STAM RUES AN ABSENCE OF ROYAL VARIETY
JAAP Stam admits Reading have to start thinking outside the box after Barnsley successfully sucked the life out of the hosts’ attack to snatch a hard-earned point.
The Royals could boast 68 per cent possession but no goals to show for it as the Tykes made life extremely hard for the highflying hosts.
Boss Stam said: “The opposition come here and sit, they make it small and make it as tight as they can and then they wait for a moment to go on the break and score a goal.
“Normally they are a team that wants to play and go forward, and play possession football but at the end of the game you can see they are happy with a point.
“We have to deal with this at home, we need to make the game and create chances especially when the pitch dictates how you play your game.
“Everyone is very disappointed with the result because you want to win all your home games.”
In a game devoid of any real chances and lacking in creativity, it was in fact Barnsley who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 65th minute.
After pinball in the Reading penalty area Marley Watkins reacted quickest to stab an effort goalwards, the ball trickling onto Ali Al Habsi’s post before being scrambled clear.
Reading created the game’s first opportunity in the 14th minute as Liam Kelly saw his effort well blocked by Angus MacDonald after a neat reverse pass by Garath McCleary.
Barnley’s first attempt of the game came ten minutes later after a quick breakaway from a Reading corner set Watkins free but his tame effort dribbled into the arms of Al Habsi.
The Tykes had a good chance to open the scoring ten minutes before half-time when Marc Roberts headed wide from Ryan Williams’ right-wing corner.
A minute later full-back Gethin Jones found himself in a good position in the Reading area but dragged his shot wide.
Reading had the final chance of the first half five minutes before the break when Yann Kermorgant headed Jordan Obita’s right-wing cross straight into the arms of Adam Davies.
Reading started the second half on the front foot but it was Barnsley with the first chance of the half, Tom Bradshaw seeing his snapshot fly narrowly over.
Then Reading’s Kermorgant saw a volley draw a smart save from Davies in the 51st minute before McCleary powered an effort just wide of the left-hand upright from 20 yards.
Tykes winger Adam Hammill lacked composure in the 75th minute, blazing his shot high after Bradshaw played him clear.
The final chance of the game fell to Reading and Danny Williams in injury-time, but his well-struck shot stung the palms of Davies who tipped the ball away for a corner.
Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom said: “I was pleased with us with the ball and without the ball – the bit that was missing was the end product.
“We got in some really good positions in the first half and second half and I know we hit the post, but apart from that we only hit the target once. That was the story of the game for us, everything right apart from that.
“A clean sheet was kept because of all our hard work in training. No-one has an excuse, we work hard, there’s no hard luck stories, we get what we deserve.”