Published: Wednesday, 28th October, 2009 9:00am

Church prays for more chances

by Anthony Smith

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SIMON Church has spoken of his personal disappointment after missing a glut of chances in Monday's defeat by Leicester City.

Royals dominated the televised game at the Madejski Stadium but it was the Foxes who went away with the victory thanks to a classic smash-and-grab display.

It was the best Brendan Rodgers' side had played all season but they squandered countless opportunities to score and paid the ultimate price when Martyn Waghorn headed home the winner shortly before half-time.

And Church felt as guilty as anyone having spurned at least-half-a-dozen chanced himself alone.

The Wales international either missed the target by a whisker or was denied by a couple of stunning saves from Leicester keeper Chris Weale.

And 20-year-old Church admitted: "I'm quite disappointed with myself that I didn't put one away, but as a striker you've just got to move on and look for the next goal.

"After the game it runs through your head all night, but I'll get more chances this season and it's just about whether I take them or not.

"But it's been one of those seasons for us."

Reading have still not won at home in the league since January and have scored just twice in seven Championship matches at the Madejski Stadium this season.

But the team took some comfort from the fact they were applauded off the pitch by their fans.

Less than a week earlier supporters had turned on Rodgers during a 4-1 defeat at QPR and started calling for his head.

But Church said: "I think we showed the fans and everyone watching today how much it means to us, we want to get out of this position and I think we deserved a lot more.

"It was just one of those things where we switched off for a second and we were behind.

"But the supporters were terrific, they came out on a wet and windy Monday night and got behind us, that's what drove us on.

"If we can get that kind of support throughout the season then it will help us a great deal."

Royals travel to Coventry City on Saturday (3pm) before hosting bottom-of-the-table Ipswich Town the following weekend.

And Church insisted: "It's still very early in the season. There is plenty of time for us to push up the table - it's just a case of putting it together and hopefully getting the results we need."

ROYALS reserves crashed 4-1 against Swindon Town reserves at the Madejski Stadium yesterday.

Mitchell Bryant scored a late consolation for Nigel Gibbs' second-string after coming on to replace the injured Hal Robson-Kanu.

Reading: Hamer, Cummings, Goddard, Rowe, Mills (Isaac 55), McDonald, Taylor, Karacan, Long, Bell-Baggie, Robson-Kanu (Bryant 17). Subs not used: Harding, Walcott, White.

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