‘Turned Against Us’ – Reading Boss Reflects on Bolton Wanderers Defeat

Reading boss Ruben Selles admitted things ‘turned against’ his team yesterday, as they were crushed 5-2 by Bolton Wanderers.

Selles, who saw a takeover of the Royals collapse in midweek, must feel like he’s being kicked whilst already down after a miserable afternoon, with a first-half hat-trick from Dion Charles proving decisive at the Toughsheet Stadium. The Royals were left reeling after a poor defensive display saw them concede five goals, two of which came from the penalty spot, in a match where they were thoroughly outclassed.

Bolton started brightly, taking the lead in the 11th minute when Josh Sheehan curled a free-kick around the wall, beating David Button to make it 1-0. Reading struggled to settle, and their defensive frailties were exposed when Amadou Mbengue clumsily fouled Charles inside the box, gifting the forward his first penalty of the afternoon. Charles made no mistake from the spot to double the hosts’ advantage.

Reading showed brief signs of life with Ben Elliott hitting the post, but Bolton quickly regained control. Charles added his second in the 34th minute after slipping past Tyler Bindon and firing past Button from a tight angle, putting the game further beyond Reading’s reach.

Reading rallied, a goal from Elliott restoring a little pride, but just before the break, Mbengue’s misjudged challenge handed Bolton another penalty. Charles stepped up once again to complete his hat-trick, slotting home his fifth goal of the season and making it 4-1.

Reading did manage to pull another back early in the second half when Sam Smith converted from the spot after Ricardo Santos tripped him inside the box. However, it was merely a consolation as Bolton remained dominant for the rest of the game. Kevin Ehibhatiomhan had the chance to reduce the deficit further but struck the crossbar, and the Bolton defence comfortably dealt with several other Reading efforts.

The final nail in the coffin came late on when substitute Kyle Dempsey headed home a corner, sealing an emphatic win for the hosts. The result gave Bolton their first home victory of the season, much to the delight of their fans, who sang manager Ian Evatt’s name after what had been a difficult week for the club.

Reading manager Rubén Sellés expressed frustration with his team’s performance, particularly in defence. The Royals’ inability to deal with Bolton’s pressure left them vulnerable throughout the match.

“We had some key moments to go 2-1 or 3-2, with the good save the goalkeeper made to Amadou Mbengue,” Selles said after the game.

“Then things turned against us pretty quickly. Second half, we wanted to continue building because we knew difficult moments in the game would come.

“We know the situation we are in and the boys gave absolutely everything to me. Of course, there are moments in the game where we need to be better but we will keep going and competing for this club.”

For Bolton, this result was exactly what they needed after a stuttering start to the season. Speculation over Evatt’s future had been swirling, but this commanding win provides some much-needed breathing room. The home crowd’s rousing reception after the final whistle was a sign of support that the manager will have appreciated.

Writer’s View

Reading’s defensive collapse in the first half cost them any real chance of coming away from Bolton with a result. The lack of composure and maturity, particularly in their backline, was evident as they allowed Bolton to dictate the game. Both Mbengue and Bindon made critical errors, and while Reading showed some fight in the second half, the damage had already been done.

What was most frustrating from Reading’s perspective was the avoidable nature of the goals they conceded. Four of Bolton’s five strikes came as a direct result of defensive errors or penalties, and while Sam Smith’s second-half penalty gave the Royals some hope, it was too little, too late. The loss will sting more knowing that these mistakes were largely self-inflicted, and Sellés will need to address this urgently if Reading are to turn things around in the coming weeks.

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