JOSE Gomes admits Reading FC must turn performances into points after a 0-0 draw at QPR.

New boss Gomes saw his Royals side dominate much of Saturday’s match at Loftus Road in his second game in charge since replacing Paul Clement.

But the visitors failed to find that all-important goal and had to settle for a point as their winless run stretched to nine matches.

The Portuguese manager said: "For it to be a very very good performance we should win.

"We completely controlled the first half and we deserved to score and go in ahead at half-time.

“The second half was more balanced, we had chances, they had chances. The flavour that I feel is that we lost two points."

Injuries meant John O’Shea and Tiago Ilori both started in defence, while Tyler Blackett and Leandro Bacuna both started their three-match bans for their straight red cards in the 1-0 defeat at Millwall.

Stand-in skipper Garath McCleary and Yakou Meite both threatened early for the Royals.

Keeper Anssi Jaakkola made a timely intervention to deny Nahki Wells at the other end, while Meite fired narrowly wide for Gomes’ side.

John Swift then saw an effort blocked before the midfielder lifted the rebound over the top.

QPR almost snatched the lead when Toni Leistner – who was a match-winner at Madejski Stadium in October – saw his shot hit the crossbar from a corner.

Meite’s effort was saved by Joe Lumley as Reading finished the first half on top and they carried that momentum into the second period with Swift’s free-kick skimming the Rangers bar.

Lumley came to his side’s rescue again to deny Omar Richards, while Jaakkola did the same when thwarting Wells, Pawel Wszolek and Luke Freeman.

Reading Chronicle:

Reading manager Jose Gomes.

However, Royals were let off the hook again in the closing stages when Leistner hit the woodwork for the second time in the match.

But Gomes’ men almost stole it in injury time when sub Danny Loader drew a vital save at full-stretch from Lumley.

Royals’ boss added: "This is the football that I want to play but with goals. We got into a lot of good situations where we could have scored so I am proud of what my players did.

"We have only been working with them for one week, allowing them to recover while also sharing our ideas with them.

“Everything is new and they have given a big effort to play like I want, so they deserve special mention.

"I also have to mention our fans. They came in their numbers, supported their team from the first second to the end and they saw some fantastic football.”


Reading remain one place off the bottom of the Championship table after Saturday’s result ahead of a home clash against mid-table Swansea City on New Year’s Day (3pm ko).

And Gomes stressed: "I feel the results will come very soon. I'm not a magician. I cannot touch it and suddenly everything is new. I can only share my ideas. It has to come from the players.

“The good thing is that the players accept my ideas and they like my ideas.”

Rangers manager Steve McClaren said: "Reading dominated possession in the first half, we couldn't get near the ball. I was delighted to go in 0-0 at half-time.

"The boys in the second half were immense. We should have won the game in the end so we're a bit frustrated.”

Queens Park Rangers: Lumley, Furlong, Bidwell, Freeman, Cousins, Eze (Chair 90), Scowen (Smith 90+3), Wszolek, Wells, Lynch, Leistner (c). Subs not used: Ingram, Hall, Oteh, Osayi-Samuel, Kakay. Booked: Cousins 48, Scowen 52, Furlong 70.

Reading: Jaakkola, Yiadom, O’Shea, Ilori, Richards, Rinomhota, Swift, Aluko (Loader 81), McCleary (c) (Sims 90), Barrow, Meite (Bodvarsson 81). Subs not used: Mannone, Meyler, Kelly, Osho. Booked: Swift 62, O'Shea 68.

Referee: Robert Jones.

Attendance: 15,721 (Reading 1,619).