Griffin: Reading need to be 'mentally right' for final two games

Sportsdesk • Published 28 Apr 2011 17:30 1 Comment

ANDY Griffin admits that Reading need to make sure they are 'mentally right' for their final two games of the season after suffering from 'complacency' against Sheffield United on Monday.

Royals looked to be cruising against the soon-to-be relegated Blades at 2-0 up but conceded three times in 26 minutes to lose 3-2 and end any lingering hopes of an automatic promotion place.

Brian McDermott's side now need just a point from their final two matches to finish in the play-offs but Griffin, pictured left, knows they need to return to winning ways before the post-season begins.

"No-one saw that defeat coming. When you have a team in fourth playing at home against a team at the foot of the table, it's the team in fourth that usually wins," he said.

"But football's not like that, you can never take anything for granted. We got punished and we thoroughly deserved to get beaten. There was definitely a bit of complacency. We went 2-0 up and it looked a little bit too easy for us. We dropped off as a team and didn't go for the jugular.

"We started the game well, scored two goals and you couldn't have asked for more but we dropped off the pace after that and let Sheffield back in which gave them momentum."

While Griffin was quick to concede that Reading were at fault for throwing away victory on Monday, the experienced defender believes the result is simply an end of season blip.

"Recently we've been used to having that winning feeling. Obviously we were disappointed on Monday but you can't dwell on what happened. We have to dust ourselves down and get rid of that disappointment as soon as possible," he commented.

"Sheffield was a blip, we need to dust ourselves down and make sure we're mentally right for the last two games so that we can pick up a bit of momentum again."

Should Reading return to winning ways in their final two games they could well face Swansea in the play-offs, a team who have already beaten them twice this season.

"We're not bothered who we play - it's a lottery," insisted Griffin. "Whether we finish third or sixth, we're confident we can beat them, reach the final and win that.

"I think Blackpool last season were an inspiration to every team in football when they went up to the Premier League through the Championship play-offs."

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 28 Apr 11

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• 

  strig
  Unregistered User
  Apr 28, 17:48
  Report comment

  Doesn't he mean for the final 5 games of the season? Be positive!!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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