Jaap Stam On Middlesbrough Defeat

We are all becoming wise to the words that Stam quotes week in week out after a defeat. Sadly, this weekend is no different with a another disappointing 2-1 loss against Middlesbrough.

Poor defending lead to both of Boro’s goal through Adama Traore, but the Royals pulled one back through Chris Martin.

Stam told the official club website:

“We analysed their team and how they play, and we know they have physicality and sometimes want to play football and sometimes quite direct.

“We dealt with their long throws quite well and they didn’t create a lot of opportunities in possession in the first half.

“But there were a couple of situations in the build-up to the first goal where we should have done better in blocking the ball or tackling - then we can’t double up on Traore and he gets that shot on target. We could have avoided that one.

“We spoke at half-time about how we could use the space better which we were getting... you want to do that, but then we gave another goal away with a loose pass! It makes it very difficult for yourself to get back into the game.

“It’s not the first time I’ve said that. That’s quite frustrating, how we’re conceding goals. It makes it very hard to get into the game. They can drop in and they’re looking for the moment on the break when they win that ball.

"The opportunities that the opposition were getting were coming from our mistakes. That’s a thing that I don’t like. But it happens at times. That makes it difficult to get back into the game and to get the points you need.

“We got that goal and you’re hoping to push for the second one. It looked promising; they came out occasionally but couldn’t do a lot.

“This season, we’ve played many games where it looks promising, but we concede the goals too easily.”

We have a week off due to our game with Sheffield United being moved after their involvement in FA Cup so next up is Nottingham Forest at the City Group on February 20th before Derby County are the visitors a few days later.