Nottingham Forest 2-3 Reading: 5 Things We Learned

2. Goodbye Chris Gunter

Being sent off against your former club is ignominious. Home fans sarcastically applauded Wales and Royals right back Gunter as he got his marching orders from referee Stuart Attwell. Gunter picked up a second booking for a foul on Simon Cox, though Adkins could not see it himself: "I haven't got a clue why he was sent off. He won the first header." This match was not a great advert for the modern fullback in general. Reading also had Stephen Kelly, a right footer, at left back and he let Jamie Mackie go for Cox's goal.

1. Playoff race remains wide open

Is playing the weekend's first match an advantage? Well, it depends really. The worst case scenario for both Forest and Reading is that they could still both end up outside the top six despite a decisive outcome on Friday. Wins for Blackpool, Brighton, Derby County and Leeds United would knock the two clubs out of playoff places as we enter December. Joint leaders Burnley, Leicester and QPR are also in action and could stretch their advantage over the Royals to ten points with victories. Nothing can be decided yet of course, but this top three already have a healthy seven point advantage over the chasing pack as we enter the festive fixture programme. The Championship promotion race is anyone's for the taking!