Dillon Makes Jewell See Red

Royals assistant boss Kevin Dillon has managed to give Derby a reason to win on Sunday following some stupid comments at the beginning of the week.

After Chairman John Madejski pretty much told his players that most of them would be replaced if Reading managed to stay up, Dillon decided to give Derby an incentive to win by telling them how rubbish they were.

Dillon’s exact words were, ‘Let’s put it this way, if we can’t beat Derby, it will be hard to take.’

Hardly a smart tactic as the Royals themselves were given a huge boost last season, when Spurs boss Martin Jol used words to the same effect, resulting in a surprise 3-1 victory for Reading.

As you’d expect, Derby boss Paul Jewell has not taken the comments very well.

‘Kevin Dillon’s comments lack tact,’ he said.

‘You would think Reading had been playing Champions League all these seasons instead of down in the Championship and the Second Division where Derby and Wigan also came from.

‘At Derby this year we’ve been sneered at, we’ve been laughed at, we’ve been ridiculed and I can accept it after the season we’ve had – but for Reading to say things like that is not right.

‘People can have an opinion but it’s the way you put your opinion across. If they can’t beat us and they go down then they deserve to go down, Kevin Dillon is quite right.

‘So I think Kevin Dillon might have been quite right to think it but to say it was quite wrong.

‘It is something I would never do – make a comment about someone else’s team unless it’s positive.’

Strangely enough, despite agreeing with Dillon’s comments, Jewell feels that they have got his little lambs all riled up.

He continued, ‘The lads have been speaking about it and if I was Reading who do you want to come to last game of the season? A side that have won once at home all season – but it’s a dangerous game they’re playing,’


Jewell then decided to compliment the Royals before bitterly deciding to never help them again, ever.

‘I think Reading is a terrific club and Steve Coppell is an excellent manager,’ He said.

‘I know Kevin quite well as it happens and the next time Steve rings up for a match video to watch I shall say no.

‘I think Steve and the players and the staff will find the comments strange. I think he will be annoyed by it. He is a terrific manager and comments like that at such a vital part of the season can’t help.’

As if things weren’t bad enough for the Royals, it seems they now have some very angry Rams to tame.



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