Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SHY AND MEITE
Royals rule at top of table.. but goal hero warns: We could end up like Forest
FLIPPIN’ SUPERB! Meite scores a spectacular second goal to give the hosts a two-goal cushion late on
YAKOU MEITE is refusing to get carried away by Reading’s incredible start – out of fear they could do a Nottingham Forest.
The east Midlands side were in the top six for most of the last campaign, but blew it thanks to a six-game winless collapse at the finish.
Reading have risen to five points clear at the top of the Championship against the odds. Yet they are wary of getting too far ahead of themselves and repeating history.
And two-goal hero Meite (s c o r i n g h i s first against Rotherham, right) said: “We need to stay humble as we know in the Championship it is games every two or three days.
“For me, personally, it is too early. I have been in this league for a few years now and I know.
“You have the example of
Nottingham Forest last year – t h e y di d n o t make the play-offs. It’s too early but, if we can continue like thi s, of course we can start to dream.
“The Premier League is the target for every player. If I can play in the Premier League with Reading, I would be very happy.
“That’s my dream, but we have a lot of work to do. We need to be humble and help each other.”
It is fair to say the Royals have been very lucky this season under unbeaten new boss Veljko Paunovic.
Against the Millers they were poor until Meite opened the scoring f our minutes before the break. The Ivorian then added a second on 79 minutes with an extraordinary scissor-kick before Lucas Joao won and scored a late penalty.
Meite (celebrating his first, right) s a i d : “Wh e n the manager talks, everything is positive and he doesn’t shout. He’s brought a great spirit.
“We’re like warriors and I’m playing like a spartan. If we can keep going like this without fans I’d take that. Maybe the fans can come and see us in the play-offs – or win a trophy.”
Rotherham boss Paul Warne was back in the dugout after self-isolation, but fears for his future at the club unless they can improve.
The Millers have just five goals and only one win, and Warne said: “I feel pressure. We do need to score more goals and pick up more points.
“If thi s is the season it w o n’ t b e m e in charge, I understand that.”
READING: Rafael 7,
Esteves 7, Morrison 7,
Moore 7, Richards 6,
Rinomhota 6, Laurent 6,
Meite 8, Semedo 6
(Mcintyre 80, 6), Ejaria
7 (Olise 67, 6), Puscas 6
(Joao 66, 7).
ROTHERHAM: Blackman 7, Harding 7 (Ladapo 71, 7), Ihiekwe 5, Robertson 6, Mattock 6, Jozefzoon 6 (Olosunde 64, 6), S Macdonald 6, Barlaser 6, Lindsay 6 (Hirst 62, 6), Wiles 6, Smith 6