Hot Beer adds fizz to Royals
READING manager Jaap Stam laughed off comparisons with Barcelona and Manchester City as his side chalked up their fifth successive Championship win.
Goals by in-form Garath McCleary and Roy Beerens set up the victory against Bristol City.
Last week Barnet head coach and television pundit Martin Allen claimed Reading’s style of play resembled the La Liga and Premier League giants.
“We’re a long way from there,” said Stam. “We need to be realistic. We’re not trying to copy a certain team, we’ve got our own style of play and that’s what we’re trying to do.
“I’m not going to sit in front of the television looking at their patterns [of Barcelona and Manchester City]. We need to be realistic with the players that we have – but if people are talking about us like that, it’s a good thing.
“The guys are getting appreciated for what they’re doing on the pitch. Maybe people can say as well that Barcelona and Man City are trying to play like Reading.”
Reading went ahead in the 13th minute after Hordur Magnusson fouled Dominic Samuel in the area – McCleary scored from the rebound after his tame penalty was saved by Frank Fielding.
The home side increased their lead six minutes later when good work by McCleary and Chris Gunter set up Beerens for a clinical left-foot finish.
City improved after the interval but wayward finishing proved costly and they had only an 87th-minute goal from Gary O’Neil to show for their efforts.
City manager Lee Johnson was unhappy with the penalty award. “The penalty was a decision by somebody who’s probably not played football an awful lot before,” he said.
“I spoke with the referee [Tim Robinson] but I didn’t get much clarification. It was a decent game, like two good boxers going for each other.” Possession Shots On Target Shots Off Target Blocked Shots Corners Fouls Conceded Offsides Yellow Cards Red Cards 53% 47% 6 7 3 7 5 11 3 6 11 13 3 5 2 2 0 0