Reading FC's Leigertwood targets Southampton victory
Sportsdesk • Published 21 Oct 2011 09:30
0 Comments
MIKELE Leigertwood insists three points against leaders Southampton on Saturday will make a big difference to Reading's Championship season.
The Royals star also admitted his frustration at only taking a point from the midweek visit of Derby County after dominating the majority of the game.
"We've got to look forward now," declared Leigertwood.
"We've got to work hard, match Southampton and hopefully get our rewards.
"The division is that tight at the moment that if we get three points on Saturday it will make a big difference."
Nigel Adkins' side maintained their 100 per cent home record with a 1-0 win over Championship favourites West Ham thanks to Jos Hooiveld's goal on the stroke of half-time, while Reading twice came from behind to snatch a point against Derby.
"We've got to look at the positives because Derby are in decent form," Leigertwood continued.
"They were happy with the draw at the end and running the ball into the corner. As a player there's definitely nothing more frustrating than that. If they were winning then fair enough, but it was probably the management's instructions."
The Antigua & Barbuda international added: "I thought we dominated most of the game so to concede two goals was very frustrating.
"Even at half-time one of their players said to me that if they had scored it would have been burglary.
"We have to look at the positives after going behind twice but it was still frustrating."
The midfield enforcer admitted to being at fault for the visitor's opening goal scored by Theo Robinson, but declared results are gained and lost collectively.
"It's not the fault of the defence," said the 28-year-old. "I lost my marker for the first goal and for the second we need to stop those crosses or deal with them, but it's not an individual thing, it's collective and we win, lose and draw together."
However, he is adamant Reading should have been awarded a penalty in the second-half when the ball appeared to strike the hand of Rams defender Russell Anderson: "I don't think anybody knows what the handball rule is," argued Leigertwood.
"The ball definitely hit the Derby player's hand and I thought if that's in the box it's a penalty whether he's two yards away or five."
New-signing Adam Le Fondre netted his third and fourth goals for the club in midweek and Leigertwood believes more will follow so long as the star striker can continue to be supplied.
"If we get balls into the box he will score," the midfielder went on.
"He proved that, he does it every day in training We've just got to keep giving him the service.
"With his technical ability I'm suprised he spent so long playing in the lower divisions. He's worked hard to get into the team and he is getting his rewards. He's paid to get goals and with his finishing ability he can go wherever he wants.
"The best strikers are like him - they only need one chance and it's in the back of the net."
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.
