Boss hails Royals replacements
Anthony Smith • Published 30 Nov 2011 00:20
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All smiles: Reading boss Brian McDermott was delighted with his side's victory over Peterborough United on Tuesday night.
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Reading 3 - 2 Peterborough United
BRIAN McDermott hailed his goalscoring substitutes after Reading came from behind to beat Peterborough United.
Tommy Rowe's opener for Posh was cancelled out by Simon Church in the first half.
But it took late goals from subs Adam Le Fondre and Hal Robson-Kanu to give Royals a cushion against an inventive Peterborough side.
Though Emile Sinclair pulled one back for the visitors at the death, McDermott's men held on to record only their third win at home this season.
Royals boss admitted: "The two subs probably changed the game for us. They came off the bench to make the difference.
"We didn't feel we were at our best but we got three points and that was what it was about.
"I'm pleased with the result. I thought Peterborough were very good and caused us a lot of problems in the first half.
"We lacked a little bit of energy in the first half but we were better in the second half."
In some ways this was a carbon copy of Reading's 3-2 win at Ipswich Town on Saturday when Alex Pearce and Noel Hunt both scored in injury time to pluck victory from the jaws of defeat.
Royals were forced onto the back foot by Darren Ferguson's visitors for long periods on Tuesday night.
But Le Fondre edged Reading in front on 78 minutes before Robson-Kanu struck an exquisite third a few minutes later to wrap up the victory.
Even then, a mistake by goalkeeper Adam Federici allowed Sinclair to reduce the deficit in the 90th minute, and set up a nervy finish.
"You've got to credit Peterborough," added McDermott. "I thought they were very good. Darren will be upset they've lost the game, I'm sure.
"They've got a side that's going to cause everyone in this division problems, there's no doubt about that."
It was also significant that Reading's Wales internationals Church and Robson-Kanu were both on the scoresheet on a night when Wales manager Gary Speed was remembered with a minute's applause before kick-off.
"It seemed fitting, that tonight of all nights, Churchy got the first goal and Hal got the winning goal," he said. "It's fitting the Welsh guys got the goals."
Reading, who named an unchanged side, have now managed back-to-back wins for the first time this season and are up to ninth in the table, a mere two points adrift of the play-off positions.
For Posh boss Ferguson it was a night of frustration, after watching Sinclair spurn a glorious chance to put them 2-0 up when he intercepted an Ian Harte back-pass only to scuff a shot wide.
" I'd have been disappointed with a draw the way the game went," he said. "I thought we deserved more, especially after the first half.
"We outnumbered them and passed the ball well and I just wanted the second goal which we didn't get. We shouldn't be talking about a defeat but we are.
"I was pleased with the performance. We needed to get back a bit of fluency in our game. We got that tonight but Reading are a good team and they've got some good players and a very good manager."
Reading striker Noel Hunt suffered mild concussion during the game and will be assessed before Saturday's trip to Blackpool (3pm ko).
Ian Holloway's Tangerines lost 2-0 at Leicester City on Tuesday night and are now level with Reading on 27 points.
Reading (4-4-2): Federici - Cummings, Pearce, Gorkss, Harte - Kebe, Karacan (Robson-Kanu 61), Leigertwood (Tabb 89), McAnuff (c) - Church (Le Fondre 61), Hunt. Subs not used: Andersen, Manset. Yellow cards: McAnuff (foul 17), Gorkss (foul 48), Leigertwood (foul 68).
Peterborough (4-4-2): Jones - Alcock, Bennett, Zakuani, Kennedy - Boyd, Tomlin, McCann, Rowe - Sinclair, Taylor. Subs not used: Lewis; Little, Tunnicliffe, Thompson, Kearns. Yellow cards: Tomlin (foul 42), Kennedy (foul 68), Boyd (foul 86).
Attendance: 15,907 (488 Peterborough).
Referee: Andy Woolmer.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 29 Nov 11
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