MATCH VIEWS

Last updated : 28 September 2006 By Ed

Ferguson:

"I thought Wayne was much better today. He looked much sharper. Towards the last 15 minutes there were signs that maybe he was getting a bit tired. It's only games that's going to get him back to his best. That was his sixth game in six months, and that's not a lot for a young lad. Vidic was fantastic today and showed what a fantastic centre half he is. Gaby did really well for about an hour but it took its toll because he's required to put in more energy than the centre-backs. We decided to take him off when we were chasing a goal because obviously there was going to be a lot of energy spent trying to get a goal back."

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"Reading, they fought for every ball and worked their tails off. But we should have done better. They put eight bodies in front of us in their box and that is not easy to play against. We had shots blocked, over the bar and the keeper made two or three good saves. Sometimes it happens that way. It's a worry when you drop any points. The name of the game is to win games, win points and be up there. But we've had a solid start to the season. Last Sunday was a disappointing performance but not today. I haven't seen the penalty so I couldn't judge but it was a big decision."


Carrick:

"After we got ourselves back into the game I really fancied us to go on and win it. We wanted to come here and get a result after the Arsenal defeat last weekend, but it wasn't meant to be. Reading deserve a lot of credit because they defended very well and made it difficult for us, particularly around the edge of the box where they closed us down quickly. When you come to places like this and go behind it makes it extra hard. But Cristiano came up with a little bit of magic and gave us a glimmer of hope. I really thought we'd get the winner after that but things just didn't drop for us.

"I'd have to see it again to be sure, but I think it did hit Gary's hand. I'm not sure whether or not it was deliberate, but it's just one of those things. They tend to even themselves out over the course of the season and hopefully that will be the case for us. The goal gave them something to hold on to and their energy levels stayed pretty high the longer the game went on which made it more difficult for us. One point out of six is very disappointing, but I'm fully confident we'll get back to winning ways soon.

"We are playing OK. It is not like we're struggling. The boys had a disappointing time there last year so we want to make amends for that. After the start we had against Celtic we want to keep that going. It is a good opportunity for us.

"We have got to move on to Tuesday now and pick up three points there and get the ball rolling again. There's obviously a pressure in itself playing for United but when you want to be challenging for things, you want to be winning every game. We will have to move on and bounce back."


Coppell:

"I thought it was going to go our way, but there was a piece of individual skill and a great finish from Ronaldo. So we're half-pleased with the point given how the game went, thinking what might have been. I have to give my players a round of applause for their efforts. We had nothing to lose from today. I was thinking before the game that whatever happens we couldn't lose and to get a point is a small gift as well so we have got to be pleased with it. But I have said to the players we don't want the highlight of our season to be a Saturday evening in September.

"We have got a long way to go and we can't pat ourselves on the back. We got our noses in front with the penalty and I thought it was going to be one of those days where it was going to come our way. Then, as you're always going to get with players of this quality, a piece of individual brilliance - a really good finish. We're half-pleased with a point. We've gone away from the game thinking what might have been, I suppose. It's always going to be an uphill tasks against teams of this quality. But I have to give a big round of applause to my players for the way they went about the task."