‘IF WE PLAY LIKE THAT IN THE NEXT 45 GAMES, I’LL BE HAPPY’ SAYS GAFFER
READING FC manager Paul Ince was keen to take plenty of positives despite an opening day defeat to Blackpool.
Callum Connoly’s goal in the ninth minute gave Blackpool all three points at Bloomfield Road, but Ince was satisfied with his team’s performance and believes they deserved more.
“We were a bit passive in the first 10 or 15 minutes and conceded a silly goal.
“Joe (Lumley) makes a great save but we didn’t get to the second ball.
“Last year we probably would have capitulated with that but we didn’t and there was only one team that looked like they were going to win the game.
“I thought we were excellent in the second-half, but things didn’t drop for us.
“Anybody who watched today would have felt we deserved something from the game.
“It’s hard to take positives when you lose, but I’ve taken lots of them.
“Sometimes we need to analyse what we see. Yids playing rightsided centre-half, Junior playing right-wing-back, a young kid at left-wing-back.
“The performance was encouraging. If we perform like that in the next 45 games, I will be happy.”
The Royals had just one senior outfield player on the bench as Shane Long came on with seven minutes left in the contest.
Ince continued: “We had Shane Long who has done only one week’s training and the young lads so you can see where we are.
“We don’t have strength in depth.
“Considering that, the performance they put in was immense and I’m proud of them.
“The system worked well and we got joy. We caused Blackpool a lot of problems.
“The left-backs we’re looking at are either on loan or not in contract.
“You don’t want 10 loan players as you lose the spirit and the core of what we showed today. Financially we can’t do a lot, we’re fishing from the bottom of the pond.
“Nesta is still young and learning so he’ll grow. We need a left-back, a midfielder and a striker, but maybe I’m being greedy.”
The Royals boss also provided an injury update to sevaral key players in his squad.
With four debutants in the side, Reading were without experienced heads such as Lucas Joao, Scott Dann and Sam Hutchinson.
“Scott Dann will be on the training ground outside next week but he’s two or three weeks away,” said Ince.
“Lucas (Joao) is also two or three weeks away and Hutch (Sam Hutchinson) could also be two or three weeks away.”
The Royals, who faced several big injury challenges last season, have been dealt another blow as Femi Azeez is set for another spell on the sidelines.
Ince continued: “Femi pulled his hamstring yesterday and is out for six to eight weeks.
“He’s had a fantastic pre-season and has looked really good but training outside yesterday he did his hamstring and is now out for six to eight weeks.
“We go again, I don’t want to be too downbeat about it. What you see here today is what you’re going to get next week.