|
"The longer the game went on, the more I thought we were going to win it," Coppell admitted. "If the goal had been a couple of inches wider or taller it would have been a comfortable game for us I think.
"In many ways I'd like to compliment my players. But coming away with nothing after a performance like that and with the chances we had, we're all bitterly disappointed and the dressing room is numb.
"We hit the post and crossbar a number of times and their goalkeeper made some tremendous saves, before they scored out of nothing. In the second half we played ever so well. We were powerful and had that drive.
"Robbie Blake came on and you know you've got to adjust the way you defend. But I couldn't see them scoring and, when they did, we got a bit kitchen sinkish which we never do well. We're obviously being told there is a home and away divide and a trend forming, but we're not playing any differently.
"Away from home we're just not getting any breaks. At Preston I though we did enough to get the points, and here I think if we'd come off at 0-0 we'd have taken the positives but still been disappointed. So to come away with nothing is very disappointing. It's a soft defeat for us.
"I think if they maintain that level of performance away from home we'll win more than we lose. That may sound strange seeing as we've only won one away, but if we create as many chances as we did tonight, we'll be ok."
Owen Coyle didn't quite see the game the same way and he heaped praise on his players after this, our fourth home league win of the season. "Given the circumstances before the game and indeed during the game, it summed up everything I know about that group of players, about their desire and the spirit they've got for each other and how keen they are to do well for themselves and the football club.
"To lose Clarke Carlisle with a fitness test before the game, and with Michael Duff having been vomiting the whole night before, we had to reshuffle the whole team and change the system.
"I thought Reading started the first ten minutes in the ascendance, and that's understandable given that we changed a lot of things about. Even within the game Christian Kalvenes came off injured and Chris McCann ends up at left centre back. Not that we needed any convincing, but if we did I think that summed up everything about the spirit and hunger we've got to do well for the football club.
"It's a magnificent three points. We've lost one now in fourteen and that was a against Reading at the Madejski. We felt hard done by then because we felt we'd offered an awful lot to that game, so it was nice to get the rewards in terms of the points at home."
Coyle was again pleased with the players who came on during the second half. "We're never going to settle for 0-0, particularly at home when we have been doing so well and we believe we're capable of winning our home games.
"A couple of substitutions we made were positive as well. Robbie came on and young Jay Rodriguez again because Martin Paterson and Thommo had worked their socks off, and they've come on and given us fresh impetus. We could have scored again on the counter attack when Reading were committing men forward.
"We're delighted to get the three points. They were hard earned and well fought for, so it's very nice.
"Brian made a couple of big saves in the second half and they hit the woodwork, but I think on the balance of play we had as many chances as Reading had, and a sublime finish from Robbie, which we know he's capable of."