Bristol City fan Matt Withers: I have to be honest; it has been a real struggle to write this week's column. Unfortunately, yet another late goal cost City all three points, however, it would have been daylight robbery if Reading had left Ashton Gate without at least a share of the spoils.

It disappoints me to say it, but once again we were second best and but for some fine saves by Dean Gerken and some woeful Reading finishing we would have been on the end of a defeat.

Each home game seems to merge into the other. The performances of the players, the style of play and the inevitable late opposition goal is this season all too a familiar story. It seems incredible that City's last home victory on a Saturday afternoon was against Middlesbrough back on August 29.

Things are just not happening for City at the moment. The players seem low on confidence, the fans are restless and the manager has lost his sparkle. Where has the attacking, attractive football gone? At the moment, I sit in my seat in the Atyeo and find very little if anything to get excited about.

On paper the team that played against Reading would have been the team selected by a large number of City fans, me included. Prior to kick-off I couldn't see how a managerless Reading struggling to stay out of the relegation zone could get anything from the game, but I was wrong again. In fairness, City started brightly and closed the ball down well and took the lead from an unstoppable Paul Hartley penalty but from that point on things went down hill.

Gary's decision to play five at the back did not work out. City looked at sixes and sevens for much of the game and too often the defence needlessly gave the ball away. Cole Skuse and Paul Hartley were willing runners and always prepared to receive the ball but again all too often without any outlet. Evander Sno was poor giving the ball away on too many occasions, and while playing on the left is not his favoured or best position that is not an excuse.

Up front, Dave Clarkson ran his legs off with no reward and Nicky Maynard hustled and bustled to try to make an opening. It's the forwards I feel most sorry for. I don't think they had a single cross into the box to attack in anger. As the game wore on the crowd began to get agitated and it was at the point that they were showing their most vocal support of the afternoon, that Reading scored their equaliser.

The next few games are massive in terms of this season but also in terms of the future of the club. It is necessary for players, fans, management and the chairman and his board to stay strong.

Successful clubs are built on strong foundations and with the announcement that Bristol has been selected as one of FIFA's 2018 world cup bids stadiums, it is vital that the club continues to move forward but also recognise where it has come from.

With a couple of wide-men additions in January and the confidence that a couple of wins on the bounce can bring, things can look an awful lot rosier. For his part, Gary has to get the team back to playing the ball on the ground and in a formation that suits all of the players, which would appear to be a 4-4-2. It is not that long ago that the media and managers of rival clubs were giving plaudits to the way that Gary Johnson had his side playing football.

This is the same squad of players who played some exhilarating football against QPR and Blackpool, and players and fans need reminding of that.