VELJKO HAILS FANS DESPITE THEIR BOOS
VELJKO Paunovic praised his club’s fans – despite protests from them before and after Reading’s defeat at home to Coventry City.
It was relegation-threatened Reading’s seventh league defeat in a row and they remain two points above the relegation zone.
Lucas Joao headed home in the 23rd minute to give Reading the lead, but Coventry levelled in first-half stoppage time through Dominic Hyam.
Defender Michael Rose nodded City in front early in the second period but Reading equalised through full-back Andy Yiadom.
Home winger Junior Hoilett was sent off in the 63rd minute for a second bookable offence and, two minutes later, an Ian Maatsen effort deflected in for what proved to be the Coventry winner.
About 200 supporters chanted “We want Pauno out” in a protest outside the stadium before the game, which marked the club’s 150th anniversary.
Around 30 fans ran on to the pitch after the final whistle to vent their anger, but they were quickly ushered away by stewards.
“The fans were fantastic today,” under-fire Reading manager Paunovic said. “We want to thank them for coming here in such a massive number. That was very helpful for the team, especially as the things developed later.”
Asked about the pre- and post-match protests, Paunovic added: “I prefer to not to really comment on it. But the whole year has been difficult for the club.
“It has been very frustrating for the fans and we share that with them. But everyone has a right to express their opinion.”
On the result, Paunovic said: “It was a very good firsthalf performance from us, the first time for a long time. We didn’t start the second half well. But we didn’t keep the ball well enough.”
Reading were rewarded for their pressure in the 23rd minute when Hoilett slung over a cross from the left and Joao rose unchallenged to nod home from close. But Coventry levelled in the second minute of first-half stoppage time when Hyam, a former Reading academy product, drilled a low shot through a mass of bodies and past the unsighted Karl Hein.
Two minutes into the second period, City were ahead. Gustavo Hamer sent over a corner from the left and Rose nodded home easily. Reading were back on terms eight minutes later, when an Ince corner from the right was bundled in by defender Yiadom.
But Hoilett was dismissed for two fouls in six minutes and Maatsen struck with a deflected attempt that looped in over the backtracking Hein.
Coventry lie five points below a play-off spot and manager Mark Robins said: “Performance-wise, you could tell that we’d played 120 minutes against Southampton in the FA Cup last Saturday and then a tough game against Blackpool in midweek.
“We’ve done really well over the past few games and had little to show for it. But today we don’t perform nearly as well as we have done and have picked up three points. It’s a bit strange. The game was littered with mistakes.”