Reading FC Boss Jaap Stam On Superb Derby County Victory

After the Nottingham Forest game on Tuesday, the Royals felt that a point on Saturday against Derby County would be extremely positive, little did we think that we would be leaving with three.

Six points and seven goals in one week! Goals from Liam Moore, Sone Aluko, Roy Beerens and Mo Barrow secured the victory. Sadly no clean sheet as Derby tried to make a comeback, but a 4-2 win is a fantastic result considering the home sides recent form, and we are on our way back up the table.

Jaap Stam was obviously a very happy man after the game and told the Official Club Website:

“It’s always important how you start against a team like this and we prepared well.

“We know how well Derby have been playing in the last few games and everyone knows they were the team in form going into the weekend - they’d had a very good run, unbeaten in six I think.

“But we studied them - as we do every team - and we saw opportunities that, if we did well, we could take advantage of and make it difficult for them.

“And we succeeded in doing that!”

Moore and Aluko scored early on in the first half with the Royals completely dominating, with this new attacking style of play we are trying out. Stam added:

“We knew they would give a bit of space away and if we could be brave and exploit that space, be aggressive both on and off the ball, we would get opportunities. We explored the space we got, went forward and scored goals.

“At 2-0 up, they had to come out even more and more spaces would open up and that gave us the third. They got one back with 20 minutes or so to go, but we went and scored the fourth. And you think it’s done.

“We should have scored a fifth or a sixth after that because we created two very clear opportunities. But we didn’t and they got a second before seven minutes of injury time are signalled. But we defended and worked very hard throughout the game.

“We used the strengths in our own game, played our own way and came away with a very good win.”

Wolves are the visitors to the Madejski Stadium in two weeks time after the international break, Stam added:

“If you’re winning a couple of games in a row, you want to keep on playing, keep that momentum going. But with the injuries we’ve got, now we have some time to work on getting some of those players back.

“The players can have a couple of days off, some will go away with their countries, others who are in we will work with within the system and the injured players we’ll work with to try and get them fitter.

“I saw Wolves play yesterday, they are a very good side. They spent a lot of pounds in getting players in and they have got a certain physique - a very high work rate as a team and combine that with the quality they possess we know they will make it difficult for every team they play against. That’s why they’re top of the table.

“So we’re going to be facing a very good team in two weeks’ time, but we’re a good team as well. We’ve got the confidence in ourselves in what we can do and hopefully we can do well in a fortnight’s time.

“You saw the performance today and you can see why we have confidence in our ability. And we’re always looking to improve and do more and keep the pressure on ourselves to push ourselves forward.

“Everyone wants to be higher in the table... of course. But the teams are all very close together. Now we are starting to get the feeling again, starting to gel together and win points.

“This is an important win and a big result away from home. Every game we are playing, everybody needs to be 100% focused and sharp. But this afternoon I am very very pleased with the team.”