Hughton pleased with defensive effort

11 November 2012 02:53

Norwich boss Chris Hughton was content to take a point away from home after his side's 0-0 draw with Reading on Saturday.

Both sides struggled to carve out clear-cut chances at Madejski Stadium, and Hughton was pleased with the way his side defended.

"They got a lot of balls into the box, we played into their hands a little bit," Hughton told Sky Sports.

"I think on the basic defending I think we've done that really well.

"I think you have to be happy with any point away from home in this division. For us every game is a tough game and they tested us today.

"We probably didn't play as well as I would have liked and the opportunities that perhaps we did have and the space that we did create we didn't make the most of it but away here, yes it's a decent result."

Reading manager Brian McDermott was also pleased with his side's rearguard, and was delighted after securing Reading's first clean sheet of the campaign.

"There wasn't much in the game really. I thought we were in the ascendency. We kept a clean sheet so that gives us another thing to build on really," McDermott said.

"Out of the 10 games, we've drawn six so that tells you how close we are. We didn't feel we did enough with the ball, I thought both teams were a little bit nervous first half.

"Having said that we can move on now with our first clean sheet of this league."

Premier League: Reading 0 Norwich City 0

10 November 2012 18:04

Reading remain winless in the English Premier League after a 0-0 draw at home to Norwich on Saturday.

While the hosts were much the better side in the first half, an increased urgency from the visitors saw Chris Hughton's team waste the few chances they created after the break.

Reading were initially the more attacking of the two sides, with Hughton's team set up for quick counter-attacking.

Brian McDermott's men looked dangerous with some crosses flying in from the right, but neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening stages.



The first 45 minutes were, in truth, poor for the most part, lacking any real efforts on goal.

Norwich had a sum total of two shots in the first half – both deflected – with one heading for a corner and the other nestling softly in Adam Federici's arms.



John Ruddy was the more busy of the two shot-stoppers, blocking an effort from Garath McCleary, and coming a very long way to punch clear a looping free-kick.

Aside from that though, it was a fairly stop-start beginning to the proceedings, with referee Chris Foy getting involved often.

The second half stepped up a notch in terms of intensity, with Norwich finding more of the ball, but the hosts looking more threatening.



Wes Hoolahan should have done better with a chance from the edge of the area, blasting wide of the post as he tried to bend it in with the outside of his foot.



Both teams were stretching to find the opening goal in a game that looked increasingly like it would take only one to settle it.



Jobi McAnuff came close for Reading, whipping a shot just over the bar after cutting in from the left.

Chances were becoming harder to come by, with both teams hoping to find a winner on the counter-attack.

Grant Holt had only one real chance throughout the game, but the cross towards him got a flick right in front of the striker, and bounced off his frame and out of play.



The visitors ended the strongest, with Robert Snodgrass missing a header and Anthony Pilkington pulling a shot well wide, but neither team did enough to warrant all three points.

Premier League preview: Reading v Norwich

8 November 2012 08:03

Norwich City will be out to continue their run of good form in Saturday's English Premier League trip to lowly Reading.

Chris Hughton's men are unbeaten in their past three games, having accounted for Stoke City and Arsenal in the process.

Norwich occupy 14th on the table, but could climb as high as 11th if they secure their first away win of the season at the Madejski Stadium.

While buoyed by their recent success, midfielder Bradley Johnson said the Carrow Road club are not getting ahead of themselves.

"We just want to stay in this league - if we do it by one point then we will be happy with that," he told the Norfolk Eastern Daily Press.

"We want to go into every game looking to win and if we keep doing what we're doing then I'm sure we will finish in and around the same position, maybe higher."

Reading are one of two teams yet to win in the Premier League this term, with five draws and four losses from their opening nine games.

The promoted side are four points behind 17th-placed Aston Villa following last week's 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers, but midfielder Jay Tabb is confident they will avoid a return to the Championship.

"The confidence is there, it's not nagging on our minds, we are playing good stuff," he told the Norwich Evening News.

"Norwich is a home game which we would expect to win, we are scoring goals at home and playing well so we just need that first win then we can go on a little run.

"It would be different if it didn't look like we were going to win, then you could say something is wrong, but we are looking like we could win most weeks."