Reading FC manager Paul Ince expressed his delight after his team’s clean sheet win over Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night.
After a calamitous display on Saturday against Rotherham, Joe Lumley kept his spot in goal and proved his worth by bouncing back as part of an outstanding collective performance from the Royals.
Earning his first clean sheet of the season, with the score at 1-0 Lumley made an exceptional save to keep out Ashley Phillips before Reading went on to net twice more to take the points..
“Without clean sheets you don’t win games. The back five were immense,” said Ince.
“I spoke to Joe on Saturday evening and said ‘put it to bed’.
“It’s easy for us to say because it didn’t happen to us.
“I said to him to have a glass of wine because he’ll save us more points than he will cost us.
“He still had to come out tonight with that in his head and he made some world class saves.
“That shows he has character about him and a tough mentality.
“I’m pleased for him more than anyone else.
“The crowd were unbelievable. I thought the crowd at Rotherham were amazing, especially towards our goalkeeper.
“I’ve heard all the stories and spoken to Joe about them trying to support him even though it was one of those days.
“You don’t get many fans like that at 4-0 down and still trying to support Joe.”
Lumley will be out of action this weekend when Reading host his parent club Middlesbrough at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
That means that second choice goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis, who joined from Sutton United this summer, is likely to get a chance to make his Championship debut on Saturday.
