Adkins emphasises want for passing philosophy

Nigel Adkins has reiterated his desire for his side to pass the ball and to not panic with a direct style in the latter stages of games.

We have been lucky enough over the past three games to not be chasing an equaliser in the final stages of a game, but Adkins says he wants his side to pass the ball, irrelevant of the score and the time. The former Southampton boss gave an outlook to his reasoning for this.

Speaking to the Official Reading FC website, Adkins said: ‘We’re trying to pass the ball, and near the end I heard somebody behind me say ‘get it forward’ but I was thinking ‘no, no, no!’ If you get the flow of the game, you can score more goals by taking the sting out.’

‘Keeping the ball and boring the pants off the opposition gives you an opportunity to drag them about and create even more space. We get too frustrated, when a simple pass is on we think we’ve got to go and score again. Sometimes keeping the ball is a great way to go and defend. It gives you the flow of the game.’