Reading FC fans have been left baffled by the comments made by manager Leam Richardson after the Royals lost their lead with the final kick of the game.
Reading looked to have done enough to secure a 1-0 victory at League One’s bottom side Port Vale until the hosts netted a scrappy goal in the 96th minute.
Many Reading fans voiced their concerns at what was a particularly negative and conservative approach in the second-half, something that the side has been criticised for on a few occassions since Richardson was appointed as manager.
Speaking after the game, he said: “As you can see if you walk on the pitch, it’s a leveller. I think Man City can come here and it’ll be a similar game.
“And then their goal, it’s nothing tactical. It’s nothing they did to play through us. It’s a corner. It’s an aimless ball forward. It’s one of them moments.”
Several Reading fans were left angered by the manager’s comments and took to social media to give their views.
One fan said: “Six hour round trip and to listen to that. The bloke needs sacking tonight, I’ve never been so bored of watching his football.”
Another said: “Don’t watch it (the interview). Full of excuses and delusion. There’s a reason this guy didn’t have a job for 18 months. Before anyone comes for me he’s got the points we’ve needed, we’re staying up therefore find someone come the new season, he isn’t good enough.”
Another added: “One of Leam Richardson’s favourite words is ‘positivity’ one of mine is ‘humility’. He needs to accept that he has made mistakes – his post match comments today were poor. He’s lacking humility in accepting that his tactcis are a big part of the failure to win today.”
Another fan said: “He’s clueless and tactically inept. His book of excuses is bigger than his book of tactics. Don’t treat us as fools Richardson; we know what we’re watching and it’s simply not good enough!”
One more said: “He said it’s not tactical? Did he forget the part where we sat back and got battered for the entire second-half?”
However, some fans are still showing their support for the boss. One said: “I’m still 100% behind Leam. Every manager has their bad moments and that was one of them.”
Another added: “That post-match interview from Leam Richardson is concerningly wide of the mark.
“Being positive is one thing (not inherently a problem), but it’s more like he was just blind to how badly that second half played out.
“Really want him to turn things around performance wise, but that starts with recognition of where Reading are at now. It’s hardly as if today’s display was a complete one-off.”
