The Royals picked up another last-minute win with a 3-2 victory against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.
A Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan hat-trick secured all three points after a dramatic afternoon in Bedfordshire.
The Royals took the lead early in the first half, with the home side equalising just before the break. Luton then took the lead but Ehibhatiomhan scored two late goals to secure the points.
The win keeps us in seventh, just one point behind Huddersfield Town in sixth. First-team team coach
James Beattie was on press duties following Leam Richardson’s touchline ban. Here is what he had to say, he spoke to Royals TV.
Beattie on the victory
“It is a good job WhatsApp calls are free because we would have been going into hundreds of pounds. We had a clear way of communicating before the game and the lads had a clear game plan.
“It is not an easy place to come, and Luton are a good side. They were 11 unbeaten at home and we knew we were coming to a tough place.
“In any good away performance, you come and try to impose that on the game and quieten the home crowd down. We did that initially, but they got their tails up. Resilience and character from the boys have never been in question and they showed that in abundance.
“You are looking [for] leaders on the pitch. We have experience, bringing subs on like Matt Ritchie, and then Kelvin [Ehibhatiomhan] is putting in performances like that, which is more like what his attributes should be like. It was a magnificent team performance.”
Beattie on Ehibhatiomhan and Ritchie
“I’m really happy for Kelvin. He has been doing a lot of hard work with myself and the staff to step into that shirt. It’s a heavy shirt to carry for any club, with a lot of responsibility, but today he has shown in spells that he can do it.
“There is still a lot to work on, I don’t want him getting too carried away, but as an individual performance it was three magnificent finishes.
“Confidence is a massive part of it and unfortunately, I or you can just give someone confidence. It comes from how you train, how you sleep, how you fuel yourself and how you recover.
“You get confidence from your fitness and game understanding. 80 per cent of the game is in your mind and 20 per cent physical. How you feel about yourself and how you talk to yourself and handle the highs and the lows.
“I thought he conducted himself well. Jack [Marriott] has been in the team and scoring so he has had to be patient. It is a great way to start that.
“The Gaffer is big on that [value of subs]. Everyone in the squad is ultra important, even if they don’t think they are. It takes a whole team to be successful and in the last two weeks in particular the subs have helped.
“The Gaffer wants the subs to maintain the level or raise it and in the last two weeks they have been prepared physically and mentally. It is a massive credit to them.
“Matt’s experience speaks for itself. He plays a pivotal role in games and through the week with younger players.
“When he comes on, we want him to try and get more control of the ball, and he has the calm head. He can buy fouls and was one of the subs that went on and made a massive impact.
“We want everyone to feel valued and that they have a huge part to play in what is to come.”
Beattie on the fans
“It’s really good to see the away fans and give them something. After 22 years in the game, I wasn’t working and went to a few games as a fan, and I know what it means for your team to go out and put everything into a game. When you get the rewards, it is even better.
“I thank each and every fan for coming, hopefully we can try and gain momentum now and get more at the SCL. The away fans are always in good voice, which I enjoy as a football person. It is always nice to send them home happy.”
