Reading boss Ruben Selles has admitted that he still wants to see more from his players despite his side’s hard-fought 1-0 home win against mid-table Northampton Town on Good Friday.
The Royals won the game thanks to a sublime curling strike from substitute Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan in a match where home goalkeeper Joel Pereira was named Man of the Match. The Portuguese shot-stopper made several top-drawer saves, taking his clean sheets tally to 10 for the season.
This was the second consecutive home victory for Selles’ side, following the impressive 4-0 win against Cambridge United a fortnight ago. Sam Smith, Femi Azeez, Lewis Wing and Ehibhatiomhan scored the goals in that match.
The Berkshire club have had a torrid season off the pitch and find themselves in 17th position currently in League One. Friday’s result does mean they are six points above the drop zone, however, despite being deducted six points for financial issues this season.
With a prospective takeover on the horizon from an unnamed consortium, Reading’s troubles could well be coming to an end in the near future. Nevertheless, speaking after the game on Friday, Selles admitted he was a little disappointed with his side’s performance [quotes via the Reading Chronicle]:
“I don’t think I got a big performance. I think I got a massive result, but I don’t think we got a massive performance. It [wasn’t] our best game, nowhere near to be good enough from any of us. It was an equal game with both teams having chances. I think Northampton are a good team, very solid, but I expected a bit more from us.
“We made a change and Joel Pereira is fighting for that position. He was really good today, kept us in the game in those moments. It is not only him in those moments – Jeriel arrives for example – to force enough to not have a clear situation to score. The team is making an effort there. It has been, without players like Jeriel, Tyler or Charlie away, difficult to reconnect. We can do better.
“Don’t misunderstand me, I will take the victory any day. We have some games in the season where we played a better game than today and didn’t get anything at all. Today was not our best game- we can do better- but we were consistent enough to get the three points.”
Reading travel to promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers on Easter Monday hoping for a third win in a row but it won’t be easy. Ian Evatt’s side will be wanting to return to winning ways following their goalless draw on Friday as they look to chase down the top two.
Writer’s View
It’s refreshing for supporters to see Reading playing with a freeness to their play now following all the off-field issues this season, and it’s also nice to see them winning consecutive games, hunting down a third.
The Royals likely won’t go down now and will be a team to be feared next season with a few new signings. Add those to the likes of Pereira, striker Sam Smith and midfielder Harvey Knibbs and the Berkshire club have players they can build a team around. The storm isn’t over for Selles’ side but it’s definitely calming down and it’s so refreshing to see.
