Noel Hunt ‘Bitterly Disappointed’ After Reading’s Poor Stockport Loss
The Royals put in a well below-par showing against playoff rivals Stockport County, losing 3-1.
Royals boss Noel Hunt admitted that his side were second best in a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Stockport County at the SCL Stadium.
The visitors were 2-0 up at half-time after goals from Southam-Hales and Connolly. Sam Smith scored for the Royals but Jack Diamond secured a third to secure all three points.
The defeat means Stockport leapfrog us into the play-offs, with Reading slipping down to seventh. Here is what Hunt had to say, he spoke to the Reading Chronicle.
Hunt on the defeat
“We made it tough for ourselves. We didn’t start the game right, and we didn’t earn the right to play. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb with two set-play goals, which we’re disappointed about as a collective. It was a bit out of character for us because we’ve been good in the last six or seven weeks with set plays.
“After that, we came in at half-time and started the second half better. We got a goal to get back into it and then the basics of the game: be brave enough to play forward, we played it back. We don’t win a tackle, and we don’t recover or react, which costs us the game.
“We’re bitterly disappointed as a team on the whole. It can’t happen again, and we will do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t, especially at home. We have to start the game right and get a foothold.”
Hunt on illness in the camp throughout the week
“You never play 100% fit, you get very few games where you don’t have any knocks or niggles. It is part and parcel of football - I’m not going to use any excuses. We were second best for the first half, gifting them a couple of goals.
“If you take the goals away there was nothing in the game. When you do that to a team like Stockport, who are well drilled, they’re hard to break down. That’s when we have to be brave to take the ball and step into spaces and find pockets to get on the ball.
“We had spells in the second half but not nearly as much as we wanted to. We have to learn from this and come back fighting next week.”
Hunt on players returning from injury
“Chem [Campbell] did really well to last as long as he did - we don’t want to push him as he’s not done a lot in the last two weeks with his ankle. It was pleasing to see him start and impact the game, I thought he was one of our better performers.
“Kelvin E coming back, and Jeriel, it is important for them to get up to speed as fast as they can to help the group along. We’ve got these boys back on the grass, but we have to do a lot in terms of match fitness and levels.”