This is what the personalities on each side had to say to say after Reading’s extraordinary 7-4 defeat to Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
Portsmouth coach Joe Jordan told the BBC, “The first half was probably our best 45 minutes this season, but to come in having conceded in the last minute of the half allowed them back in.
“Even at 2-2 I don’t think anyone expected the score to be exaggerated to 7-4 but overall I think the best team won.
“People say we only play one up front but today proved that it’s really three and no-one deserves a hat-trick more than Benji.”
Reading manager Steve Coppell told the BBC, “It’s difficult to analyse a match like that and if you try you will be there a very long time.
“We scored four goals away from home and had a chance for another with a penalty. We played a full part in the game – I don’t think many teams will come here this season and score four.
“Both sets of strikers looked irresistible at times going forward but both sets of defenders will be unhappy at that scoreline. Defensively, we have got to improve, but I’d like to be on the right end of a scoreline like that and it must have been great for the impartial observer.”
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It is horrible to be on the wrong end of a result like this but we more than played our part as Steve Coppell said.
The Royals have got to tighten up the defence. Yes we can attack all day long but if we don’t defend properly we will lose much more than we win. Sonks will help with this.
I hope that he does, I just think that we came up against a very good side on Saturday that had this kind of win building up within them, we just happened to be on the end of it.
He played 90 minutes last night, I think he is ready!