Reading boss Noel Hunt urges fans to dream after moving into play-offs

Apr 8, 2025 2 min read
Noel Hunt’s Reading too all three points home from Shrewsbury (Rhianna Chadwick/PA)
Noel Hunt’s Reading too all three points home from Shrewsbury (Rhianna Chadwick/PA)

Reading boss Noel Hunt urged the fans to dream as they beat basement boys Shrewsbury with a 3-1 League One away win to push into the top six.

Victory means Reading have their play-off fate in their own hands, with the Royals sitting two points clear of Bolton, who are in seventh.

Lewis Wing broke the deadlock for the visitors, converting from 30 yards out. But minutes into the second half, Taylor Perry levelled matters.

Reading got back in front through Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, who converted into the top corner, while Chem Campbell completed the scoring, tucking the ball away at the back stick.

“We just need to stay focused and let the fans dream about it,” said Hunt.

“We take the result. I thought second half we were a lot better. I thought we started the game really well in the first 10 minutes and then credit to Shrewsbury, they came back.

“They played some really good football, and you can see the manager has them playing a different style than what they were two months ago.

“We had to emergency defend a bit too much for my liking, but we came through it and stuck together and took control second half.

“The referee was really good in his dialogue with us and we felt it would be wise to take off Mamadi Camara.

“We get the win and we can only focus on ourselves. There will be loads of ups and downs and ins and outs.

“There are five games left and we just need to get back down the road and rest up.

“Our goals have changed over the last two months; we wanted to get in and around it and be there about – we just focus on the next game.”

Despite the defeat, Shrewsbury boss Michael Appleton said: “I think I have to be delighted with how the players performed. Especially in that first half, I thought to go a goal down was very harsh.

“Some of the football we played and opportunities we created is just as much frustration that we haven’t scored in that first period.

“I have only been here for four games, but I’m guessing there have been times where I have not been here that we have been on top in games and probably should have taken the lead.

“We spoke before the game and yesterday about getting that first goal and how much it would give everyone a lift from a confidence point of view.

“Second half they showed a lot of character to get back in the game and scored a good goal.

“The players kept going, but clearly, at that point when it went to three, they (Reading) had a few chances because we were trying to push hard.”

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