Bristol Rovers boss labels Reading 'bright' and 'quick' in comfortable victory

Bristol Rovers boss Matt Taylor labelled Reading 'bright' and 'quick' in their 2-0 victory at the Memorial Stadium.

Sam Smith and Lewis Wing scored in the first half as the Royals dominated the Pirates on their own patch.

The introduction of experienced names such as Scott Sinclair and Chris Martin gave the Gas more of a threat, but the Royals saw out the crucial victory to lift the club nine points clear of the relegation zone with three matches to play.

Booed off at half-time and full-time by the 6,500 home supporters, Taylor was similarly strong in his assessment of his goal-shy side, who made it seven successive matches without finding the net.

"We started the game poorly and were fragile in terms of our confidence but also execution," he told the club media. "We weren’t at the speed of the game, too many were off the pace in the first half, but it still came down to a couple of first-contact moment- a long throw and a longer ball which led to the free kick for the second goal, which we’ve been so poor at for so long. Disappointing in terms of that.

"The second half- certainly the first 20 minutes of that- was exactly what we aimed for and wanted. One cleared off the line and a good save from the keeper, if one of those goes in we build a bit of momentum going into the end of the game as opposed to chasing it and losing a bit of our discipline in a footballing sense and bodies and minds.

"The goal didn’t go in and if anything, the pressure built in terms of us throwing bodies forward and them being such a bright team and quick team. If anybody wants an identity about lower league football, then look at what was on the pitch for the opposition team tonight. We need to keep adding that to our group alongside some ball players, which we’ve got.

"As the game went on, we certainly didn’t like the last 15-20 minutes because what we were trying to force didn’t come off and we lost a bit of discipline."

Rovers are now just two points ahead of Reading in 15th. Ruben Selles' side would be in the top half were it not for the six points deducted for off-field issues.