Jose Gomes believes Reading’s performance was better than the result suggests.
Three goals in the first half were enough for Leeds to notch a 3-0 win to take them top of the Championship with Pablo Hernandez bagging a brace to add to Mateusz Klich’s strike.
The Royals rallied after the restart without seriously threatening as the visitors clinched a comfortable victory.
Here is what Gomes said after the game –
On the result…
It was a very good football match. We played against a very strong team – maybe one with the strongest offensive dynamic in the league. They showed very good movements with intensity, very fast movements between all the players from the midfield to the wingers.
They put nine players in their offensive actions. The result doesn’t show the performance we gave. We are not happy with the result of course but we have a lot of positive things we must catch for the future.
Also, the way the young players played – they showed they weren’t afraid, so that’s a positive.
We didn’t get any points, conceded three goals but there were lots of positive actions. Saturday we couldn’t celebrate and now we can’t cry.
On bouncing back…
That’s what we need. We need points as soon as possible to get out of our position. We must fight for the three points in the coming games.
On if it was a fair result…
We started the game well but in the moment we conceded the first goal we didn’t deserve to.
After four shots, they scored three goals. Without any space – the third goal was just a small touch and the ball crossed Martinez’s hand. It was a fantastic goal.
The quality they have is difficult to stop. Their dynamic and mobility – we tried to stop it. When we are in a good moment, good things happen. Leeds are in a good moment so that’s what happened.
On what was the most disappointing aspect…
The result. We cannot find one reason for the result. The way they scored was for different reasons.
It wasn’t because one player didn’t play well or we didn’t have a striker or defensive midfield.
On getting back into the game after half-time…
Yes, I thought if we scored one goal we would give another energy to the game. The players did much better in the second half.
On the second half performance…
We moved the ball a lot near Leeds’ goal. Sometimes the direction of the last pass wasn’t right. We created a lot of good situations and we missed the last pass. With good passes in these attacks, we could’ve got some goals, but we didn’t.
We are at the bottom of the table, we now have one game less and we must prepare and give the confidence and motivation to the players again to be ready for the next game. We cannot find another way.
On if Luke Ayling should have been sent off…
I think so yes, in my opinion. I think the referee forgave him. In my opinion it was a second yellow card. Of course the end of the game could’ve been different, definitely. But they scored three goals in the first half so we shouldn’t complain about the referee.
On Ryan East’s debut…
He showed he was comfortable in the game. He gave very good passes, he recovered a lot of balls. In the second half, Danny (Loader’s) pass could have put him in front of the goalkeeper but it was behind him. He did well, like Michael (Olise). He played very well for the time that he played. They have more to show, but I am happy with what they did.
On if the younger players have less weight on their shoulders…
They have no pressure at all. They must enjoy the game and we cannot put the responsibility of the position that we have in the table on their shoulders. They arrive without any kind of pressure.
If they are working well and deserve to play, they will play. I said this at the beginning when I arrived, I don’t care about their age or their CV, if they are doing what I want they can play.
On Ovie Ejaria’s injury…
Today he was better but not better enough to play. If tomorrow he shows he is better, maybe we can use him on Saturday.
On if Liam Moore’s participation was in doubt…
He’s not completely free of pain, but he’s brave and he showed again that he is brave.
On the confidence still being there despite defeat…
I think the result is one thing and the performance is a different thing. The quality players that Leeds had resolved their problems. They moved the ball out from the defence and they scored great goals. Today Reading performed well against one of the strongest teams in the league but Leeds scored.
On if he looks at Leeds as an example for what he wants to do with Reading…
Maybe we can talk about this when we reach a safe position in the table. Now the focus is to try to move out of this position that we don’t like.
On Liam Kelly’s absence…
He is not injured. He wasn’t selected. The reason is, remember the last time that he played. I must work inside me to bring him back to the team. I didn’t like what happened at Sheffield United. He’s still my player, he’s like my son. But I have children and sometimes we must punish them. He is still training with the first team.
