Clarke: "It Was An Afternoon For Patience"

A patient Reading display saw another three points in the bag for the Royals with a 1-0 win against Charlton at the Madejski Stadium. Man of the moment Nick Blackman scored with 15 minutes to go to put Reading up to second.

Steve Clarke earlier on in the week said that we are now the team that everybody wants to beat, and he was correct -  he told the Official Club website: "It was a difficult game, and to be honest it was the game I thought it would be. Certainly from Charlton's point of view, I knew they would come here and be difficult to beat. They were very well organised defensively to keep their shape - there weren't too many shots on our goal today again, which is good for us."

"But we knew it would be a difficult afternoon - it was an afternoon for patience. Thankfully for us, that patience was rewarded. We have shown this season that we can play good, sparkling, free-flowing football when it's an open game - we're very good in an open game."

"Today it was difficult. It was a team that came and sat and made it difficult for us; we didn't create too many chances, although I was disappointed with one or two opportunities early in the game which if we had got in front would have changed the whole complexion."

Blackman scored his tenth goal of the season, and Clarke is pleased with his all-round game. He added: "We stayed patient, we kept probing, we kept trying to pick the right moments and get our shots at the right time. Eventually, the man in form produced again."

"From the first minute until the last - and I moved him around to a couple of different positions on the pitch. At the moment, it doesn't seem to matter where I play Nick Blackman. He is always going to make a positive contribution to the team. Nick has got the skills and can go past a man - the second yellow card made it difficult for Charlton."

"I was also pleased that Lucas Piazon was able to get the assist for the goal. When you're a creative player and you can make an assist, it's important for the team."

A midweek trip to a struggling Rotherham side is up on Tuesday evening. Stayed tuned to the Tilehurst End for all the previews and post-match reaction.