F-word bombs Bristol
READING BOSS CHEERS WIN
VELJKO PAUNOVIC saw Reading banish their blues – and then apologised for turning the air blue.
Goals from Ovie Ejaria, Yakou Meite and Lucas Joao led the former league leaders to a first win in six.
But Paunovic was booked for an extraordinary F-word touchline rant at opposite number Dean Holden after Taylor Moore had been yellow carded for a heavy challenge on Josh Laurent.
The Serbian boss swore numerous times before telling the Bristol City manager to “shut the f*** up” as tempers flared.
Paunovic admitted: “Sometimes I can be like that. The pressure was building and I love that.
“I reacted at one point and I apologise for that. It’s a passionate game and I’m a passionate guy.
“I’ve apologised to him, there’s no bad feeling.
“It happens. My reaction was triggered but I don’t want to tackle that. It wasn’t related to the challenge.
“It was very important to get that winning feeling back – it was a complete performance, our best of the year. I’m very happy.
“Now we want to build new momentum.”
Holden responded: “It’s easy to apologise when you win games.
“It was heat of the moment stuff. I was pretty calm and don’t have issues with anyone.”
The first half of this clash was bitterly disappointing with Meite having the best chance with an acrobatic effort that was saved well by Dan
Bentley.
But the game sprang to life nine minutes into the second half as Reading got a massive stroke of luck. Ejaria’s shot took a wicked deflection off Zak Vyner and found the net with the former Liverpool man looking embarrassed to celebrate.
Taylor Moore then lunged in on Laurent producing the flashpoint on the bench as Paunovic laid into his opposite number.
Reading continued to attack as defender Tom Holmes’ header was saved by Bentley from Michael Olise’s free- kick while
Meite was denied by the City keeper in a one- on- one situation.
Just as Reading were looking to put the game beyond the visitors, City levelled up against the run of play. Sub Nahki Wells bundled the ball home on 73 minutes from Jamie Paterson’s free-kick. However, Reading regained both their composure and the lead on 76 minutes.
Meite raced through to score his fifth goal of the season from Olise’s pass.
Then Meite, a handful throughout, helped secure the points in injury time as he charged down the right and crossed for Joao who scored.
This was City’s first defeat since October and Holden admitted: “We can’t dress it up – it was a poor performance. We have to swallow it and move on quickly.”
READING: Rafael 6; Holmes 6, Morrison 7, Moore 7, Richards 6; Rinomhota 6, Laurent 6; Meite 8 (Estevas 90), Olise 7 (Semedo 82), Ejaria 7 (Aluko 90); Joao 8. Unused Subs: Southwood, McIntyre, Gibson, Tetek, Onen, Baldock.
BRISTOL CITY: Bentley 6; Hunt 6 (Edwards 86, 6), Vyner 7, Moore 6, Rowe 6 (Wells 56, 7), Dasilva 6; Paterson 6, Nagy 6 (Brunt 73, 6), O’Dowda 6 (Massengo 86); Semenyo 6, Diedhiou 6 (Martin 56, 6). Unused Subs: O’Leary, Mariappa, Bakin