Reading FC manager Leam Richardson expressed his disappointment following Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat to Mansfield Town.
“We are disappointed with the result,” Richardson told RoyalsTV.
“The conditions weren’t ideal, but they were the same for both teams. In the first half, I thought we shaded it and missed the two biggest chances. In the second half, we never really got into it and suffered towards the end.”
Reading missed out on the chance to climb into the top six as their recent run of strong form was ended against relegation battling Mansfield.
Richardson continued: “The second half was the most disappointing because we didn’t play the conditions. We could have played the conditions better. We huffed and puffed, but they were in the ascendancy for a large part.”
He also praised Mansfield’s tactical approach. “They knew the conditions. It is their home pitch, so I assume they wanted the big gust of wind in the second half and try to pin us in, which they did towards the end. I thought we had a lot of negative possession. We had the best quality of chances, but they had the quantity. It was probably a bit of a mistake on our part.”
The Reading boss was quick to acknowledge his players’ efforts. “The players will be disappointed because they want to keep building. They are a good, honest group of people and they know themselves that with a bit more quality, we hit a moment.”
He also thanked the 310 supporters who travelled to Nottinghamshire. “We won’t be defined by one game, as we weren’t on Saturday or the previous Saturday. Of course we are disappointed, but the fans that travelled up here on a Tuesday night in these conditions, I have full credit and real appreciation for them. You always want to give them the extra bit to get in their cars and on the coaches to go home, and we weren’t able to do that tonight. I’m sure we will give them better nights than tonight.”
Reading now turn their attention to Saturday’s clash with in-form Plymouth Argyle at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, with both sides chasing a play-off spot.
