JOSE Gomes deflected praise onto his players as he addressed the media following his first win as Reading FC manager.

John Swift put Reading in front midway through the first half before a late Jack Robinson own goal delivered a first Royals win in 11 Championship matches.

Nottingham Forest ended a feisty contest with nine players following second-half reds for Danny Fox and Tandayi Darikwa, but Royals were the better side for the majority of the game.

A delighted Gomes covered a range of topics in his post-match press conference including joy for supporters, team selection, approach to the game, Ovie Ejaria and Lewis Baker debuts, newfound confidence, January transfers, Tiago Ilori’s future and more.

Jose Gomes on today’s 2-0 victory:

“I am very happy for Reading. It’s wasn’t my victory it was Reading’s.

“It was a very, very important three points for the future and the 19 battles we have in front of us until the end of the season.

“We need to catch the good things we did like the intelligent way we started the match, the way we pressed, the way we recovered the ball in midfield. We must show the same behaviour in the coming matches.”

On general play:

“Today we scored and that was the big difference.

“I actually think we played more beautiful football against Manchester United, but today we scored.

“We must be clinical in the right moment and today we were. It doesn’t matter if you have 70 per cent possession if you don’t shoot or score.

“We must put the ball in the net and feel the taste of scoring. I want to see my players happy to be scoring and I want them to try and score and score and score.

“Today we tried and they really deserved three points.”

Ovie Ejaria and Lewis Baker debuts:

“Baker only had two training sessions with us so was on the bench. Both played very well.

“But I repeat, the solution is not with the new players, it must come from the players who started the season.

“They are part of the problem but they are the solution. They are working very, very hard and they are showing to me that they get my ideas and really want this togetherness.

“We are together like a family and this is the most important thing.”

No Callum Harriott or Liam Kelly today:

“Callum couldn’t train because of a small muscle problem which isn’t serious. Liam was my option.”

Yakou Meite absence:

“He twisted his ankle more than two months ago. When I arrived he was really brave and tried to play with pain. But it’s better to take away all the pain he is feeling and when he comes back he will be ready and not in any pain.”

Galvanising the club:

“Today was a very strong step in terms of galvanising the club again. We must take the second step now. The next game must be a strong and safe performance for the track we want to follow.”

On two Forest red cards:

“We had the same problem at Millwall when Tyler Blackett saw a red card in minute nine. The referee is there to control this.

“My focus is on my team and helping players improve.”

Newfound confidence:

“I always felt the game was under control. Forest created a goal situation in the last minute when we made a mistake and they tried to dribble around our keeper.

“But during the game I don’t remember many more goal situations or dangerous action from Nottingham Forest.

“This is because my players were really brave to press very high, we recovered the ball, we closed down the spaces and we didn’t allow Nottingham Forest to play.

“That’s why my players deserved the three points.”

Signing a striker in January:

“I hope we can bring in another player but, again, the solution is not with new players.

“The market is open, but my players are doing very well and they have been working very, very hard.

“This is the only way I know to achieve success. We must give our maximum in every training session and then results will follow.”

On the squad he inherited:

“Since I arrived the players have had a fantastic attitude. They want to win and they want to put the club in its right place.

“They love the supporters and that’s how it works, we are together like a team. That includes the players, supporters, technical staff and medical staff – we must work like a family and that’s what we are doing.”

Rumours linking Tiago Ilori with a move back to Sporting Lisbon:

“Big clubs ask for important players. If we have good players and the market is open we can understand clubs want important players.

“A lot of our players can have proposals from another club, we don’t know. I don’t know if Tiago is a rumour or if it’s true. I do know it’s normal for clubs to look at good players.

“But from what I saw today and during the week, Tiago is completely focussed on the team. The other things I don’t know.”

Interest in Manchester United keeper Joel Pereira:

“I have given my idea to the board of directors. They have been working to find the solutions I ask the for.

“In the right moment when we get the solutions we will say so. Until then we just have to focus on working with the players we have.

“Tonight we start preparing for the next match.”