JOYCE CAN SPOT WARNING SIGNS
WARREN Joyce insisted he is under no illusions of the task facing him at the DW Stadium after Wigan were beaten convincingly by Reading on his managerial bow.
Royals top-scorer Garath McCleary struck twice within the first five minutes while Yann Kermorgant’s second-half penalty helped seal Reading’s third successive league win.
But Latics boss Joyce, who joined Wigan after leaving his post as Manchester United’s Under-23s coach, took heart from his players’ attitude after suffering a start that will otherwise be best left forgotten.
“You’re under no illusions before you come in,” he said. “The heartening thing for me was that the players didn’t give up.
“That would be a bigger worry if I’d seen them looking around and a lot of players giving up, hiding, not willing to run and keep going when they’re two or three down.
“That gives you some hope and encouragement for the future because without that you’re then looking round and you are worried.
“They’ve worked obviously really hard, the players that were here last year, to get themselves in the position that they are.
“They don’t want to lose the status without maximum effort, to try and pull together and achieve what they want to at the end of the year.”
The Royals took the lead within 60 seconds when McCleary capitalised on Wigan’s indecisiveness with a ball over the top and lobbed Adam Bogdan.
He added his second on five minutes when Callum Harriott broke from his own half through the Latics midfield to feed the winger, who coolly raked a low shot past Bogdan.
Reece Burke collected Stephen Warnock’s tenth-minute cross but blasted well over Ali Al-Habsi’s goal as Wigan attempted to halve the deficit.
But Reading piled on the pressure as Kermorgant’s lashed effort was deflected behind before the French striker’s close-range shot sailed just over a minute later.
Early in the second half, Latics substitute Yanic Wildschut made an instant impact by skipping past Chris Gunter and fizzing in a dangerous cross with Adam Le Fondre lurking.
Le Fondre turned on the edge of the box and curled a shot at Al Habsi and an effort deflected wide four minutes later as the rejuvenated Latics found their feet.
But the Royals were awarded a penalty just past the hour as Max Power fouled John Swift and Kermorgant stepped up to coolly tuck away the spot kick.
Latics winger Wildschut unleashed a fierce drive which fizzed off-target and Yakou Meite had a last minute goal ruled out for offside for the Royals, who are now fourth in the table.
“How we played on the ball, how we defended, created chances, we did very well and we deserve that win,” said delighted Reading boss Jaap Stam.
“The pace that we have up front, we knew that we could be a threat in behind if we do it well, and if the runs are at the right time, and if we played the ball forward.
“We started doing that immediately and scored two early goals.
“It makes it a bit easier for us, a bit more difficult of course for the opposition, but you don’t want to make it easy for them.
“You want to make it easy for yourself.”