Royals focus on Brentford clash after stalemate
Referee: Tim Robinson
READING boss Veljko Paunovic admits the pressure is building as he prepared for a promotion battle with Brentford.
The Bees are storming towards the Premier League and unbeaten in 20 Championship games.
The last time Brentford lost in the league was at Stoke in October and the Potters ought to have taken advantage of a limp Royals performance and beaten them too. But James McClean wasted their best chance in a poor match.
Reading will have to up their game on Wednesday at home to Brentford. The best Paunovic got out of this was a clean sheet, a point and the fact his side were better towards the end.
Had McClean finished a move well set-up by John Obi Mikel instead of shooting at keeper Rafael, Reading would not have taken their unbeaten league run to seven.
Brentford are six points ahead of them and Paunovic (below) knows that if he is to be in with a chance of nicking automatic promotion, he must beat the second-placed Bees.
“It’s a very important game, one of the most important so far in the season,” he said. “We don’t want to put the pressure on us but we know how we have to prepare for the game. We are aware of the time of the season and where we are.
“It’s a hard stretch, the pressure is building, but we are known as competitors in every single game.
“For this match we will compete once again because we want to win. We know who we have in front of us and it’s not going to be easy. We will need our best and our ‘all’ to win this game.”
Stoke have been on the verge of breaking into the top six but are sliding away, winless since beating Blackburn before Christmas when they were seventh.
In Tottenham’s loan winger Jack Clarke, who cost Spurs £10million from Leeds 19 months ago, they have a 20-year-old with the trickery to unlock defences.
But Stoke did not capitalise on what he created and boss Michael O’Neill said: “I wasn’t disappointed with the performance but disappointed we didn’t take more from the game.”
Six of Stoke’s last eight league games have been draws and it has left them treading water.
STOKE:
READING:
ACCRINGTON
NORTHAMPTON
JOE PRITCHARD saw red late on as Stanley failed to replicate their midweek goal heroics.
Accrington had thrashed Bristol Rovers 6-1 four days earlier but drew a blank against the Cobblers.
Wide midfielder Pritchard picked up two yellows and boss John Coleman said: “I have no problem with that – but it could be a point gained.”
FLEETWOOD
BRISTOL ROV
ALEX CAIRNS did not mind Simon Grayson’s first game as Fleetwood manager ending as a stalemate.
Cod Army keeper Cairns said: “I always pride myself on keeping clean sheets – and another one is always a good thing.”
Rovers boss Paul Tisdale said: “We’ve got to use that point as a springboard. The lads gave me everything.”
MK DONS
SUNDERLAND 0 0
0 0
2 2
MK DONS goalkeeper Andrew Fisher denied Aiden McGeady at the finish to frustrate Sunderland.
And Fisher insisted: “If that went in it would be an undeserved defeat so I just chucked my body in the way.”
Joe Mason and Cameron Jerome netted for the hosts in between strikes from the Black Cats’ Charlie Wyke and Luke O’Nien.
IPSWICH
BLACKPOOL
ALAN JUDGE was delighted to ambush the opposition for the Ipswich opener.
The Irishman struck against Blackpool just before the break, with a header from Luke Woolfenden (left) clinching victory early in the second half.
Midfielder Judge said: “The amount of space I had took me by surprise, to be honest, but I was pleased with the finish.”