Published: Monday, 5th October, 2009 8:00am

Federici: `Fans are right to boo.'

by Anthony Smith

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ADAM Federici accepts that Reading fans have every right to jeer the team after Leroy Lita inspired Middlesbrough to a comfortable 2-0 victory at the Madejski Stadium.

Brendan Rodgers' side were booed off once again on Saturday after going 15 games without a league win at home.

This time the chief villain was former Royals striker Lita, who claimed both goals and later apologised for celebrating in front of the home supporters who gave him warm reception.

But Federici was at a loss to explain Reading's worrying inconsistency and terrible home form.

"The fans have got every right to boo us," admitted Royals' goalkeeper. "We've been poor and they pay their money to come and watch us.

"They're obviously frustrated and we need to step it up. But we're frustrated as well and we're trying to put things right.

"Unfortunately, the next game is two weeks away so we have a lot of time to think about this and look forward to West Brom away."

Reading have not beaten anyone in the league at the Mad Stad since a 1-0 win over Wolves back in January. And keeper Federici declared: "We don't really talk about it but once we go a goal behind the crowd get anxious. To be fair, I would be the same if I was sitting there watching it.

"We've got to play with confidence. We had a good win at Preston in the week and we played with loads of confidence up there.

"It should have given us confidence against Boro but unfortunately it didn't. We have to play the same every game. We're not doing that at the moment."

Lita eased the pressure on Boro boss Gareth Southgate with a superb display against his former club.

Sean St Ledger was credited with Boro's first on 12 minutes, though Lita later claimed he got the last touch.

There was no doubt about his second on 55 minutes - a powerful run followed by a classy 20-yard finish.

The 24-year-old, who was released by Reading in the summer, refused to celebrate in front of the home supporters as a mark of respect.

"I've always had a great relationship with the Reading fans and I'm thankful for that," he said. "I apologised after celebrating with the Middlesbrough fans. It was inappropriate. But I was here to do a job and we move on now."

And he added: "The first was my goal. Watch the replay.

"We controlled the game and in the second-half we showed experience. We killed the game off and we didn't give Reading anything. They didn't really have any chance.

"I'm enjoying my football again and hopefully I can push on now and score more goals."

But Rodgers was far from impressed with his team's display as Reading enter a two-week international break.

"It was a poor performance," he fumed. "Middlesbrough did not have to work very hard to get the win.

"Everything that was good about our win at Preston was the opposite. We didn't have the same intensity and quality in our passing, and we didn't have that same end product.

"We're very disappointed that we couldn't capitalise on a very good performance at Preston. It has come back and slapped us in the face."

And he added: "The home form continues and it's nothing to do with the crowd.

"You go to some grounds with a home record like that and they would be on top of you. Here they give us energy, but we have to give them energy. We need to be brave at home. It hurts, because we want this to be the fortress."

Royals return to league action with a trip to West Brom on Saturday, October 17 (3pm).

ROYALS goalkeeper ALex McCarthy has been called into the England Under 21 squad ahead of their European Championship qualifier against Macedonia this Friday.

On-loan Chelsea full-back Ryan Bertrand is also in Stuart pearce's squad for the clash at Coventry's Ricoh Arena.

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