Reading 'Got Going A Little Too Late' In Lincoln City Loss: Noel Hunt

The Royals were punished by a second-half header from James Collins.

The Royals dropped out of the playoffs after a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Lincoln City at the SCL Stadium on Good Friday.

A second-half goal through James Collins secured the points for the visitors in a day when Reading were not their usual selves.

Reading now sit seventh, with the playoffs now out of their hands due to Leyton Orient being sixth on goal difference. Manager Noel Hunt cut a frustrated figure after the game. Here is what he had to say, he spoke to the official club website and Reading Chronicle.

Hunt on the defeat

"It was frustrating, I don't think we got going in the way we should have or could have. First half our intensity wasn't quite as it has been at home over the last few weeks and months.

"We knew it was going to be a tight game, they're a big strong physical side, we knew their threats from set plays, and it's cost us today.

“At half-time we wanted to give the boys an idea of how we can hurt them more and not give away so many set plays, such as free-kicks in dangerous areas.

"It was a tough game for the lads and I feel like we got going a little too late, and when we did we created some chances at the end of the game. Nothing quite fell for us, but the effort the boys put in and the endeavour to go until the very end was there; unfortunately the set-piece goal killed us.

“We said there's going to be peaks and troughs, it's never linear. It's never easy, every game is going to be difficult, every game is going to have its own challenges, so we come back in this weekend, dust ourselves off, and make sure we're ready Monday.”

Hunt on James Collins' goal

"We worked on it yesterday and unfortunately a really small detail has cost us.

"he way we finished the game, I think we got going after that and the last 10 minutes we showed what we were about. We would have liked to have seen that earlier in the game."

Hunt on Kelvin Abrefa

"He is in with the doctor now so we will assess him and see what the damage is, or damage is not. He felt his groin so let’s make sure it’s okay. We will see."

Hunt on Mansfield on Monday

"We have to [bounce back]. No matter what happens, these boys have given everything and are giving everything.

"It’s important that we stick by them and keep pushing. There are three games left, two weeks of the immediate end of the season, and loads of peaks and troughs. Nothing is ever linear, we have prepared for this, and we have to keep going.

"Everyone is giving everything they can. There is no more important game than Monday and there are three points up for grabs; we have to get them."

Hunt on the fans

“The fans were fantastic. No matter what happens you can see these boys are giving everything they've got.

"There's loads of twists and turns to come, three games over two weeks, let's see where we are. We're going to fight tooth and nail, and with the fans behind us we're stronger."