Nigel Gibbs took on media duty after Reading finally picked up their first home victory of the season with a 3-0 win over Hull City.
Goals from Sam Baldock, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Andy Yiadom sealed the win before John O’Shea was sent off late on.
Gibbs discusses bounces back from midweek defeat to Norwich, the players who came into the team including debutant Saeid Ezatolahi and the performance of John O’Shea.
On the win…
We made some changes from the week to freshen it up, bring some fresh legs in. Saeid making his debut, John O’Shea, they all performed very well and I thought we thoroughly deserved the victory. We started the game really well. You could see from the first minute the intensity was there and that early goal settled us down as well. I thought we deserved to go into the lead. As the game wore on I thought the second goal came at a good time for us. I thought Hull were just getting back into the game then to be honest. It came at a good time for us and then we saw the game out. Unfortunately lost John near the end but I thought he was excellent today and obviously disappointed that we’re going to lose him.
On picking up a first home win of the season…
It’s the first clean sheet, three goals at home and it was a long time coming the home victory. It’s been a good day for us and that’s something for us to build on now.
On responding to Wednesday’s defeat…
I think it was frustration from the manager and for all of us. We’ve been working hard in training to get the right results and we’ve lost so many games by the odd goal. It was a disappointing result but I think the main thing was the performance in the first half against Norwich, it wasn’t up to standard. The players know that, we know as a staff so we’ve all got to do better and I think you saw that from the first whistle today. The intensity was there, the intent was there to really go after Hull and I think that gave us the base. The goal obviously came at a good time, it was a good start for us.
On if they have found their best team now…
You’re always looking to get that balance and you want to keep that stable team selection. Sims coming in and started today, did very well. He carries the ball really well for the team. There are some lads who have put in some really good performances there and it’s up to them to keep the shirt now, to keep consistently performing well.
On leaving Chris Gunter out…
It was just to bring some fresh bodies in. A little bit of height on the side there with Tiago. He’s played that position before and he’s got pace. Obviously that was the manager’s call and it went very well. Tiago had a good game there and the proof’s in the pudding, it’s a clean sheet which is the most important thing. We’ve been working hard for that. It’s so important to get that clean sheet and that’ll give everyone that confidence now.
On O’Shea’s injury…
He had a cut in his mouth. He’s a brave boy. There was no way he was coming off. We were worried he was going to have to come off because of the bleeding but I thought he was excellent today, won nearly every header and I think he helped the players alongside him as well.
On Saeid Ezatolahi’s debut…
Really pleased with him. You can see he’s a good player. He’s played in the World Cup, he’s read the game really well today, won headers, gives that calmness on the ball and he did really well today. He was part of that good performance and good victory.
On Hull almost equalising before half-time…
They had the offside goal and they had another ball that flashed across our box from the cross from the right hand side. That was a warning for us. We had to make sure we kept at it and defended our box really well. They had some dangerous players at times so we had to make sure we were right and fortunately we did that.
On climbing out of the relegation zone…
I haven’t seen the table yet but we’ve got eight points now and we’re looking forward and trying to get up that table. It’s the start. It’s our first home win of the season and that’s all it is.
On Andy Yiadom’s performance…
I’ve been pleased with Andy. He’s been consistent with his performances and I think today he was back to his best. I think in the week he was a little bit off it in the first half but he’s played right-back and left-back. He can play either and does a really good job at both. We’ve been really pleased with the way he’s come in and performed and obviously for him to get the goal as well was a bonus.
On Bodvarsson scoring again…
He’s finished it well again today. It was a good finish and he’s working so hard for the team. I thought his hold up play and his aerial play today was very, very good. I think he gave their back four a tough time, as did Sam Baldock. I think the front three really, really worked them hard. We had some good opportunities we didn’t capitalise on and Jon was part of that. His goals are there for everyone to see but his work-rate as well and his hold-up play is excellent. We’re really pleased with him.
On needing a performance after the defeat in midweek…
I think everyone owed a performance to ourselves and the supporters because that’s the most important. They stuck with us today. They’ve had a tough time watching us at home so the players are aware of that. We’re playing for the badge and it was an important game for us to go out there and show them what we can do.
On the injuries…
Paul McShane is progressing well and hopefully he’ll possibly join back in training this week. We’ll see how he is after the weekend. Vito Mannone will hopefully possibly be back sometime this week. We’ll have to assess him after the weekend. Garath McCleary played 75 minutes on Wednesday so he’s not had 90 minutes yet. That’s his next step. Callum Harriott worked really hard last night for the U23s. He did 75 minutes so that’s another player getting back to full fitness. David Meyler will hopefully be back training this week.
