Noel Hunt Unimpressed With Reading Display In Poor Home Defeat To Blackpool

The Royals put in a poor performance to lose 3-0 to Blackpool.

The Royals picked up a rare and disappointing 3-0 defeat at the SCL Stadium against Blackpool.

Goals from Albie Morgan, Rob Apter and Ashley Fletcher secured three points for the visitors. This was our first home defeat since September.

Manager Noel Hunt was disappointed in what he saw on the pitch. Here is what he had to say - he spoke to the Reading Chronicle.

Hunt on the defeat

“We go back and can analyse it all we want but ultimately, we weren’t good enough. I felt there were moments in the game - we had a really good chance before their goal.

“If you look at their goal, the lad is offside from the goal kick and it’s not given. We don’t win the ball off the knockdown and they get a shot from distance which goes in. On the day, we were a little bit slow and took too many touches at times, but they’re a young group.

“In the second half, we have to still believe in what we’re doing. I felt we went back in our shells. I wanted them to speed up the tempo.

“The last goal was a mistake on our point, no great play that has done us. they’re young players that are learning and we will move on.

“We can come in and analyse it on Monday. I thought at times when we got it right, we did it really well. We created a lot of opportunities, especially in the first half, to get overloads. On another day we can slip a few in and get clear-cut chances on goal.

“The second half, we can show that when we stop doing the things we’re good at. There wasn’t much in it before that, I thought we started brightly. When things don’t go for you, it’s the mentality to keep going and being strong. This group will do that, so we will analyse it and show them bits but I felt it wasn’t a game I liked to see.”

Hunt on the penalty appeal

“The pen is a pen. It was a stonewall penalty. I don’t understand what he’s seen. The fourth official said it to me and their manager said it’s a penalty all day. I don’t get how these big decisions don’t get seen and it cost us a chance in the game to get one back and be in the ascendancy.”