TEAM CREATED OWN PROBLEMS

Last updated : 28 February 2007 By Ed
Ferguson

"I think it was a fantastic cup tie and credit goes to both teams," said Ferguson. "For the fans it will have been a great match to watch.

"In the first half we played the ball behind them and up the sides and turned them and caused them problems, but in the second half we played across and in front of them and that created a problem for ourselves.

"It was a difficult pitch, very sandy and it was not conducive to playing football.

"Reading played the percentages, balls into the box and they are good at that, and it was nip and tuck right to the end.

"I was thinking I will need to prepare for extra-time, the game was with them, and I told Scholesy to get ready for extra-time."

On Balsa-boy

"I've never known so many fouls on one player yet there were only two bookings all game. Louis was fantastic but took one kick too many.

"Eventually it got to him and he had to come off with a calf injury."

Steve Coppell

"It was the worst start possible," he noted. "You talk before the game about keeping things tight, but it wasn't long and we were 3-0 down. It was like an avalanche.

"For us to come back in the way we did, it was a fabulous second half and huge respect for my players at the end.

"You just have to have trust in your players that they will settle down. That proved to be the case. They didn't want to be humiliated and they played a full part in the game."

"If it hadn't been for some brilliant goalkeeping, good defending and the width of the crossbar we might have been finishing off now.

"I thought we would have chances, I also thought we might also lose something at the back as we were so committed.

"We had our chances, but they are a quality team and that extra bit of quality helped them in the end."