Reading ‘Did Enough’ To Beat Dons: Leam Richardson

The Royals picked up their first point of the season with a 1-1 draw against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

It was a game in which Reading created plenty of chances but were unable to make them count, leaving manager Leam Richardson disappointed not to come away with all three points.

Here is what the Royals boss had to say when he spoke to Royals TV after the game.

“I’m disappointed not to win, I thought we did enough within the game. We had 64% possession and enough shots and final-third entries.

“I’m really pleased with the clean sheet and the response from last week – psychologically it was a big test for the squad… Wimbledon at home are a good team and not many people come here and get positive results. We had to defend our box, and I thought we stood up to their task.

“My criticism would be that we have to score in those moments. We had a really good phase in the first half, and we have to score when we’re on top. We started the second half very well and we have to score in those moments. We lost our way towards the end with all the subs; it got a bit bitty and stop-start. I thought we defended really well today but the final pass let us down a bit.

“We spoke about the intent at half time, and you can see with our subs, we put every offensive player we have on the pitch because we want to win. We felt the game was there and if we had another 5% or 10%, but on a positive it has to be built off a foundation, a clean sheet, and we go from there.

“We want to be a good team going forward and ask teams questions – we want a bit more penetration. Every flair player has been on the pitch so there are no qualms with that, they have to then go and get the goals and assists and the quality we want.”

“I’m very pleased with them. Like I say, they’ve only been together a short period. I think it’s the second or third game together, so they’ll get better.

“Their connections, their decision-making together and their links will get really strong because, as you can see, they’re a threat, aren’t they? We’re really strong down that side.

“We’ve got to build a bit of a connection down the other side as well because if we’re a threat down both sides, we’ll be a really good team.”

“I think he’s been here a matter of hours, so we’ve tried to get as much information as possible into him.

“Again, I thought he got in some really good areas. It’s probably just that final ball, that final pass that we lacked all afternoon really.

“But no, another positive. Another positive signing and another positive way forward.”

“We want to win every game, don’t we? There are lads chomping to play in our squad at the minute.

“Everybody’s pushing each other, which I demand. When the lads go on the pitch off the bench, we want to maintain or raise the level every time. Otherwise, they won’t be getting on the pitch.

“Tuesday’s no different. We want to address it, we want to attack it as another game. We’re early on in the season, so yeah, absolutely, we’ll try and attack it as best we can.”