Reading FC made it eight-conseciutive Championship defeats at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday as Coventry City came from behind to win 3-2.

Speaking after the match, manager Veljko Paunovic said the following...

On the game and performance:

I think the first half was a very good first half in a long time. We took the lead, I think we played well. We also have to acknowledge that the first chance was for them and it was a great save by Karl who played his first game in front of the home fans.

That gave him and the team the boost we needed and also gave the boost to the fans who today were fantastic. And we want to thank them for coming in such massive numbers, it was very helpful for the team, especially how things developed later. 

I think the first half we had everything under control and then we conceded…I’m upset about both but we could have prevented the corner that we conceded from. I think we thought that was going to be the last play of the first half when we kicked the long ball which didn’t happen. Then they came back. And you can’t switch on and switch off that quickly.

That drop in concentration led to a lack of urgency to defend the goal, better clearance, better blocking, better stepping up and closing down the ball…there were a bunch of bodies who could have blocked the shot. At least that’s what I saw. That was really upsetting.

But at half-time we couldn’t do anything about it. What we could do is address the second half, we have to start better, especially the first five/ten minutes. When we for some reason don’t start second halves well we have to be alert, we have to be much more focused and most importantly, play in their half. Play forward and look to do what they did to us, get a set-piece, create momentum, finish the ball.

That’s another thing that I have to go back to the first half. When we took the lead we had a great chance, Tom Ince, that went wide of the goal. In that moment, we stopped finishing, we stopped crossing. We kept the ball, side to side and then we lose the ball and run back. That’s a property of our team that frustrated me a lot but it must be fixed. We have to finish, we have to enter the box. Because when we do that, it’s dangerous, you get a second ball, you get a set-piece. And it’s something we have to do more about.

Going back to the second half, we conceded that first goal poorly. I think it wasn’t good at all, we have to look at it, we have to fix it. It couldn’t even compare with the mindset and urgency we had to defend our goal to the game against Bristol where defending set-pieces we were pretty solid.

As usual, the team comes back, looking to fight back, did well…boom…2-2 and in that moment we conceded a second yellow card. It hurt us immediately and we conceded a goal with almost the next action. Which was another avoidable…some way a naive goal where we had a ball possession and played unnecessary and compromising passes instead of looking to go forward. That goal happens to teams like us, unlucky deflection ended up in the back of the net.

From that moment we made changes. I think the massive and positive thing for the team was Yakou’s return. Even today he helped with that fantastic individual play on the right side and cross to Tom Ince who had an unlucky finish. That definitely was a moment of the game for us.

On the red card:

I think both were probably yellow. I don’t think we have complaints at this point. 

They did a better job than us on that side. This is the first red card our team has gotten since I’ve been here and it’s not even straight, it’s a second yellow. But it’s not an excuse. They had yellow cards and they managed it better. They beat us on that side too.

On conversations with the owner/hierarchy:

There’s no need to answer that question. If something’s going to happen it will happen. If that’s what you’re asking for. What we need here, whoever is working here to change this situation has to do day in and day out his best. Has to come and look to in my case, say ‘did I do everything I needed to do today? Have I been at my best today? Giving the team what they need on the mental side, tactical side, videos, addressing people.’ 

That’s the approach we need. And we need an openness to fix mistakes, we need people who want to push forward. There is no time unless you take time, take advantage of that time. Everything must be done immediately. That’s what we want to do here. We need to stay away from negativity, stay away from what's happening around. 

It is my responsibility for at some point, I let certain things happen and provoked so much frustration and negativity around us and around myself. But I understand that, I know how football is. I’ll keep looking to fix it, I’ll keep looking to change that. But most importantly for the team…and then I also need everyone on the same page. I need everyone to play like they did today, like they did in the last game against Bristol. I think the team does what we do, follows the plan, fitness-wise was a huge improvement. There are people coming back. 

Take away the mentality, take away the situation, the team had a structure that we had in some points last season when we played well. And that’s what we’ll look to recover. Having certain people back helps.

On what he means by ‘letting certain things happen’:

I don’t want to be specific about it because what we have to do is move forward. We have to look at what we can do now.

On fans’ wanting answers for what ‘things’ he’s talking about:

Look, it’s the overall situation. Starting with the Kidderminster game, all the consequences after that and what led us to that situation. I don;t want to be specific because that would mean to open up a conversation that is not needed now, that you can’t do anything about. What you can do moving forward, I’m just trying to acknowledge and look to do better.

On the BBC Berkshire report that senior players had said they wanted a change in manager:

I’m not commenting on rumours. I think I’m pretty clear. As long as I’m here, I’m here. But I also saw today and saw senior players playing very good. But anyway, if you want to follow my line of conversation, great. If not, this is it.

On the anniversary celebration and the tough timing of it:

This whole year for the club has been very very difficult. And for our fans, very frustrating. We share the frustration. We are inside, looking to fix things, looking to fight for the club. And today it’s definitely the moment is unlucky but we can’t lament, we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. I need to keep everybody positive, looking forward, and everyone going in the same direction, on the same page. I truly believe that performances like today will get better and help us win games. 

We have a massive game, this is what I want to focus on, this is what I told the team after the game. Let’s now regroup and recover, prepare for this game as best we can. At this point, it’s one of the games of the season.

On Mark Robins’ commenting his sympathy on Reading’s difficult off-the-pitch situation:

I appreciate hearing that, it’s good to hear that feedback. But we know we are in a difficult situation, we have to live with that, we have to deal with that daily. We have to look to eliminate the atmosphere that…move away certain negativity that’s created. It is diccifucl but you have to deal with that, this is professional football.

On the fan protest:

I would prefer not to comment on that. I share the feelings and frustration of the people, everyone has the right to express their opinions. I’ll go back to what I said before. All I can focus on is what I can do for the team and for the club. I’m remaining very very concentrated on that.

On Ovie Ejaria/Danny Drinkwater:

That’s for the next one (press conference).