Record’s a motivation for Royals
reading ........ burnley ........ Record 0 0
Noel Hunt rallied his players into preserving Reading’s Championship points record ahead of holding the team that threatened it.
Burnley can yet match the Royals’ record 106-point tally – set in 2006 – but Saturday’s draw against the Royals ensured they would not surpass it.
“That points record was part of the team talk before the game,” said interim boss Hunt.
“I am happy to say that because our club is so proud of it. We don’t mind sharing it, but we don’t want to lose it.
“Burnley are an incredible side and if they do not match that points tally, then they will come very close to it.
“They have Premier league players across the pitch and have a clear style and identity, with players who can hurt you.
“Taking points off them was a big result.”
Clarets boss Vincent Kompany played down matching the record.
He said: “I do not want to get fixated on that. We have to be aware that we will be put into the deep end next season when every game will be tough and we will be the underdogs.
“With promotion achieved we must have one eye on next season.”
Reading, who remain in the drop zone on goal difference only, had their six-point deduction confirmed earlier this month.
Hunt added. “The timing was terrible. But now we know that is done and the weight’s been lifted.”
Kompany also blamed his side for “not being dangerous enough” in attack after the Championship leaders had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
With Sheffield United beating Cardiff 4-1 earlier in the day, Burnley could not clinch the title in Berkshire with a victory.
But they rarely looked like securing a win in an overall drab contest, with only one shot on target from either side.
“When we got into the final third, we weren’t dangerous enough with the chances that we created,” said Kompany.