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Reading manager Jose Gomes praised his sides second half spirit but called for them to find consistency after they fell to a 4-1 defeat at home to Fulham.
The Royals have now lost four of their five Championship matches at the Madejski Stadium this season, leaving them in 21st position in the table, just above the relegation places.
Reading were reduced to 10 men after John Swift was given a red card in the 19th minute with the hosts already a goal behind.
“We faced a very strong team with Premier League players. We knew how difficult it would be to play them, we prepared well and organised very well to face them,” said Gomes.
“After with one player less, the problem was even bigger because they have quality and can hold the ball very well, even against 11 its difficult to stop them and with 10 it’s even more difficult.
“In the first half we should have been more aggressive in the way we pressed the opponent with the ball and I didn’t like that but in the second half, everything was different.
“Very good character and spirit my players showed in the second half, with one player less we needed a strong spirit to try and stop them.
“They scored again in the second half after one mistake. The way my players played I don’t think we deserved to conceded a goal in the second half.
Following the heavy defeat, Gomes could be seen in deep discussion on the pitch with all of his players and staff at the end of the game.
“After the defeat, I called all of the players at the end of the game and in the difficult moments we see who is who. The spirit we showed is something every positive, even in the bad moments we must see the positive sides we can catch.
“With the emotional side, everyone was unhappy and especially the players that did mistakes during the game. The idea was to tell them exactly what I was feeling in that moment.
Gomes admitted that Swift’s red card changed the dynamic of the game as the hosts struggled to find possession against their opponents.
“John Swift is one of the best players in the Championship. He’s not an aggressive player. In both situations he tried to play the ball. The second one he slipped, the pitch was full of water. I’m not saying it was a referee mistake.”
The Portuguse manager was insistent that he is not concerned about his position at the club despite Reading’s disappointing league position.
“The managers in football are always under pressure. We must learn to face the pressure with the positive things that we have, I’m not concerned about my position.
“I really believe in the way that I work and the honest way I pass my message to the players and the togetherness at this club. I’m completely sure the players will give the answer to get the points that we need.
“We’ve had a lot of positive things during this season but have also had a lot of negative things. We need consistency and everybody, all the players must see what we can do to get the consistency in our performances.”
