No boss, fans, wins or goals, but Bacuna won’t panic
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LEANDRO BACUNA insists Reading are no club in crisis.
In the bottom three, without a win in five games, and managerless after Paul Clement’s sacking, they did not have a shot on target against Sheffield United in front of their lowest crowd of the season.
Yet former Aston Villa midfielder Bacuna is adamant the situation is not as bad as it appears, although he admits he and his team-mates are “guilty” over Clement’s sacking.
Bacuna, who was skipper on Saturday, said: “It’s been a weird week. The manager lost his job but we have to continue and fight.
“I have nothing against Paul, he trained us very well. Of course you feel a bit guilty. Players sign contracts and don’t leave in the middle of the season but with managers that’s different.
“The club need a lift. It’s been a tough time but we must stick together. The most important thing is the players on the pitch, we need to do our job and show passion, we need to show commitment to the club.
“I don’t think things have gone wrong, we’ve not been playing that bad. But we are conceding too many goals. If we score three, we concede three. We need to learn how to keep clean sheets.
“We just need to keep believing. We need to keep fighting.
“We need that final touch. It’s very important we get the next manager right.
“I understand the fans. If we don’t win, there is negativity that’s normal, we need to get them back on side and support.
“I’ve been through this situation before. I can use my experience and help the players.”
Luis Castro, boss of Portuguese club Vitoria, is favourite to take charge, but Scott Marshall (below) will continue as caretaker until an appointment is made.
United are up to third thanks to an 83rd-minute Billy Sharp tap-in and Sam Baldock’s own goal three minutes later. Chris Basham, who set up Sharp’s goal, feels he knows where Reading’s problem lies.
“Once they conceded they all looked at each other and no one wanted to say anything,” he said. “It looks like a bit of a blame culture.
“But surely a manager will come in and Reading should definitely be safe in this league.”
Basham was relieved to get the points after a subdued first-half display in the week of the Blades’ Christmas party.
He said: “We all gave ourselves a kick up the backside at halftime. We’re a bit disappointed as we felt like after going on a Christmas do you want to turn up in the next game but we didn’t turn up for 45 minutes.” READING: SHEFF UTD: