HUNT:‘WE DOMINATED, I’M GUTTED WITH THE RESULT’

READING FC interim manager

Noel Hunt believes his side ‘left everything on the pitch’ as they clawed back a late draw to leave their Championship future hanging in the balance.

The Royals fought back to get a point after Yakou Meite’s stoppage time goal, but they are left in the relegation zone with both Rotherham and Huddersfield having games in hand.

“I’m gutted with the result in terms of the scoreline,” said Hunt.

“In terms of the performance and how we dominated the game and how we played, I was very proud.

“I think we completely dominated the game and if the ball drops for us we might score four or five.

“We’re relying on results now and keep a close eye. I told the boys that what they gave on the pitch is what should be the minimum requirement for this football club.

“Other than putting the ball in the back of the net, there’s not a lot more we could have done.”

Reading face Huddersfield away on the final day and need other results to go their way as the Terriers could secure their safety on Thursday.

Hunt continued: “We’ve got to wait in hope and hopefully we will have something to play for.

“We were contemplating the team throughout the week to get our most experienced players on the pitch.

“We put out a team to dominate the game.

“When Monday comes we start getting ready. I asked them to leave everything on the pitch and it was a Reading performance, albeit the result wasn’t the right one.

“Shane (Long) hasn’t played for five or six weeks, neither has Junior (Hoilett) all coming back from serious injuries to play football for this club and this team. From that, I can’t be any prouder.

“I felt the only way they would score would be a counter attack or a set play. It shows the character when we go 1-0 down and we spoke about it at half time, the only way Wigan were going to score was on the counter or from a set-piece. “That’s probably the most disappointing factor of the day, was that we conceded from a set play. It shows the character of the team, we had chance after chance. The fans had a lot to do with that, they kept going and we managed to get a goal and we could have nicked it.” “They’re gutted (the players). They’re devastated.

“I told them to be proud of their performance and believe in themselves.”