THE rot, if you can call it that, continued at Reading.

But this corrosion started long ago. It can be traced back to Albion’s first game against this weekend’s opponents – Blackpool.

That game was to start a train of events which has led to Albion taking just seven points from the last 36 available and being knocked out of both cups. They’ve lost six on the bounce.

Whether it’s experience Albion are lacking, whether it’s a lack of quality catching up on them, poor form, injuries/suspensions or just bad luck can be debated. In truth, it’s a combination of them all.

The lack of confidence and dip in quality was evident in the opening few minutes on Saturday when a rusty Ishmael Miller squandered chances for Albion. Two he missed, another one he claimed as a foul. The Baggies could have been beyond reach by 3.15pm.

But the game slipped by. Reading grew in confidence, with the pace of Shane Long and Jimmy Kebe being crucial. Albion’s defence was rocked back and forth and eventually the cracks appeared.

A long punt down the pitch was headed by Noel Hunt into the path of Long. Paul Scharner lost out with the header and Gianni Zuiverloon was beaten by Long, whose low shot went past Boaz Myhill.

Albion rarely threatened Reading after that. This has to be a worry for Albion because, as in recent games, they are forcing teams on to the back foot and dominating possession. But Adam Federici, whose name barely featured in my in-game notes, was the latest goalkeeper to leave the field barely tested by a Baggies side.

John Carew, if it is to be he who signs, can’t come soon enough. Albion lack presence up front. Peter Odemwingie, like so many around him, has lost his mojo. He wasn’t fully fit on Saturday.

Roman Bednar and Miller worked away but the latter tweaked his hamstring again. Marc-Antoine Fortuné was an unused substitute.

Roberto Di Matteo might as well have been holding up a banner saying ‘I need a striker or two. Help’.

At the back, Albion have been struggling for weeks. It wasn’t helped on Saturday by Jonas Olsson’s 14 minutes of madness. The Albion defender has been missed during his two-and-a-half months out but his recklessness couldn’t be excused.