ROY IS THE BOY FOR STAM
Beerens’ goal wins it as van la Parra is dismissed
READING manager Jaap Stam insists his side are far from the finished article despite edging out early pacesetters Huddersfield in a frenetic and ill-tempered affair.
Roy Beerens put the Royals ahead just before half-time when he found himself unmarked in the box and was allowed to pick his spot from all of eight yards.
Huddersfield had to play the best part of an hour with ten men after Rajiv van la Parra saw red and despite a flurry of late chances they couldn’t snatch a point at the death.
“It was a hard game,” admitted Stam. “A very tough game because they have quality players and they are a very fit side and you don’t get to the top of the division without doing things right.
“But nevertheless we wanted to play our own game and we switched the play very quick, passed well at times and pressed them high which worked out for us – but we can still improve.
“We were a bit slow playing the ball out from the back, but still, that is how I want us to play because it has been successful for us during the last eight games and I’m proud of my players.”
The Royals had an early scare after two minutes when full-back Tommy Smith cut inside from the right and tested Ali Al-Habsi at his near post with a rasping drive.
After the opening exchanges, with chances few and far between, the game threatened to boil over with both sides putting in rash challenges.
And it cost the visitors when van la Parra saw red.
He was booked three minutes prior for hacking Jordan Obita down and he was carded again on 26 minutes for dissent having been on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from Joey van den Berg.
John Swift then took aim from distance with a stunning attempt after 30 minutes but his effort cannoned off the crossbar with Danny Ward well beaten in the Huddersfield goal.
But the Royals did take the lead four minutes before half-time when Beerens’ scuffed effort found its way through a crowd of defenders having been picked out
by an excellent Callum Harriott cross.
The visitors wanted a red card ten minutes into the second half as Nahki Wells was bearing down on goal chasing a through ball when he was hauled to the ground by the covering Chris Gunter.
But referee James Linington only showed Gunter a yellow card, much to the disappointment of the away fans.
Beerens then had a chance to make it two when he was played in by Swift, but having rounded Ward he found the angle too tight and could only prod the ball into the side netting.
Huddersfield still pressed for an equaliser and they almost had one seven minutes from time.
Elias Kachunga’s deep cross found Michael Hefele who duly nodded the ball into the path of Wells, but his powerful effort flew just wide.
But despite the defeat Terriers manager David Wagner felt his players could still be proud of their efforts, refusing to point the finger of blame at van la Parra.
“I’m proud of our performance,” said Wagner.
“I think we were the better team in the second half, even with ten men, but we can move on with our heads held high.
“This was a mistake by Rajiv. They happen in football.
“But I will be speaking with him privately about this and I think the referee was right to react this way and send the player off.
“We know that we’ve deserved every single point up until now and the way we played in the second half we showed our character and we know how bright the season can be for us.”