TRACTOR MY CHEERS

Fans back Ipswich players despite drop fears

a lap of honour when anywhere else it would have been the walk of shame to the dressing room.

Goalscorer Gwion Edwards (below) said: “The fans have been brilliant, especially when you consider the situation we are in.

“You see how other fans have been in a similar situation but they have been right behind us.”

Rather than take out frustration on boss Paul Lambert, supporters are almost giving him a free ride.

Instead they blame Paul Hurst – sacked in October after just 149 days – for the club’s demise.

Half-time sub Edwards (below) cancelled out Nelson Oliveira’s early opener for the Royals with an 83rd-minute equaliser.

But seven minutes later Mo Barrow took advantage of the home side’s catastrophic defending to fire in the winner. Ipswich were left to rue a series of misses, most notably by Jon Nolan, Luke Chambers and Collin Quaner.

But Royals’ keeper Emiliano Martinez, on loan from Arsenal, also pulled off several fine saves as the visitors held on for a crucial win.

Edwards added: “We let ourselves down again and that has been the story of our season.

“We should have won but we don’t take chances and we concede too easily.

“All we can do is stick together and keep on fighting.”

Reading boss Jose Gomes admitted he is keen to sign permanently fellow countryman Oliveira, who has netted three in six games since arriving on loan from Norwich.

Gomes said: “I have liked him since he was a youth in our national teams in Portugal.

“I would like to keep him but I don’t know if that is possible.”