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Reading have endured an upturn in recent form of late, and that is down to a switch in managers as Mark Bowen has replaced Jose Gomes in charge of the Royals.

Bowen has changed the type of style that Reading have been playing and it's been met with happiness from the supporters.

The Royals now focus less on possession of the football and more on clearing the ball, and making sure that they can get their strikers involved in the game as quickly as possible.

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One player who has been simply sensational under Bowen is defender Matt Miazga. The centre-back plays in the back three and the USA international has been brilliant under the Welshman. He's beginning to show the form of last season, that was so important in keeping Reading in the Championship.

Against Preston, he managed to net his first goal for the club and it meant that the Royals beat the Lilywhites 1-0. In the most recent game he was superb once again, as the Royals held onto a 2-1 lead against Millwall, it was backs against the wall for all of 20 minutes at the end of the game and Miazga became the leader of the defence.

Liam Moore went off injured midway through the second-half but Miazga stepped up impressively and showed that he was capable of controlling the defence, even when a player with leadership qualities like Moore was out of the game.

The on-loan Chelsea man is in his second stint at the Royals as he played for half a season in Reading in the last campaign on a loan deal. He was brilliant then, and after a shaky start and injury hit first few months of the season, he's beginning to show the quality that not many Championship defenders have at their disposal.

If Reading are to push for a place in the top-half then Miazga has to keep fit, otherwise they'll struggle to keep goals out. Playing alongside Michael Morrison and Moore in the back three has made them secure, and all three seem to be relishing the job that Bowen is asking them to do.

At the end of the victory on Saturday, Miazga endeared himself to supporters even more as he ran over to the fans and celebrated with them. He's been superb so far, but has to keep it up if Reading are to push on.