on ONE game but on what we saw last season. We nees a quality striker and a Quick centre back, then we can be mor confident of making a run for premotion.

Brother Horus
10/08/2010 at 11:27

revans, join the other brain dead judging a season after one game.

Bushes Bernal, New Moderator for GetReading
10/08/2010 at 10:28

Ummmmmmmmmm. ! Only 4 shots on goal.? 12 missed.!!!!. Can't see you can win games with only 4 shots on goal in 90 minutes. Maybe they need contact lense to find the goal ??

revans, Rogerstone
09/08/2010 at 19:13

What annoyed me before this game was some of our supporters attitude. It seems to me we were expecting to roll them over easily, when our CB's are no faster then snails. Whilst Mills is a good defender he needs someone pacey next to him and Long and Church are simply not good enough. I also think Brian got his decisions wrong, Rasiak would have been better suited as he has height and Tabb and Howard should be our first choice midfielders. I used to watch Reading at Elm Park so i can not be called a "glory" supporter and i am predicting a mediocre season and a mid table finish unless we find a quality striker and a physicaly quick centre back very soon. Dont tell me this was one game, we could all see this last season and we all knew the defficiencys of our team, but think i Brian is having to work with what he has.

Brother Horus
09/08/2010 at 18:32

Its a real shame everything was leading up to a good game! good pre season, fit players and raring to go. But we had un fit players and never had the spark to look like we could finish them!!

Monkity, Reading
09/08/2010 at 16:10

I thought Williams was as good as anyone else on Saturday. My initial thoughts is that he wants to get forward, is confortable on the ball and makes himself available for a pass, he is a better header of the ball than other FBs...and he will get better once he strikes up a partnership with McAnuff. On the negative side he did back off too much when defending a situation. Give the lad chance to shine and help build his confidence.....

It is not the FBs we have problems with, it is the CBs IMO!!! I have more pace and can read the game better than John Terry's understudy. Sort that out and we will have a good season. The clock is ticking.

LoughboroughRoyal, Loughborough
09/08/2010 at 15:56

That's life - "Bofty - you clearly don't care or you would share our emotions"....I think you should have a day off this just like Dazzap.

It is because I care that I use my brain and think - lets give the guy a chance and wait to pass an educated opinion when we have some substance to decide either way. Your narrow minded, why aren’t we winning the league, shoot from the hip mentality is exactly why you are living in that 'Reading Bubble' I mentioned.

You also appear to be a little confused here - this debate is with regard to Williams, I have not made any comments about the result on Saturday - I think everyone is as surprised by it as you.

However, as with most situations / opinions in life, you will need to take the 'emotion' out of the this debate in order to discuss and actually hear what other people have to say; you don’t need to shout to be heard.

Ladies...

Bofty, Emmer Green
09/08/2010 at 15:38

Bofty is right, you are just another in a long line of impatient people Reading have picked up in the last few years.

If you said what you've said in a pub you'd be laughed at.

Bushes Bernal, New Moderator for GetReading
09/08/2010 at 15:35

Bofty - you clearly don't care or you would share our emotions.

McD has been in charge for about 30 games - first game of the season is an excuse not a reason.

That's Life
09/08/2010 at 15:14

Dazzap - well done for going to the friendly games – I am sure that they were a great platform to base a judgement on?? After all we all know that pre season results / performances mean nothing and are essentially nothing more then training exercises geared towards fitness.

Give the guy a chance, have a day off and realise that what you are saying is rubbish at this point.

Bofty, Emmer Green
09/08/2010 at 14:30

bofty, i have watched williams against farnborough, wolves and again on saturday he is by far the worst left back the club has had for many years.

dazzap, reading
09/08/2010 at 13:54

That's life - "those who were there saw a lot to worry about"...... I was assuming that we were all there - hence we have an opinion to post on here??

I do hope that you are not one of these fans that lives in the 'Reading bubble' and when anything goes against us sees it as the biggest crime in the world yet can't appreciate any other view point?? Anyway if you have quite finished snuggling up with Dazzap maybe I can respond to him...

Dazzap - it is nothing to do with you saying what you feel - that is what these message boards are for. However my issue in general is that your initial comments are hugely premature are short sighted. Do you want to be judged on your first day in the office of a new job as well??

Williams was not at fault for either goal, got forward reasonable well but, granted, did not set the world alight and looked a little hesitant at times on the ball. Maybe, just maybe, he is not exactly the same player as Bertrand so lets hold judgement and wait and see if he is 'shocking' as you seem to believe already.

In general - unfortunately many Reading fans live in this inflated bubble. In case people had not realised there were two teams playing on Saturday and we don't have a right to win just because we are playing!

Bofty, Emmer Green
09/08/2010 at 13:44

It was one game, and plebs like Thats Life are calling for the manager's head.

This is the level of support poor old Reading has acquired since promotion, impatient little children.