The Royals conceded a late equaliser to share the points with Exeter City in a 2-2 draw at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Tuesday night.
Former Royal Pierce Sweeney gave Exeter the lead before Will Keane equalised just before half-time to score his first Reading goal. Paudie O’Connor restored the Royals’ lead but Luca Woodhouse scored in added-on time to secure a point for the visitors.
The point leaves us in 13th. Here is what Royals boss Leam Richardson had to say, he spoke to Royals TV.
Richardson the draw
“I am disappointed for the players – I thought we worked hard enough to get something more out of the game.
“[The late equaliser] was probably the first time all night that we jumped out of our structure without the ball and it has cost us. It’s the fine details sometimes because it is a really good level and sometimes you need those moments to go for you.
“I am really disappointed for the players because, with the work they put in over the last two games, they probably haven’t had their just rewards. The positives are that we remain unbeaten, scored four goals and we look forward to another game on Saturday.
“[Exeter] are probably one of the most in-form teams, going very well. I thought we limited them to next to nothing. The two goals, a set-play and deflection, I feel for the players because they are working hard daily and representing that on the pitch.
“There are real positives there and a few new players learning on the job. We are throwing people in because we didn’t have the pre-season to build it in there. I think there are loads of positives for the games I have been here and we look forward.”
Richardson on his evolving squad and Will Keane’s first goal
“One of the big things Will holds in himself and the attributes: he holds really strong finishing positions as you can see with the one-touch finish.
“He has had a bit of time out, so we have to get these lads up to speed and manage our way through the fixture list. There were a lot of strong individual performances and collectively we were value for it tonight.
“We have the quality on the pitch and in the squad. We need to keep evolving and pushing forward, demanding on each other.
“If you put any type of run together you will find yourself in a really good place. We live in the present. We want to be really good here and now and the most important thing is Northampton on Saturday.”
