Reading manager, Leam Richardson believes that his Royals “were the better team” in their 1-1 draw against Bradford City.
Udoka Godwin-Malife’s 66th-minute strike rescued the Royals a 1-1 draw at home to Bradford after Jake Beesley headed the Bantams into a fourth-minute lead, in a result which left Reading sat seventh in League One whilst Bradford slipped to second with a game in hand on new leaders – Plymouth Argyle.
“For 70 minutes I was really pleased,” explained Richardson to RoyalsTV as he praised his team for their dominance and control, although he felt that their performance went backwards once level.
“I thought we were the better team and in control. Once we scored, for whatever reason we’ll look at, we seemed to take a little bit of a backwards step and made different decisions, which are disappointed with.”
Richardson though reflected on the positives of the performance standards after 12 matches in all competitions but feels that stronger points-scoring results are now the main aim moving forward.
“I think the level of performance that we’ve delivered now, with eight league games and four cup games has been at a good level. There’s still room for improvement in in what we do and we’ve got to start turning these performances into real positive results now.
“We’ve got some good individual performers at the minute so the longer we can keep that, the better. I think the frustrating thing for myself today, and I told the players, is that we controlled large parts of it and did a lot of good things. When we scored, we seemed to then start making indifferent decisions. It is something we will address.”
Richardson also highlighted the end product in the final third and decision-making mid matches as main concerns at present.
“It’s the last third we need to be a little bit better with stronger decision-making. I thought we came out in the second half and we were excellent- we started the second half terrifically well for 20-25 minutes and scored a good goal.
“You want to go and win the game and stay strong, keep controlling the game, but then we played long, too quick, too soon, for whatever reason. It is something we’ll look a but playing against top of the league, we competed very well and I’m disappointed not to come away with a win.
“A bit like the Wycombe game last week where we’re in so much control. We have a really good moment with Daniel Kyerewaa and Randall Williams breaking- we should finish the game off then, but we don’t make the right decision.
“I thought they probably finished the game stronger than we did in the last 10 minutes. We’ve gone from a lot of control to then a little bit basketball game- and I don’t like us playing like that. I like us to be in more control.”
With Jack Marriott ruled out for several weeks with an ankle injury after having scored eight goals in eight appearances, Richardson was pleased to see Godwin-Malife step up and net his first goal for the club
“He is exactly what I thought when I wanted to recruit him. I spoke to a lot of people, especially, his last manager and the lads who I’ve worked with and who’ve played with him.
“First and foremost, he’s a fantastic person, really good in the dressing room and a really good teammate who wants to learn. I think you’ve seen real strong improvements in him already in the infancy of the season and he’ll get better.
“I’ve been giving him a little bit of stick about contributing more goals because he should have scored a couple- certainly from set plays- and he’s in the right area today.
“Technically, I thought he was excellent and probably typified the game where I thought for 75- 80 minutes he excellent and then started to make a few indifferent decisions. It something we’ll work on and something we’ll get better at”
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