The Royals are through to the third round of the Carabao Cup after a 2-1 victory against AFC Wimbledon at the SCL Stadium on Tuesday night.
Liam Fraser gave the Royals the lead but the Dons equalised shortly after through Omar Bugiel to go into half-time level. Mamadi Camara scored his second goal in two games to put us through to the next round.
Manager Noel Hunt was proud of his side’s character to get through to the next round. Here is what he had to say, he spoke to the official club website.
Hunt on the performance
“It
was a toughly contested game but we’re happy we got through to the next round. We gave the lads who needed minutes their chance, while resting others after a demanding week. It was a win-win all round for us.
“We were disappointed to concede straight after scoring – that’s a learning curve for the younger ones. But I reminded them there are no excuses: the gym is there 24/7 if you need to build strength. The important thing was the reaction. We kept playing and created some excellent chances.
“At half-time we spoke about moving the ball quicker and finding the spaces, rather than going long. The second goal was exactly what we’d worked on – great passing, clever movement and a cool finish.”
Hunt on Jeriel Dorsett and Andre Garcia
“Jeriel getting 90 minutes is massive for him. André is still a kid, but he’s got that little bit of magic going forward and he’s learning when to play with freedom and when to keep it simple. These are big moments in their development.”
Hunt on new signings
“It’s brilliant. Mark [O’Mahony] has been improving every game but he needs help. Jack’s (Marriott) a proven goalscorer, a hard worker, and someone I know well from my time at Ipswich. He’ll be a big asset for us.”
Hunt on building momentum
“It’s about becoming hard to beat and then expressing ourselves. We’re steadily improving and building that cohesion and unity as a group. Now our focus turns to Saturday and keeping that momentum going.”
Hunt on the next round
“A big draw would be great for the players. They’ve worked so hard and deserve that stage. But whatever comes, we’ll be ready.”
