Southgate: We deserved that after tough week

Oct 4 2009 Sunday Sun

“We showed quality to get into the areas we wanted to be in, but a mixture of poor decision-making and poor final ball let us down.

“We started on the back foot and we were lacklustre and it’s difficult to put your finger on it.

“We need to show courage and bravery at home to make things happen and we didn’t do that.”

Reading are still without a home win since January 27 and have scored just twice at home in the league this season.

That is fewer than any other side in the Championship.

In the opening minute Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici just managed to beat Lita in a race to the ball.

Then Lita saw an effort blocked by a defender and almost immediately sent in a header, which was saved by Federici.

Boro’s opening goal came after 12 minutes when Adam Johnson’s corner was headed in by St Ledger, although Lita later claimed he had got the final touch.

Reading’s chances were few and far between with Jem Karacan’s drive blocked by team-mate Darren O’Dea and Jimmy Kebe’s cross headed wide by Brian Howard.

At half-time Rodgers brought on Noel Hunt for Kebe, but Boro were still on top and Lita remained a danger.

Ten minutes into the half Lita scored the goal he had been threatening all game.

He beat Karacan in the centre circle, span away from O’Dea and ran on unchallenged before shooting hard and low past Federici’s despairing dive.