Reading FC News: Every word from manager Veljko Paunovic after 0-0 draw with Peterborough

On the game: I think we could have gotten all three points today. It was not a pretty game, it was a very difficult game to play with all these weather conditions on the field. Especially for us who want to keep the ball on the ground and play. But I think we adapted very well.

First half was hard for us from the beginning, we had difficulties to exit with the ball from the backline. We had a difficulty to put enough power on the ball to play in behind. But as soon as we managed to do that and put pressure on their backline, we got a couple of set-pieces we looked dangerous from. And I think the best chance in the first half was Tom Ince’s, very close from the free-kick. He did well and the goalkeeper too.

Second half, we had the advantage of the strong wind where we looked to play the ball in behind. I think we rushed sometimes, we missed a couple of passes. But again, the conditions on the field weren’t very good so we had to choose between being safe and sorry and that’s why sometimes we skipped some plays we could have done better.

But I think the team showed amazing physical output, amazing patience and cohesion to work hard, winning second balls. And the result of that I think was the chance we had at the end of the game that could have brough us all three points. Lucas Joao did everything very good except for the execution.

On Yakou Meite: We pushed and we pushed him mabe even further than we wanted given the circumstances but he did very well himself. He left the game very tired, but healthy.

On Josh Laurent’s absence: He picked up an ankle injury in the last game. So he was out for this game, hopefully we can manage to bring him back on Saturday.

On the other injured players: None of them (are close).

On Scott Dann: Probably we are expecting him by the end of the month. We are hoping he is available for one of the last games of the season.

On Brandon Barker: He was with us in training after he left Glasgow. And he did very well so we believe in what he can bring to the table. In some games like today, where he is very good one v one, he can penetrate the box, very good at linking up, he has a very good shot. So I think he can bring to the team something that we don’t have. He can stretch the lines with and without the ball. So I think that’s a positive - and in a game like today he could have helped us.

On if Barker will be available for Saturday: Yes. We couldn’t get him in time for this game but for Saturday he is available.

On the atmosphere in the dressing room after the draw: Better. There was a little bit of relief that we kept a clean sheet and I think we all felt we were close to getting the three points. So that gives the confidence back, the belief. And we have to work on top of that.

On the trip to Preston: Every game is a final for us and we have to recover the guys, support them, look to build on the opportunity this evening. We played as a team, every single one of the players gave their best. People bleeding and exhausted which tells you how much everyone cares and gives their best.

On the rumour that he’d offered his resignation: No comment.

Any truth in it?

I have no comment.

On the hostile post-game atmosphere: No comment.

On whether he is confident he will be in charge on Saturday: I have no comment.

On if he’s surprised to still be in charge: I have no comment.

On his future: I have no comment.

On the game (again, from Talksport): It was not a pretty game, bad weather, strong wind. We showed grit, we showed something in the past that was maybe missing. I think the team fought and worked very hard. I think there was a maturity in our performance especially in the first half when we had the wind against us.

Games like this you have to be on the front foot all the time, have to be on your toes and that’s the part of maturity we’ve been missing in the past. But we adjusted.

In the second the conditions changed because the wind was in our favour. The best thing about the second half was the output and the patience and that patience brought us two situations, one of which was a great opportunity from Lucas Joao.

On if this game as ‘must not lose’: We are disappointed we didn’t get all three points because we were close. We had the first clean sheet in a long time, that’s a positive. We want to build on that positive.

On his message to the fans: The team needs unity. The team needs togetherness and support.