The perfect away performance - Redfearn - Coach gives verdict on Reading victory
leedsunited.com 11/2/15
Neil Redfearn was full of praise for his side after guiding them to an impressive 2-0 win at Reading on Tuesday night, describing it as "as good of an away performance as we've had".
United had never previously won at the Madejski Stadium but second-half goals from Luke Murphy and Sam Byram made it back-to-back Championship wins on the road in a manner which pleased the head coach.
"I thought we showed real commitment," said Redfearn. "When the game was tight, I thought we worked really hard to get there.
"In the end, the game opened up and we got our chances. We played good football on a difficult surface.
"I thought, defensively, the whole 11 pulled together and it’s as good of an away performance as we’ve had."
Redfearn made three changes from the home defeat to Brentford, with Liam Cooper and Rodolph Austin missing out through illness so Giuseppe Bellusci and Tommaso Bianchi were recalled, while Alex Mowatt replaced Billy Sharp.
However, Bianchi’s return to the team proved to be short-lived as the midfielder limped off with injury during the first half to be replaced by Casper Sloth.
"You want to try and settle things down but over the course of the season you’re going to get injuries and players missing," said Redfearn.
"The players who came in have excelled tonight and have put themselves in a position now to keep the shirts. That’s how you want your football club to be.
"They’ve got to compete and you want to know they’re going to work hard to stay in."
The changes to the team meant a new centre-back pairing as Bellusci lined up alongside Sol Bamba, who captained the side, in a partnership which the head coach was full of praise for.
"They gave us a good balance, he said. "I thought they read play really well and intercepted things. They got us up the pitch and were tough when we needed to be.
"They got in good positions for crosses and cleared their lines well. They were the bedrock of the performance.
"You’ve got to stay in the game and it’s got to be close. There can’t be anything in it.
"When you do that, you’ve always got a chance of picking points up and I think that’s been the case in the last few games."
Neil Redfearn was full of praise for his side after guiding them to an impressive 2-0 win at Reading on Tuesday night, describing it as "as good of an away performance as we've had".
United had never previously won at the Madejski Stadium but second-half goals from Luke Murphy and Sam Byram made it back-to-back Championship wins on the road in a manner which pleased the head coach.
"I thought we showed real commitment," said Redfearn. "When the game was tight, I thought we worked really hard to get there.
"In the end, the game opened up and we got our chances. We played good football on a difficult surface.
"I thought, defensively, the whole 11 pulled together and it’s as good of an away performance as we’ve had."
Redfearn made three changes from the home defeat to Brentford, with Liam Cooper and Rodolph Austin missing out through illness so Giuseppe Bellusci and Tommaso Bianchi were recalled, while Alex Mowatt replaced Billy Sharp.
However, Bianchi’s return to the team proved to be short-lived as the midfielder limped off with injury during the first half to be replaced by Casper Sloth.
"You want to try and settle things down but over the course of the season you’re going to get injuries and players missing," said Redfearn.
"The players who came in have excelled tonight and have put themselves in a position now to keep the shirts. That’s how you want your football club to be.
"They’ve got to compete and you want to know they’re going to work hard to stay in."
The changes to the team meant a new centre-back pairing as Bellusci lined up alongside Sol Bamba, who captained the side, in a partnership which the head coach was full of praise for.
"They gave us a good balance, he said. "I thought they read play really well and intercepted things. They got us up the pitch and were tough when we needed to be.
"They got in good positions for crosses and cleared their lines well. They were the bedrock of the performance.
"You’ve got to stay in the game and it’s got to be close. There can’t be anything in it.
"When you do that, you’ve always got a chance of picking points up and I think that’s been the case in the last few games."