The Royals picked up an excellent 2-1 victory against Leyton Orient at the Select Car Leasing Stadium to move out of the relegation zone.
Jack Marriott opened the scoring in the first half to take us into half-time ahead. The visitors came out fighting and equalised through Idris El Mizouni. With just 10 minutes to go, Liam Fraser scored the winner to secure an important three points.
Royals boss Noel Hunt was delighted with the victory. Here is what he had to say, he spoke to the official club website.
Hunt on the victory
“Leyton Orient are a good side and got to the playoff final last year. I know Richie [Wellens] well and he’s a top manager and a top coach; they moved the ball really well.
“They try and test you and switch play to open you up and I felt they had a lot of the ball but didn’t really open us up, maybe half a chance at the end of the game. I felt we battled really well today. We had to get to grips with the shape today and once we did, we were okay.”
Hunt on Marriott’s goal
“He’s a great kid, I love him. He’s been brilliant for us. I’ve worked with him before and I knew the kind of character he was. It’s really important for us to have that fight, the never-give-in and never-say-die attitude.
“I’m delighted for him, he got another goal to keep him going. Not just that, his contribution to the game – the goal is a bonus. How he brings people into the game and how he stretches the line was really important.”
Hunt on Leyton Orient’s equaliser
“I felt sick because we spoke about starting fast and making sure we locked down. We were three or four yards off on the opposite side of the pitch which allowed the ball to come out and we have to stop him when he comes in.
“We are working on inverted wingers all the time and when he steps inside the next one gets the ball and we got punished for it.”
Hunt on the performance
“We keep getting tested for our resolve and character, and we keep coming back. That’s the people we have in the dressing room.
“It might not always be running right for us, I thought we were a bit too quick to get rid of the ball and could have found the extra pass.
“We had good control in the first half when we found our rhythm and our goal is a really good goal from that. I think we need to be braver to pass it and find the other side, but we kept creating chances and could have had a couple of goals in the second half.”
Hunt on second-half substitutions
“I’m delighted. We changed the structure a little bit, the shape, and we looked more comfortable. We are really pleased. Kelvin [Ehibhatiomhan] was trying to get up to speed in terms and get his second wind but in terms of off the ball and being narrow I felt he did a really good job.
“We are delighted to have Matt [Ritchie]. He’s not played a lot of football or done a lot of minutes. From May 3, he had two days in Portsmouth training and then he was running on his own so to come in three weeks ago, he said he found it hard in the first two weeks to get his legs moving and get himself going but you can see the quality he has and technical ability.
“His enthusiasm for the game is incredible. He is an amazing person, his thirst to get better and his thirst to improve at his age, he can play until he’s 40.”
Hunt on the fans
“Every win is big. You come off the back of last week’s disappointment to not get anything out of the game but that’s two wins, two draws and a loss in the last five so we have to build from that and take it into the next one.
“We did [hear them]. They stuck with the boys and that’s what the support has to do. We’re a family, not just us in the dressing room and staff, but we understand how important the fans are to us.
“Their support means everything to us because we know that if the support drops it can have an effect on the dressing room. If the crowd are jumping and buzzing, it gives the lads an extra lift because we’re young.”
