Noel Hunt Hails ‘Immense’ Reading Performance In Birmingham City Draw

The Royals shut out the league leaders to pick up a 0-0 draw on Saturday.

The Royals picked up an excellent 0-0 draw against league leaders Birmingham City at the SCL Stadium on Saturday.

The point leaves us unbeaten in five, and in ninth, just three points off the play offs. Manager Noel Hunt was pleased with his side’s performance. Here is what he had to say to the Reading Chronicle.

Hunt on the result

“I felt that we had the better opportunities, barring the mistake from us where Amadou has to clear it off the line. In terms of open play, I thought we had two or three really good chances.

“They are a good side with a good manager and bags of quality all over the pitch. I’m not going to disrespect them; they’ve done so well to be where they are. For our boys, I thought we were immense.

“We kept them to kicking long, pressured them and won the ball back high. We tried not to give them a moment and it was all about us today in terms of how we went about the game. I’m pleased, performance-wise.”

Hunt on tactical tweaks

“We tweaked the press a little bit from goal kicks when they play out. We got a couple but in terms of that, it was all we wanted to tweak because the lads have been great at what they do and we don’t want to stop.

“When Burnley came here we didn’t sit off them and let them have the ball, that’s not our style. I want to go and get in people’s faces and be aggressive and when we can get it down and play, we play. The pressure stayed the same in terms of the game and I thought it worked well.

“A couple of times they opened us up but they are a good team and will do that; it’s then about our recovery runs and how we deal with the crosses. I thought we dealt with it well apart from once or twice in the first half.”

Hunt on Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan position switch

“We wanted energy on the wings and Mamadi gives you loads of that. He has a great engine and knows the position. He’s tactically clever in terms of when we’re pressing, where to be. I thought Kelvin would stretch the game a little bit more than Jayden does.

“Jayden’s been fantastic in the last four or five games and when he came on, he showed his quality and created one or two chances. It was just a tactical one where we felt Kelvin could stretch them into the pockets behind so when we did do that, we could switch the play easier.”

Hunt on Kelvin injury

“It’s no concussion but it’s a big gash - it’s huge. He needs a bit of care, and we need to make sure we take care of him. We will see how he is for next week.”