JOSE’S RIGHT ROYAL BLAST NOT ENOUGH
READING manager Jose Gomes handed out a half-time dressing down during their home defeat to Blackburn Rovers.
Adam Armstrong gave Blackburn the lead in the eighth minute and top scorer Bradley Dack claimed his fourth of the campaign shortly after the interval to increase Rovers’ lead.
John Swift reduced the gap but, despite mounting late pressure, Reading were unable to find an equaliser. It was their third successive league defeat.
“At half-time, I was completely angry with them,” Gomes said. “I was really upset.
“We made tactical mistakes that we shouldn’t have. So I spoke with them and explained the things for the second half.
“But then the worst thing happened that could have. We conceded a second goal in the third minute of the second half.
“We didn’t give up and tried to keep finding the Blackburn goal. We shot a lot of times and were much more dangerous in their box.
“The big lesson is that 45 minutes is sometimes not enough to win a game. And we gave the first 45 minutes to Blackburn.
“Of course, I was disappointed with the result. We didn’t win.
“The thing is that when you lose, when we have these tough times, it is a special moment to learn – to be better, to be stronger. We need to learn from our mistakes as soon as possible.”
Sam Gallagher had gone close with a header before Rovers went ahead. Stewart Downing crossed from the right and Armstrong was allowed time and space to curl a delightful 20-yard shot past goalkeeper Rafael.
Reading replied positively. A clever George Puscas flick freed Lucas Joao but his fierce effort was blocked. Puscas went close soon after, cutting in from the right and seeing his angled effort flick the top of the crossbar.
Blackburn regained control and almost doubled their lead but Gallagher’s effort flew wide. Downing lacked power with a low shot but Rovers stretched their advantage when Gallagher crossed from the left and, after a scramble in the home area, Dack turned sharply to beat Rafael.
Swift almost reduced the gap in the 55th minute, when his crisp shot struck a post. Two minutes later, he was more successful. Ovie Ejaria saw a goalbound effort charged down and Swift followed up to guide a precise drive home. He then set up Yakou Meite but the substitute blazed over.
Rovers substitutes Danny Graham and Lewis Holtby missed late chances but Blackburn held on for the victory.
“I thought that we were very good in spells,” manager Tony Mowbray said. “We started both halves on the front foot and were very aggressive.
“Against a team who, at their best, are very good at passing and playing.
“Reading have some very good technical players and they’re always a real threat.
“You either decide to sit deep in a big block and make it difficult for them to get through or you get on the front foot and press them really high and take the ball off them.
“That was the option we went for and it paid dividends.
“I also thought that we moved the ball around well for long spells and probably deserved the victory.”