The Royals picked up an excellent three points at the Pirelli Stadium in a controversial 2-1 victory against Burton Albion on Tuesday night.
Former Royal George Evans scored a fantastic strike in the 25th minute, before Kamari Doyle netted the equaliser in equally brilliant fashion shortly after. Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan scored in the 88th minute to secure all three points.
The win moves us to sixth in the table, a point above Huddersfield Town and Stevenage. Here is what manager Leam Richardson had to say. He spoke to Royals TV.
Richardson on the victory
“I’m very pleased for the fans who travelled tonight. I thought they were in full voice and to hear them singing like that at the end was fantastic.
“We tweaked a few things from last week. Even though I thought we were excellent on Saturday, I thought we did many things right today. A massive save off Joel [Pereira] gave us the platform for Kamari Doyle.
“It was three fantastic goals tonight, their goal was a great strike, Kammy followed it up and Kelvin [Ehibhatiomhan] with a proper number-nine goal. I am absolutely made up, the players take full credit for that tonight.
“You have to learn together and evolve together every time you take to the pitch. We want to be a better version of ourselves every time.
“Burton are excellent. Gary [Bowyer] coaches very well, is experienced. Their strikers are as good a front two in the level. We know they are very organised and diligent, so we had to come with a bit of intent tonight.
“Apart from the two mistakes that we made, gifting them their two biggest chances, I thought we were excellent. When we had to defend our box, we defended our box. When we had to attack as a threat, we did that as well.
“In this league, at any given time you have to be able to run and fight. Tonight, we had to run and fight because you don’t get anything free. The balls come into your box from free-kicks and throw-ins, you have to stand up and be counted. Our back line were immense.
“It’s a squad game – I’ve been fortunate to win a few things, and I have never done it on my own, I have a big group of staff and players, not just 11. We showed the squad togetherness. Matt Ritchie went on the pitch, Paddy Lane was excellent on Saturday and missed out but he was willing the players on and was probably as loud as the supporters on the side, so my left ear is a bit ringing.
“That is what it takes. That is the players’ win tonight.
“We worked hard enough, I felt, as the away team, to get the win tonight. Fundamentally I felt we were very strong. We will get on the coach, nutrition, sleep, travel and look forward to Stevenage.”
Richardson on Doyle
“He has been working hard, has Kamari. He has been in those moments regularly. In our third and the middle third, he has been excellent. The final third he is big now on growing as a person and a player.
“I thought the goal was good enough to win any game. Kammy was very emotional after Saturday because he puts a lot into it. We have had many conversations, and he was very vulnerable after the game because it means so much to him.
“For a loan player to be like that, it is unbelievable. For a loan player to wear the Reading badge and be that emotional, it was unbelievable.”
Richardson on Ehibhatiomhan’s winner
“It is a proper number nine’s goal. He has been waiting for his chance and at Luton he was fantastic, leading the line by himself as a young lad. It is never easy to carry the number nine shirt; there is always responsibility.
“Tonight, with two forwards going on and two going off, they maintained if not lifted the levels of Keano and Patto and deserved his goal.”
Richardson on Andy Yiadom and his 250th appearance for the club
“What a person and what a player. We just did a speech in there for Andy and he was very emotional. You can see what it means to the football club.
“He has been an unbelievable representative for the football club and he loves the club. Every single day he turns up and sets an example, in the gym, nutrition and in training.
“He doesn’t go around shouting or screaming, but he sets the levels and you need more people like that. Your Derricks and Paudies bring the young boys with them and they get on board.”
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