Peterborough United Fans Verdict: So Nice, Knibbs Had To Do It Twice
How the fans reacted to a superb win on the road in Cambridgeshire.
Now that’s the benchmark we should be setting for every single away game from now on.
Unfortunately I couldn’t make the game on Saturday, but a 2-1 win at one of the best attacking teams in the league is the standard we should be setting ourselves. And judging by the glowing post-match reviews, the performance matched the result.
On surface level it looks like a bit of a rinse and repeat from the Exeter City game a few weeks ago, but we learned from that lesson and managed to seal crucial three points.
Here’s how the fans reacted to the big talking points...
Harvey Knibbs
In my opinion, Knibbs’ best position is central midfield. His energy and aggression in the press in the middle of pitch are a huge part of how we play, but him being able to put in a performance like he did from the left side of a front three on Saturday shows how valuable he is to this team.
It’s probably a position he’ll see a lot of in the coming weeks with Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan out injured, and that’s fine by me if he keeps scoring and playing like that.
The fans already love him, but Saturday showed once again how integral he is for us...
Can we talk about Knibbs' performance today?
— Reading FC (@bluewhitewall) November 23, 2024
Once again on fire.
There was never any doubt in if him and Smith would be up for today.
Still very much got the yellow and black in him from Cambridge days.
Silencing the Peterborough fans #ReadingFC #camutd @HarveyKnibbs pic.twitter.com/PDc95YnWwd
Knibbs man of the match for me, not just the goals but what he does out of possession is so key for us, his pressing and energy. He's always a threat he's also improving at being in the right positions to get more goals and assists I feel #readingfc
— Tom Maynard (@ttmaynard) November 23, 2024
harvey knibbs lifetime contract please lads #readingfc
— thomasrfc (@thomasrfc__) November 23, 2024
What a first half! Two Harvey Knibbs goals! Just shows how important he is for us!!!! • Harvey, Harvey Knibbs #readingfc
— BerkshireBoys (@BerkshireBoys_) November 23, 2024
TWOOOOO FOR KNIBBS
— Royals Review Podcast (@RoyalsReviewPod) November 23, 2024
TWO FOR #ReadingFC
HARVEY KNIBBS YOU BEAUTIFUL MAN! #ReadingFC
— Erik O #SellBeforeWeDai (@Orrgarde) November 23, 2024
Harvey Knibbs
— Dean Bennett #SellBeforeWeDai (@DeanBennett1993) November 23, 2024
Some guy!
Absolutely love him! #ReadingFC
Best performance of the season?
Good away performances have been few and far between for Reading for a long time, let alone good away results.
However, it seems Saturday was the best of both the fans have seen for a very, very long time. Peterborough are a formidable attacking side at this level, and to keep them at bay for 96 minutes, as well as grabbing two ourselves at the other end, was a remarkable achievement.
I thought Knibbs had to get a shoutout because of his match-winning goals, but in reality, the big talking point was that it was arguably the performance of the season - every player to a man was sensational.
Ruben Selles and this group of players just keep pulling rabbits out of the hat. And the fans absolutely loved this one...
Have often been critical of Seles’ tactics away from home and of the players too but today I couldn’t really fault any of them. Even Elliott, who hasn’t impressed me much this season, had a great game. If they can keep that up we’ll do very well this season. #readingfc
— Paolo (@Skeptichead) November 23, 2024
A fantastic away performance from us today! Never gave up and gave our all! I’m so proud #readingfc
— chloe (@_chloerfc) November 23, 2024
Feel like that today was our best starting 11 this season. Combinations in our team clicking. Dorsett, Savage and Knibbs left side. Craig, Elliott and Chem right side. The front 3, the midfield 3. Back 4. Balance feels right with that lineup. #ReadingFC
— Alex Sheppard (@Alex_Shep_Urzz) November 23, 2024
What a fantastic performance. This squad under new ownership with Ruben at the helm and a few additions could wreak havoc in the Champ in 2/3 years time. I know the stars won’t align but it’s great to dream. #ReadingFC
— Mark (@MarkHopgoo44290) November 23, 2024
2 wins and a draw from our last 4 away games, with a few good performances thrown in there too. Come back with something from the game on Tuesday and you can probably say we've finally shaken our woeful away form. Things finally seem to be looking up.#Readingfc
— Matt (@lines_aviation) November 23, 2024
Best away game of the season so far by some distance and what an unbelievable performance by the entire team to get 3 points. More of that on Tuesday and going forward on the road please and I may start to actually believe we could achieve great things this season #ReadingFC
— Joe (@iJC106) November 23, 2024
Excellent win. Keep the core of this squad together this season and we’ve got every chance of top-six #readingfc
— Jacob Potter (@pott95) November 23, 2024
Result and performance of the season! #readingfc
— Dan (@RoyalsDan95) November 23, 2024
What a performance. To a man, that was a 10/10 display. Then to factor in our away record, makes it even sweeter.
— Ed Ryding (@EdRyding) November 23, 2024
This club. This manager. This team. UP THE DING ⚪️ #readingfc
pic.twitter.com/5Ick0bLcf1
What a result and away day. Superb all round. Up the Ding!! #readingfc
— James Grant (@jamesgrant1992) November 23, 2024
That's a great 3 points from the first of two tricky away games. #readingfc
— Rob Molloy (@Dobchecks) November 23, 2024
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,
— harry⚡️ (@harryarthur10) November 23, 2024
oh what fun it is to see, Reading win away! #readingfc
Conclusion
This team just keep making us fall deeper and deeper in love with them, don’t they?
They have no right to keep putting in performances like they do and picking up results like they are. Not with the ever-present ownership situation.
But they do, and that’s testament to every single player and every single member of staff. They’re not letting Dai Yongge and his shenanigans get under their skin. They just want to perform for the club and for the fans.
That is the standard we need to set ourselves in every away game now. If we can keep that up consistently, paired with our imperious home form, it could be a good season.
URZ