Reading FC

Brendan Rodgers: Reading FC will get better

By Jonny Fordham
August 16, 2009

Brendan Rodgers insists his team will learn and improve after the disappointing 3-0 defeat to Newcastle at St James’ Park.

The Northern Irishman suffered his first league loss of the season after Shola Ameobi fired in a hat-trick against Australian keeper Adam Federici.

Rodgers now has just two days to prepare his team for a trip to Swansea on Tuesday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

“We're obviously disappointed with the result,” the 36-year-old confessed.

“A lot of teams coming here will find it hard, but we felt positive beforehand and for a lot of the game we did very well. But the first goal gave them momentum and we’re disappointed with the goals we conceded.

“We’ll draw the positives, we are building a new group, we will get better every day but this wasn’t our day.

“Newcastle were better, they scored when it mattered, one of the goals coming when we were dominating the game. We’re disappointed with the cross and that Ameobi has got between our defenders.

“We came out second half, they scored again and the third was a killer. But I can’t ask any more, the players gave everything but we conceded at the wrong times. We’ll learn from it and move on.”

The Magpies captain Alan Smith was lucky to stay on the pitch after he was booked for clattering into striker Simon Church in the 20th minute and then hacked down Jem Karacan just two minutes later.

Rodgers said: “I don’t like to see players sent off, It was two tackles and maybe. But forget the referee, we will reflect on our own performance and evaluate that.”

The former Watford manager admitted that Royals were unlucky to concede the penalty after an accidental handball by Shane Long in the box in the 75th minute.

And Rodgers explained that having not scored a league goal yet after two games his team will have to get better.

“That was the part of the game we need to improve on, I’ve said that all along. We got into good areas, we just needed the quality in the final third. We had a good spell, we controlled the game but didn’t score.”

| Submit Comments | View Comments (6)

« Previous Story | Next Story »

Most recent user comments 6 of 6

Show 15 | 25 | 50 per page

agree with exile in scotland- spend 2 mill. on defender not play him. pearce was poor last season, now think he is poorer this is a league 1 defender and not a captain, as with 2nd goal his awareness around him was rubbish - he's always worth a goal a game to any average team because of this hence numerous games at the start and back end of last season, too many to list

ajr111, swindon
17/08/2009 at 16:45

He must have been injured don't think he was even on the bench

FRED BAINES
17/08/2009 at 14:01

I agree with Steve Royal, why wasn't the heck wasn't the Czech lad in the team?

Artful Dodger, Reading
17/08/2009 at 12:40

I understand why Brendan wants to stay positive but some of the comments put an unhelpful spin on the game. Reading were not dominating the game before Newcastle scored. They might have been some pretty passing movements but they did not test the Newcastle keeper once in the whole game. He gives the impression that Ameobi got between defenders for the goal. This happened frequently and for the second goal Rosenior was left with two players on the far post. The inability of the Back Four to deal with high balls and crosses is a great cocnern as is the inability to support Long up front.