VITO MANNONE says Reading will aim to turn the Hull City crowd against their own players during tomorrow’s clash at the KCOM Stadium.
Mannone is no stranger to Humberside having spent two seasons there on loan from Arsenal between 2010 and 2012, making 33 appearances for the first team.
Given the dissent shown from the fans at Madejski Stadium during the woeful recent defeats to Burton Albion and Birmingham City and with Hull below Reading in the table, Mannone is looking to create a similar atmosphere on Saturday.
“It’s a tough ground to go to,” said the Royals goalkeeper.
“It’s very difficult but it’s down to us again to use that in a good way.
“If we are playing well and making it difficult for them, I guess because they’re down the bottom that the fans will turn on their own team as well.
“That’s what we’re aiming for.
“We want to be in the game, be solid and play as much as possible from the back and keep playing because we don’t need to fear anyone.
“We showed that when we play football and when everything is happening well, it’s nice to watch Reading.
“We’ve missed that a bit but you cannot say some games we played well this year playing football and the next day turn up and kick the ball long. I don’t think that’s a solution.
“It’s down to us being brave on the ball, having courage to play games in a certain way and I believe we need to be confident and stay positive.
“We’ve lost easy balls in the middle of the park or at the back and we give chances to other teams and unfortunately we get punished.”
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Mannone is no stranger to a hostile reception from home supporters.
The Italian spent four seasons battling against relegation from the Premier League with Sunderland, eventually falling through the trap door last May.
And he believes the predicament on Wearside was far worse than what Reading are currently encountering.
“To be honest, I’ve been in different situations where you fight against relegation in the Premier League at Sunderland,” said Mannone.
“They have very passionate fans and when it’s not going well, they’ll let you know.
“I’ve been in worse situations than this and Reading has got good fans.
“I think it’s not getting there last year and now it’s the season after where we expected a lot as players and the fans expected a lot as a football club to achieve exactly the same if not better.
“It’s not happening. The frustration is there and you can understand that, but we all want the same thing.”
He continued: “At the end of the day, I play as a fan when I’m on the pitch, personally I’m like that and my heart is towards the club I’m playing for and I want the best for me, for the team and for the club.
“We all want the same thing and we are working towards that.
“We need to give the fans something to cheer, that’s the main aim for us as well.
“They need something to be happy about when they go home and we’ve been missing this a little bit, especially at home where the margins are very thin.”
