Ruben Selles Hails Reading’s Huddersfield Town Comeback Win

The Royals fought back from 1-0 down to claim an impressive win at the SCL on Saturday.

On a day when Reading fans showed the owners the red card, the Royals picked up a brilliant three points against Huddersfield Town at the SCL Stadium.

Huddersfield Town took the lead in the 21st minute, just three minutes after the protest. Harvey Knibbs equalised in the 30th minute to make it level at half-time. Ben Elliott scored his second in successive matches to seal three points.

We currently sit 15th in the table, six points off the relegation zone but only three points off the play-offs. A good start to the season, considering!

Here is what manager Ruben Selles had to say after the game. He spoke to the Reading Chronicle and Wokingham Today.

Selles on the victory

“We are happy that we could finally get the win after the last couple of weeks where we didn’t get any points. It was a very competitive game and even going 1-0 down we felt we could do more in the game.

“We scored the first goal and the second one against a really good opponent and in the end we managed to keep it.”

Selles on reaction to falling behind

“We have been demanding ourselves be a little more robust, especially after conceding. Immediately after conceding we started to play more vertical and win more second actions in the counter-press.

“I think the goal comes from a good action in the final third that we won a couple of counter-presses and Harvey was exceptional in that action. We knew it would be a 50-50 game because they are a really good opponent, and we needed to get the inches.

“When we prepared the game, the boys knew that every quick restart we could make could make a difference because they had some positions that they needed to cross over. The execution was really good from our players.”

Selles on Huddersfield opener

“David [Button] did a fantastic job. We were a little late in the reaction and those are the inches where we need to be better.”

Selles on Kelvin Abrefa substitution

“It was not an injury, it was normal because he has not played in the first team for a long time, just those 50 minutes against Bolton.

“We expected him to be tired and he will grow with the game. We know Amadou can play every position in the back four, so we moved him there and Harlee made a fantastic performance as a centre-back.”

Selles on red card protest

“I think the main thing with the fans and the team and the staff is to focus on football. We know everything that is around. The more we can focus on the game, the better.

“We are more focused on what we can do. The fans were very respectful and were supportive to us – that’s the way we need to continue going.

“I don’t remember a period where it hasn’t been stressful in the last 17 months. That’s the reality.

“Victories always help, but we have talked many times that we need to keep focused in ourselves. We just do what we can do. The more we can do that, the better we will be as a football club.”