CONNOLLY: MY GOAL WAS FOR ‘LEGEND’
CALLUM CONNOLLY dedicated his opening goal to long-serving Ipswich stalwart Dick Parker.
The former academy kit man and training-ground caretaker passed away last week, aged 67.
And Everton loanee Connolly (above) said: “Dick was a great man. From day one, he spoke to me and made me feel at home.
“I only knew him for six months or so, but he was a big character around the place. He’s a legend here and that goal was for him. He’ll be missed dearly.
“He got a great reception against Reading and that showed what he meant to the club.”
Connolly’s third-minute effort, and a second from Joe Garner, ensured this game was won for the Tractor Boys inside the opening half hour.
And it ensured inconsistent Reading’s five-match unbeaten run came to an end.
The Royals’ utility player Joey van den Berg said: “If you concede quick goals like that, it’s so hard to play.
“We could play until next Christmas and, if we keep conceding goals like that, we’ll never win a game.
“It’s like the beginning of the season when we kept conceding stupid moments, especially from set-pieces. We need to get the solution quickly because it’s killing us at the moment.
“The positive about this league is that you don’t have a lot of time to think about bad results. Games follow up quickly – that’s the good thing about it.”