We have not Gun off rails

DEFIANT Reading defender Chris Gunter insisted one shock defeat would not derail their promotion bid.

Welsh international Gunter said: “Defeats are always difficult to take and obviously this one will be very hard.

“But it’s our job now to stay focused and we have all worked too hard this season to let one bad result throw us off track.

“Losing 7-1 isn’t going to end our season and we are still in a fantastic position. It’s all still in our hands.”

Right-back Gunter admitted the flak would be flying in the next few days but the players are tough enough to take it.

“People will be saying we don’t care, we didn’t try and we aren’t good enough, so we just have to take our medicine,” he added.

“Some people will go overboard and be shocked and surprised and our supporters will be very disappointed. But we will take it on the chin and move on. We’ve had big defeats before and always responded really well.”

Norwich scored six in the first half for the first time since 1908 with midfielders Wes Hoolahan and Alex Pritchard both notching doubles.

Strikers Nelson Oliveira and Cameron Jerome and defender Russell Martin also netted with Royals striker Yann Kermorgant getting their consolation.

Skipper Martin later dedicated the game to Peter Oldfield, who died recently after working for 40 years at Carrow Road.

He said: “This was for Pete. I saw the family before the game and they asked for a goal and a performance and we gave them that. He was a great guy, an amazing character, and he meant a lot to me.”