Reading FC manager speaks after hard-fought Norwich City draw

Here is every word from boss Paul Ince.

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Ince on the match

I thought we were very good. In the first half, we were disappointed at half time to not be winning. The fact we conceded a goal was disappointing because I don’t like conceding from set pieces. It was a foul on Loum, the geezer is all over him. Then again, we got spurred on by the crowd. They never gave in and thoroughly deserved the equaliser from Jeff, who was outstanding. it’s funny because the lads are disappointed, they’ve not won the game. That’s how far we’ve come- we’re playing one of the top teams in the league who will definitely be up there, and we’re disappointed we haven’t come away with three points.

We had a penalty, a blatant penalty. Grant Hanley has handled it from the throw and the referee hasn’t seen it. That’s the problem with not having VAR in the Championship- if that’s the Premier League it’s a stonewall penalty and we’re 1-0 up. Overall, you’re playing a team that has come down from the Premier League with some good players and a top manager and we competed with them and didn’t look out of place. I said before the game it will be a good test for you, go and embrace it. There’s no pressure or expectations on you, but there’s expectation from yourself and the manager. The most pleasing thing, when you look at Sunderland, we didn’t compete, and we weren’t at it. If we’re at it, we’ll give anyone a game- anyone.

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Ince on improving mentality

I don’t want to go back to those 4-0’s, they’re gone, and we need to move on now. We keep reverting back to negative things. We will just keep competing and fighting for every point we can. Who knows what is going to happen? You’ll win some, lose some and get smashed, who knows? It’s the first draw we’ve had this season so that’s nice, it keeps the momentum going into another tough game at QPR.

Ince on refereeing

He was complaining about two things; the handball and he was all over Mamadou. We didn’t get much from the referee today. Sometimes when you have these bigger teams like Norwich, some of the decisions he got wrong. I’m not going to complain, it’s a tough job. I’m just pleased we got a point. I looked at this game and was a bit concerned with no Yiadom, no Naby, no Shane Long, playing the same players and asking them to press high from the start. I should know better, because I know what I get from my team if they get it right. I thought we were outstanding today. We’ve got to learn that when we’re hanging on, we can’t drop too deep, because these better teams play one and two touch and get people getting in behind. We nearly lost it with the header that just went wide. We’re learning all the time and growing all the time. We’re going to make mistakes but we’re learning as we go along. We’ve got a great team spirit.

Ince on Andy Yiadom injury

He might, at a push, be okay for QPR. If not, it will be next week against West Brom.

It will be a tough test. It was nice to see Ovie get 20 mins. Junior was outstanding. In the first-half he was unplayable, with Andy Carroll, unplayable.

Ince on Junior Hoilett

He (Hoilett) plays left wing-back, right wing-back, he doesn’t moan. He comes in, trains, he’s a great, great pro and can do both sides of it. 

First-half he was causing Byram so many problems and we should have got two goals on the back of it. He’s a credit, I just love him. What he gives me every time. He’s the type of player we need at this club. 

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Ince on Norwich City

We’re growing in the games were playing. There will be bumps along the road but we’re able to compete with a team that are one of the favourites to go up. If we are on it, we can compete with any team. They are very talented, play some lovely football and that’s where we want to be in a couple of years time. 

It keeps the momentum going and takes us into a tough, tough game at Loftus Road on Friday night. 

Ince on depth

At the back we literally have three centre halves. If we lose a centre half, we’re in trouble. That's where we are. Up front we are fine. We’ve got choices. Getting Ovie back is a big plus, hopefully we will have Yids back and Shane has started doing some running so he will come back. We’re in good spirits and need to keep picking up as many points as we can. 

Ince on the midfield

Mama and Ty were brilliant. They are still young and still learning. They will make mistakes on the way but today they were very good and it was a tough test for them to come into this game. But you can’t change demands because they are young. We knew they would play with three tens, very narrow so we knew we would have room down the flanks. It's a shame we didn’t get more goals out of it, but it’s a very good result.

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Ince on lack of attention

I watched the football league highlights and they were talking about our game against Huddersfield, but if we win a game, Huddersfield were terrible. We don't get any mention. Nothing about us. Maybe that's the way it should be but we don’t get enough credit, the players aren’t getting enough credit for what they have done under the embargo. If it was any other team, they’d be shouting from the rooftops. It drives us on, but sometimes it irks me a bit, but we will go under the radar and keep getting points. The performances have been great under the circumstances.