Reading FC manager Ruben Selles believes that his side ‘felt the pressure’ during their frantic FA Cup tie with Harborough Town.
Despite playing a side in the 7th tier of English football, Reading found themselves 2-1 down at the break.
After pulling the game back to go 3-2 ahead, Abraham Kanu was sent off before the visitors scored an 85th minute leveller to take the game to extra-time.
Substitute Chem Campbell got Reading out of trouble in extra-time to seal a 5-3 win and a place in the third-round.
“We know that it doesn’t matter who the opponent is, they presented a team that had a clear idea,” said Selles.
“We knew it and I think it’s a part of our journey as a team, to get exposed to the massive pressure.
“It’s not often that we must have a game that is must win and today was must win.
“We felt pressure in some parts of the game, making mistakes that we are not used to, but at the end we went through and went through.”
Selles also spoke about defender Kanu, who was sent off in the 75th minute of the tie.
He said: “The entire back line was very young without much experience.
“That’s why these games will make us better, because Abraham (Kanu) was late twice.
“The first one is a bad pass from a teammate and he’s covered the space. The second one was almost last man in the line.
“I think it’s a big learning for him but things happen.
“It was a fair second yellow and not good for the team because we played a long time with 10 players.”
Selles admitted that it was a useful learning experience for his players who faced a scare against their non-league opponents.
He continued: “The majority of the games we play because of the situation of the club and the academy players, we have the feeling of playing without pressure sometimes.
“This was must win and you need to feel that pressure. We felt it, suffered it and went through it so it should be a good learning for us.”
