Reading FC manager Ince speaks after draw with Bournemouth

Ince on the match

Bournemouth are a fantastic side when you look at the players they’ve got in their team, a lot of players who have played in the Premier League, so to come here and play the way we did, and dominate the game, is pleasing.

We keep conceding early goals like we did against Forest we need to cut that out of our game but once we’ve got the spirit and togetherness, especially after Forest, it was embarrassing, wasn’t my team and I wasn’t willing to accept it and I told the lads that in no uncertain terms but today they responded and respnnded more like a my team where when we lose it we win it back, we pass and create chances and we did that well today.

In fairness to Bournemouth they couldn’t get anywhere near us. I shouldn’t sit here now saying I’m disappointed with a point but I am and the players are in the changing room. It stops the rot, gives us a bit of belief going into the Blackburn match which will be tough. Nobody gave us a chance today coming off of the back of the Forest defeat, people thought we were going to come here and just roll over but we didn’t, we showed a togetherness and we we showed that we were good players. Well worth the point.

Ince on his son's goal

About time, he’s been here long enough. It was a wonderful strike. If we’d have lost this game tonight, we’d have been very disappointed but sometimes at this stage of the season it is about collating points. As great as the performance was it would’ve been really disappointed so we can go into the Blackburn game with confidence. If we can get three points, there it hasn’t been a bad week. He’s scored some wonderful goals, but the timing of today’s goal was important. He’s technically a very good player. This will do him good because he’s been scoring goals throughout his career, and he was desperate to score for Reading so to get it the way he did was great. Now he’s got to do it keep doing it.

Ince on 'deja vu' after early setback

I didn’t [feel a sense of 'here we go again] to be fair because I sensed before the game I the changing room, nobody expected us to come here and get a result. I sensed a determination on the back of the Forest performance that they wanted to put things right for themselves and for the fans so I felt a different feeling. Half time in the changing room there was a belief that they could get something out of the game and to go and get that and outplay a team vying for promotion to the premier league says a lot about these players but they’ve got to keep producing it. They’ve set the bar, they’ve set the standards, nothing less will do to keep us in the league.

Ince on Orjan Nyland debut

He's a very good keeper. Everything about him technically is very good. Luke will be disappointed he didn’t play today but it’s about what I think will get us over the line. I thought he was comfortable, did the right things, his kicking was good. He’s been out for a while and we’re pleased to have him.

Ince on the run in 

It’s about holding your nerve. There’s going to be lots of twists and turns. It’s a long way to go, we’ve still got to play Barnsley, to play Hull, Cardiff, I’m not concerned who we play as long as we keep playing like we did today. We have to put the onus on us to play like that week in and week out. That doesn’t mean you’re going to win every game, but at least you know you’re going to stay in a game and you’ve got a chance in the game. We’ve got to stay in the game because with our quality you’ve always got the chance to create something.

Ince on Joao substitution

Lucas came off because he’s had Covid and we have to look after him. Fans are fans. We want to stay in this league and we can’t be negative- that runs through everyone. I love the Reading fans but they’ve got to understand Lucas has had Covid, he’s not trained. He was struggling to breath. It was my decision, it is what I get paid for, to take him off. It’s irrespective of if we were drawing 1-1, winning 2-1 or losing 2-0 because he was always coming off at that time because he was always going to struggle. He’s our talisman and he’s going to score us goals. We’ve got to think about Saturday, think about Barnsley and think about the next nine games so as much as fans don’t understand that I’m telling you that’s the situation. I was everyone to pull together as soon as we get negative in this club we’ll struggle.

Ince on Swift

Swifty hasn’t even started training yet, he’s still ill. Haliliovic will take a bit of time but we go with what we go and what we go with at the moment feels good at the moment after today and we have to keep recreating that.

Ince on extra motivation against former side

Players should be able to self-motivate themselves. I don’t look at clubs and think I was manager there, this isn’t about me this is about the players, the fans and keeping this team in the league. I always go again and try and make sure we’re ready to go on Saturday, hopefully get three points and then onto the big one at Barnsley.