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Brendan Rodgers will savour taking his Reading team to Hillsborough tomorrow, a ground where he used to watch his cousin Nigel Worthington play

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Hillsborough return poignant for Brendan Rodgers

By Jonny Fordham
December 04, 2009

Brendan Rodgers will savour taking his Reading team to Hillsborough tomorrow, a ground where he used to watch his cousin Nigel Worthington play.

Former Owls left-back and current Northern Ireland Worthington made 338 appearances for Wednesday between 1984-1994 and Rodgers was a keen follower of his hero and relative.

Despite taking over at Watford in November last year, the 36-year-old Royals boss has never taken a team to Hillsborough and he admits it will be an emotional return.

Rodgers said: “Nigel spent 10 great years there and was a great hero so I always used to follow him and know how great a club it is.

“It has wonderful history and some terrific players. They’re obviously on the back of a disappointing result (losing 4-0 at home to The Baggies), but West Brom are a good team.”

“There’s that sense of emotion when you drive round the back by the Kop because you know the history of what has happened there, making it even more iconic.

“It’s one of two terrific clubs in the city. But, like every game it will be tough,

“They’ve got good support, so for us it’s about weathering the storm and then going about how we’ve been playing and making sure we close the ball better when we don’t have possession.”

Wednesday have struggled of late after making a reasonable start to the season and just one point and two places separate them from Reading.

Rodgers wants to see a positive reaction from his team after their

2-1 defeat by Derby County, but he urged fans to take into consideration the young squad he has to work with.

He explained: “You’re always looking for a reaction, especially from young players.

“A lot of these boys are in a learning curve, even Adam Federici who is 24-years-old, but at the same time in his first full season as No.1.

“So for the young guys it’s a new experience and that’s why at times we can be consistent and do well and then lose it.

“We’ve been talking this week about the tactical mentality of the game rather than the emotion of the game. So we have to put the disappointment at Derby behind us and go again.”

The former Academy boss also stressed the importance of beating teams close to Royals in the table.

He added: “We have games coming up against teams in and around us, Scunthorpe and Palace, so these are games that will be very important for us.”

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Must admit that I have been turning into a whinger too during autumn's dark days, but is looking better now. Also noticeably fewer crass soundbites from The Special One, which is nice (hopefully this will remain the case should we improve position). To all bemoaning the lack of big money purchases, three words; Crystal Palace & Watford.

Trevor Wallid, Tilehurst
07/12/2009 at 09:31

BIG P.. the one upfront didnt work then? aha u made a mug out of urself hahaha

uuurrzzzzzzz

big p takes it up the...

h8s-Rfc-Moaners, Reading
06/12/2009 at 12:39

Hammond's comments on renewing Inga's contract worried me sick. The demolition job by SJM and Smiley isn't over yet. They are looking downhill. BR is now on a face saving trip. I hope we start a run, but I fear more bad news is yet to come. I'm told by an old mate SW have been playing good football but have been unlucky in not scoring. Please Sir, let this NOT be their day to come good.

Old Man in the Moon, Woodley
05/12/2009 at 10:48

Big P, I can see where you get your name from!

Reading Fan in Brighton, Brighton
04/12/2009 at 22:08

Big P you have lay the alot of the problem on JM to mate there is no money to buy players. Signing players who are only on loan and who are of the standard lower league football. All the supporters have seen what type of player they need for the premiership and what is needed to stay up there. If you have not got the chairman and the board behind the club you are stuffed. So far all i have heard and seen of JM and the board they have got nothing to spend more or less. So lets face the facts of what is happening with the issues of the club, they are going to be to doing nothing. Like have put in this comment box for the past few months the buck stops with JM at the end of the day, he controls the purse strings. We do not know what BR was told when he was signed, it must have been convincing for to sign for the club. To take over a club who just missed out on going back to the premiership, with a squad that could have been kept together and added to. "No" all we saw was the main cor of players being sold off and replaced with lower league players, any body can read betwwen the lines on that one. Excuses that we have no money it has cost the club millions here and there. All i can say with this problem is JM has seen how much it is going to cost him in the long run, does not like the fact he has to pay for quality of the player. What comes along with that is the wages. All i can hope for in the possible future is some one to see the potential of the club. Reading football club is in area of a million plus people that is alot of support they could tap into. So where is the club going lower leagues for the next few years or going back into the lime light of the premiership? The only person who can dictate the future of the club is JM and the board.

Expom, Christchurch New Zealand
04/12/2009 at 20:07

I so hope we get demolished by these 'so called' terms around us and then we can get rid of this plonker. One up front again this weekend?!?!?.

Mock me if you like, but I've been saying the same since August and will be saying the same in May when we are Div 1.