Jaap Stam On Reading FC’s Brentford Defeat

After a 3-1 victory over Stevenage in the week, confidence would have started sneaking back into the players in time for Brentford. Jon Dadi Bodvarsson started over Yann Kermorgant after his hat-trick in midweek and overall our performance was much better, but Brentford had the superior chances and left the Madejski with all three points after Lasse Vibe scored in the second half after a defensive mix up.

It was another afternoon of missed chances and poor defending, Jaap Stam told the Official Club Website:

“Brentford are a good side - comfortable in how they play, very dynamic, a threat with pace going forward and they have good players. But you always want to get at least a point from a game like this.

“We knew we’d need to be very aggressive against them if we were going to get something out of the game and then also use your own ability and quality to get the right result.

“But, to be honest, we didn’t always do that. They were a threat and yet we got that certain moment where we could get that first goal ourselves. But we didn’t score it and then, ten seconds later, it’s in our own net.

“That’s how it has been quite a few times this season. We’re close to scoring a goal and then they go out on the break and score their goal.

“When you’re on a bad run, if you get these moments to score, you have to finish them. But when you’re on a tough run, not only is it difficult to get these opportunities but it’s also difficult to score them.

“If you’re not winning a lot of points, the confidence goes down and with the confidence going down, the players aren’t making the decisions you expect from them. And from that it becomes difficult to win games.

“We work hard on certain things and in training sessions it looks good. But when you’re on the pitch it doesn’t always go how you want it to go. That’s how football goes sometimes.

“So everybody needs to step up. The only thing we can do is work hard as a team to get ourselves out of it.

“And we will need the fans with us, because the players need their support. Of course, the fans want to see us go forward and score goals and that’s what we’re trying to do. At times we came very close, but it wasn’t enough today. And we need to do better.

“It’s about finding the moment, making the right decisions at the right time to allow us to score goals and win games. And winning games can change the whole mood. But to win that game, you have to give everything you have as individuals and get that result.”

Next up for the Royals is an outing in the FA Cup against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Friday evening.