Gomes promises changes after ‘unacceptable’ defeat to Swansea
JOSE GOMES says his players looked “scared” as they made an “unacceptable” start in his first home match as Reading boss.
Swansea took the lead in the second minute and raced into a thoroughly deserved 3-0 half-time lead with Connor Roberts and Mike van der Hoorn also on target.
The game was wrapped up moments after the restart when McBurnie netted from the penalty spot with the only consolation coming courtesy of Callum Harriott scoring on his long-awaited return from injury late on.
The loss leaves Reading 23rd in the Championship table, now five points adrift of safety following a run of no wins in 10 matches.
“I am a bit disappointed with the way we started the game,” said Gomes, who is still seeking his first win as Reading manager.
“We are at the bottom of the table so we have no time or space to start games like this.
“We must start games with all the strength and energy we have. I am disappointed because we played with the same players who started against QPR on Saturday (a 0-0 draw).
“They did very well then and I was expecting them to start with the same happiness and energy.
“But we conceded a goal in the second minute and the players felt the pressure of playing at home.
“I told the players at half-time that the fans are here to help. It’s not a war, it’s a football game and you must show what you can do.
“I can promise this - in all the games I am here as head coach, we cannot see this anymore.
“The way we started was unacceptable. The players felt scared, we started the game scared.”
Unlike the resolute display at Loftus Road, the Royals fell behind in just the second minute against the Swans. A cross from Kyle Naughton just evaded Tiago Ilori allowing McBurnie to bury a header into the bottom corner.
John Swift looked for a quick response with a long-range freekick which Erwin Mulder parried away but that proved to be as close as Reading would come during the first half.
As well as being toothless up front, coming into the game with just one goal in five matches, the defensive frailties were also evident as Swansea doubled their tally on the half hour mark. Barrow’s scuffed clearance was worked to Bersant Celina on the edge of the box, who clipped it through to Leroy Fer.
The midfielder held off his marker and knocked it across goal where Roberts pounced to tuck in.
And the scoring was not done there for the half as Swansea moved 3-0 up when a deep Matty Grimes free-kick was turned in by van der Hoorn at the back post.
Reading were booed off at the break and things got even worse seconds after the restart.
Moments after McBurnie was denied by a last-ditch Omar Richards block in the centre of the box, the Scot found the net again from the penalty spot.
Wayne Routledge was bundled over by Garath McCleary, allowing McBurnie to step up and fire hard past Jaakkola to cue more disgruntlement from the home fans.
The hosts showed minor signs of a fightback with Yakou Meite’s header stopped by Mulder. Gomes turned to his bench, introducing Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Danny Loader but it was his third sub, Harriott, which proved the most fruitful.
The winger has endured a nightmare two-year spell with injury, not playing a competitive game since December 2016, but he marked his return in style, brilliantly controlling Loader’s pass and lashing a strike into the bottom corner.
That was a rare moment of joy in an otherwise horrible performance from Reading, who go to Manchester United in the FA Cup on Saturday (12.30pm).
“I am here to help the players be stronger, and they must be,” said Gomes.
“Now they have shown me all the faces that they have. They cannot
hide anything more from me.
“It will be a tough mission but we can do it, we will (stay up).
“The players have the things that we need, they just need to bring everything to the games.”
He added: “Man Utd is a cup game, everything can happen.
“We cannot say we are under pressure that we must win this game.
“The players must enjoy it, get rid of the pressure they are feeling and in the meantime we must prepare for the next Championship match.”
READING: Jaakkola; Yiadom, Ilori, O’Shea, Richards; Swift, Rinomhota; McCleary (c) (Harriott 72), Aluko (Loader 61), Barrow; Meite (Bodvarsson 61).
Subs not used: Walker, Moore, Osho, Kelly. Goal: Harriott (77)
Yellow cards: Ilori (67), Barrow (75)
SWANSEA: Mulder; Naughton, van der Hoorn, Rodon, Roberts; Grimes, Fer (c), Celina; Dyer (Fulton 85), Routledge (CarterVickers 88), McBurnie (Baker-Richardson 73).
Subs not used: Nordfeldt, James, Montero, McKay.
Goals: McBurnie x2 (2,48 pen), Roberts (30), van der Hoorn (45)
Yellow card: Roberts (53)
Referee: Tim Robinson
Attendance: 15,644 (inc. 1,980 away)