Clement: ‘Royals need to smarten up to survive’
PAUL CLEMENT says Reading must learn to “play smarter” in the closing weeks of the season after Saturday’s frantic 2-2 draw with Sunderland.
The Royals are still well-placed to avoid relegation from the Championship, sitting five points clear with three games to play, but they rode their luck against the Black Cats.
Liam Kelly’s penalty put Reading ahead, only for goals from Paddy McNair and Lee Cattermole to turn the game on its head.
Substitute Yann Kermorgant rescued a draw with a brilliant header, cueing a crazy final 10 minutes with chances missed at both ends. And Clement admits it was difficult to watch. “It’s not a good game from a manager’s point of view,” said the Reading boss.
“You want things more in control.
“We had a big push after going 2-1 down and that was good.
“We went for it, we didn’t just lay down and die, the players gave it everything to get back in it and to try and win it.
“I think it was a great game for the neutral but hard when you’re the coach to watch that.”
Reading now have a full week of training ahead of the trip to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
That is the first of three more games this season, hosting Ipswich Town the following week before closing the season at Cardiff City on May 6.
And Clement says his side must improve quickly.
“I think there were some really positive things against Sunderland and there were some things that were horrible,” he said.
“I think we have to play smarter in the next three games.
“The more you play like we did at the weekend, the more it’s in the lap of the gods what will happen.
“That’s what we’ll be focussing on for the next three games.”
This is the second straight year Clement has been drafted in to oversee a relegation battle.
And he says keeping Swansea City in the Premier League last campaign is helping him this time around.
“In myself I feel a bit calmer having had the experience of last season,” said Clement.
“We had a couple of must-win games then, but we’re not at the stage here where it’s must-win.
“We need points in the next three games to make sure that we’re safe so we don’t get that situation where we have to win a game or there’s a consequence.”